Weekend Plans: Dinosaurs, Hurricanes, Star Wars Reads Day, more

Here’s your weekend family fun. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar and our Halloween and Fall Fun guide for more ideas. Among the many, many activities, the Pumpkin Patch Express at the Museum of Life and Science is running this weekend. And Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville stays open until 9 p.m. on Saturdays in October with bonfires, nighttime hayrides and a restaurant serving up dinner.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences opens “The World’s Largest Dinosaurs” on Saturday. The day includes members-only activities from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. It opens to the general public at 11 a.m., Saturday. A 1 p.m. talk features a researcher from N.C. State. This exhibit focuses on a group of very large dinosaurs that lived for about 140 million years and looks at their physiology to explain how they survived. Hands-on activities are designed for all ages.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ home opener is Friday evening against the New York Islanders. It’s also the first of nine home games where the Hurricanes offer Family Night deals. You can get four tickets, four drinks, four hot dogs and four popcorns starting at $99.

Libraries and book stores are celebrating Star Wars Reads Day. Wake County libraries will host special events from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. Participants can design a droid, make a Fortune Wookiee cootie catcher, participate in Star Wars trivia and pose for a picture with Star Wars characters cardboard cut outs. Local Barnes & Noble book stores also will be hosting special activities on Saturday. The international event, launched by Lucasfilm in 2012, celebrates reading and Star Wars.

We have two consignment sales this week in Willow Spring and Cary.

It’s a big weekend in Hillsborough. The town is celebrating the opening of its Riverwalk, a greenway along the Eno River, with special events from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. Welcome stations will be located along the 1.8-mile trail. On Sunday, the Hillsborough Arts Council will hold a puppet-making workshop so people can get ready for the Hillsborough Handmade Parade, which is scheduled for Oct. 19. Anybody can be part of this parade. It’s dubbed a “walking theatrical performance.” This popular event returns after a brief hiatus.

Rolie Polie Guacamole, a popular Brooklyn-based kindie band, stops at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro at 11 a.m., Saturday. Their high-energy interactive shows are a mix of funk, rock and folk music mashed into original tunes about natural living, eating healthy and staying active, The ArtsCenter tells me. Tickets are $8 for kids; $10 for adults; $32 for a family four-pack; and free for kids under 2. This concert is part of The ArtsCenter’s SuperFun series, which brings great family artists to the region.

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance runs Thursday to Sunday in Chatham County. You can pitch a tent and spend the whole weekend out there or stay for the day. The festival features multiple stages, including a special area for kids with crafts, activities, music and more.

The 16th annual Run/Walk for Autism is Saturday at Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. The morning includes a 5K, a one-mile run and a one block dash for kids, along with music, a children’s play area and resource fair. It supports the work of the Autism Society of North Carolina, which helps lots of kids in our state. According to the group, 1 in 58 kids in North Carolina will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Kids ages seven to 12 will be running, swimming and biking on Sunday as part of the Applebee’s Kids Helping Kids Triathlon at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. Proceeds will benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research to fund pediatric cancer research at Duke Children’s Hospital. The event is designed for kids of all experience levels. There also are activities for parents and a Fun Zone. There’s still time to register!

Sunday is Wiener Dog Day at the Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. It’s 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday. The Dashchund Rescue of North America invites wiener dogs for an afternoon of costumes, obstacle courses, and treats. Bring your wiener dog or come to watch.

Downtown Raleigh hosts a food truck rodeo featuring more than 50 trucks from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. It’s a great way to enjoy some great food of all kinds. My tip: Get there early to avoid the crowds.