Weekend Plans: Recess Monkey, Animal Farm, Deep Freeze in Durham, Marbles restaurant opens, more

Happy weekend! Here are this week’s family fun happenings. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar and our Summer Fun Guide for more ideas.

Recess Monkey, the Seattle-based kindie rock band, will return to The ArtsCenter in Carrboro for an 11 a.m., Saturday, show. The band has a new member and new music from its ninth CD, released last month. Read much more about them and the concert in this earlier post.

Raleigh Little Theatre’s Teens on Stage begins its run of “Animal Farm” this weekend. It runs Friday through July 28 at the theater near Cameron Village in Raleigh. It’s based on George Orwell’s cautionary tale. Best for ages 12 and up. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. As part of the promotion of the show, they'll be doing a couple of flash mobs Saturday. Check the Facebook page for details.

And, for all ages, Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre, will present “Sleeping Beauty” this weekend. It’s one of several shows at the theater, about 30 minutes west of Chapel Hill, this summer. It’s set for 10 a.m., Saturday. This is a modern twist on the classic tale. Tickets are $5.

Escape the heat during the Museum of Life and Science’s Deep Freeze this Thursday through Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the museum will feature a miniature city made from bricks of dry ice. You can enjoy a cup of liquid nitrogen ice cream and make some icy artwork. It’s free with admission, which is $14 for adults and $10 for kids ages 3 to 12. The museum also continues its July release of Blue Morpho butterflies at its Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory.

Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh officially opens its new restaurant Pogo to the public at 10:30 a.m., Thursday. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner with daily specials and regular fare, plus a beer and wine menu. It takes over the space once occupied by Roly Poly. 

Cary offers Scoops for Troops, an event in downtown Cary on Saturday to honor active military and veterans. There will be opportunities to donate items and expired coupons to troops, along with games, military vehicles and ice cream eating contest and more. Read my earlier post for details.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ Summerfest Celebration at the PNC Arena in Raleigh is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The event includes more than 20 inflatables, games and other experiences, giveaways, guest speakers from the Hurricanes, appearance from Stormy and the Storm Squad, discounted concessions and more. Parking and admission is all free. Most of the event will be inside the PNC Arena.

In downtown Raleigh, there's Taste of Blount Street & City Market with food, music, games for kids, a beer garden and more. It runs noon to 8 p.m., Saturday, in Moore Square (which is across from Marbles Kids Museum). Admission is free.  Also part of the event: You can meet members of the Carolina Railhawks; watch a tug o' war at 6:30 p.m.; and learn more about the Wake & District Pipes and Drums. An area for kids includes a coloring contest, egg and spoon race, potato sack race, and a penalty kick competition with the Railhawks.

Author Tom Angleberger and illustrator Cece Bell, a husband-and-wife team, visit Quail Ridge Books & Music with their new picture book "Crankee Doodle." Best for ages 3 and up. Angleberger is the author of the popular Origami Yoda series. Bell is the author/illustrator of "Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover." They'll be at the Raleigh book store at 2 p.m., Saturday.

Polar Ice House of Wake Forest will hold a free open house and clinic on Saturday. Kids can try hockey while parents learn more about the hockey league, which starts Sept. 6. The event begins with an hour-long on-ice clinic from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., kids can try out some stick and puck drills. 

This one is obviously not for an all-ages crowd as it includes "Cujo" and "Death Trap," but it might be a fun afternoon for parents and their high schoolers. The Carolina Theatre will have a Fan Appreciation Day Saturday with free movies and popcorn. The schedule features "Death Trap," starring Michael Caine, at 2 p.m.; Stephen King's "Cujo"  at 4:30 p.m.; and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" at 7 p.m. You'll also find food trucks and bands on the plaza in downtown Durham.

Ornamentea near downtown Raleigh will hold its monthly pop-up fair from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, featuring crafts, food trucks and a special section dedicated to young crafters and artisans. Read my earlier post for details.

And on Sunday, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences launches its Military Appreciation Week. Read my earlier post for more information about the discounts offered to members of the military and some special presentations.