Weekend Plans: Strawberry picking, festivals, storytimes

Happy weekend! Here’s what’s happening on the family fun front. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more great ideas!

We have strawberries! Strawberry farms across the region are open. One farmer tells me the season is at its peak right now! Our strawberry farm database has the details about farms across the region. This week, I checked out Porter Farms & Nursery in Willow Spring (it also has a location in Raleigh).

Cary marks the 23rd year of celebrating Spring Daze in Fred G. Bond Park. It’s 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, and features entertainment, vendors, food and the town’s annual Earth Day celebration. It’s free! The event includes a Children’s Village, which you’ll find in and around the Lazy Daze Playground. You’ll find interactive exhibits, hands-on crafts and more activities.

It’s Star Wars Weekend at the Carolina Mudcats in Zebulon as the team competes against the Lynchburg Hillcats. Games are scheduled Friday through Sunday. The Mudcats will wear Star Wars-themed jerseys, which will be available to fans through an online auction - a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina. There will be fireworks after the Friday game. On Saturday, the first 1,200 kids ages 14 and under can take home a lightsaber. (The Durham Bulls mark a Star Wars Night on May 7).

For teens, the N.C. Museum of Art’s ArtScene is 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, in the Raleigh museum’s East Building. It’s free. The day, organized by the museum’s Teen Arts Council, includes live music, dance, improv, a pop-up teen art gallery, art-making activities and food.

Starting at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, (and until supplies last), kids will get to transplant and take home a free tomato seedling during the Kids’ Seedling Giveaway at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market.

Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day and several local bookstores are marking the day with deals and activities. Quail Ridge Books & Music (now in Raleigh’s North Hills) has storytimes at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for kids ages 2 to 6. The Regulator in Durham has storytime from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. when local children’s authors, parents and grandparents are invited to read their favorite books. Guest authors also are slated to read. And Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill will have a storytime at 11 a.m., Saturday.

Jumpstreet, the new indoor trampoline park, will hold a grand opening celebration Saturday at the location at Cary Towne Center.

We have a couple of consignment sales - Take 2 Kids in Benson and Kidcycle’s Dollar Day in Durham.

And Carrboro Day is 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, on the Carrboro Town Hall grounds. You’ll find stories, music, dancing, field games, crafts, families activities and more.