Weekend Plans: Superhero party, Backyard Bird Counts, Swap-O-Rama

From backyard bird counts to live performances for kids to a superhero party. Here's what's happening on the weekend family fun front.

Posted 1:55 a.m. Feb 16, 2017 — Updated 1:55 a.m. Feb 16, 2017

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

We have a bunch of free Great Backyard Bird Count events across the area. They aim to help researchers assess bird populations around the world. Here are a few ...

Kids Together Playground in Cary hosts the annual Count the Birds event from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday. Gather at the shelter for bird walks to identify birds by species and record the number of each that we see, then enjoy refreshments as the results are tallied.

At Prairie Ridge Ecostation in west Raleigh, the Great Backyard Bird Count is 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. Help the ecostation, part of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, document birds.

Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville will host morning bird walks through Sunday (pre-registration is required for those). Also, from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, stop by the park manager’s office for bird-related games, activities and crafts. It’s free. No pre-registration is required. You can pop in for a few minutes or stay for three hours. Many of Wake County’s other parks will host bird count events through the weekend. Wake County parks’ website has the details.

Marbles Kids Museum will host a Superhero Power Parties from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., Saturday. Tickets are $20 (or $15 for members). Participants are encouraged to wear their superhero gear. There will be a snack and lots of activities. You also can pay an extra $10 per person to see The Lego Batman IMAX Experience at noon, Saturday.

Carolina Ballet wraps up its run Sunday of “The Little Mermaid,” featuring the classic story. Tickets start at $35.

Google Fiber in Raleigh will host a coding event for kids on Saturday. Pre-registration is required.

Raleigh Little Theatre will present Soar! The Hero Pigeons of WWI at East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Ct., Knightdale. The free show is 2 p.m., Saturday, and features teen actors from Raleigh Little Theatre’s Storytellers to Go program. The story commemorates the 100th anniversary of the United States entering WWI on April 6, 1917, by retelling the true story of Cher Ami, a carrier pigeon who became a war hero. The story is told from the pigeons' perspectives and is appropriate for ages five and older.

Cary’s Marvelous Music Family Series will present “Commedia Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” from the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. Tickets are $8 for the show at 3 p.m., Saturday, at the Cary Arts Center. In this show written by Nicole B. Adkins, a rambunctious group of traveling actors decides to perform the famous fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. This commedia dell’arte performance recreates the story of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” complete with audience participation and other surprises, according to a description.

The annual Father-Daughter and Mother-Son Valentine’s Dance is 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, at the Raleigh Sheraton. Tickets start at $65 for a parent-child pair and include dancing, food and more.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s Star Families starts at 3:30 p.m., Saturday. The focus is on African Sky Stories. Become familiar with the current night sky through stories that various African cultures have told about the moon, planets, and stars. Best for families ages 7 to 12. Tickets are $7.68 and $6.51 for children.

The 12th annual Swap-O-Rama is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, at the Scrap Exchange in Durham. Bring your unwanted clothing and swap them for new-to-you items. Then create one-of-a-kind fashions at do-it-yourself stations at the creative reuse center. The suggested donation is $10 per person along with a bag of swap worthy clothes. Kids 10 and under are free.

The Scrap Exchange also will host “Caught in the Web,” a performance by Rags to Riches Theatre for Young Audiences as part of its make and take family series where the audience gets to become part of the show. It’s 4 p.m., Saturday. The performance is followed by the optional craft. The cost is $10 for the show and craft or $5 for the show only. Best for ages 2 and up.

And, if you’re searching for camps, Carolina Parent’s 2017 summer, track-out and residential camp fair is noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, at the Embassy Suites in Cary.

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