10 family-friendly activities for weekend of Jan. 18 to Jan. 20

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

At 2 p.m., Saturday, at Quail Ridge Books, Kelly Starling Lyons, a Raleigh author who has published some great picture and chapter books, will celebrate the publication of "Jada Jones: Sleepover Scientist," the third book in her Jada Jones chapter book series. It's best for ages 6 and up. The event includes a storytime, games, slime and cookies. PJs are optional, but encouraged. My younger daughter has loved the Jada Jones books.

N.C. State women’s basketball plays Virginia Tech at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, at Reynolds Coliseum. Tickets start at just $3. These are fun and affordable events for families of sports lovers

And, don’t forget: Optimist Park’s new playground is now open. The park is in north Raleigh near North HIlls.

The Carolina Theatre’s Family Saturday Series will present storyteller and performer Donna Washington. She’s an internationally known, award-winning storyteller and spoken word recording artist who has been telling literary tales, personal narratives and folklore for more than 30 years. Tickets are $5. It’s at 11 a.m., Saturday.

Mallarme Chamber Players will perform a free one-hour interactive chamber music concert at 1 p.m., Sunday, at the Doris Duke Center at Duke Gardens. Best for ages 5 and up.

Kidzu Children's Museum will continue its Harry Potter-themed activities into the new year with Potterpalooza: A Family Night at Hogwarts. It's set for 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, at the museum at University Place in Chapel Hill. The cost is $30 per family of two adults and one child. It's $5 per each additional child. (Museum members get in for $25 per family.)

Morehead Planetarium has two programs this weekend. Star Families for kids ages 7 to 12 and their families is 3:30 p.m., Saturday, and will focus on moon stories from around the world. The cost is $9.25 for adults and $8.25 for kids, students and seniors.

Morehead also will host a Lunar Eclipse skywatching session from 10:30 p.m., Sunday, to 12:30 a.m., Monday. Tickets for the Carolina Skies planetarium show are sold out, but it’s free for the public to head over to Morehead and participate in the lunar eclipse viewing.

UNC-Chapel Hill’s gymnastics team will host a meet against the University of Oklahoma and Ball State University at 2 p.m., Saturday, at Carmichael Arena, for Carolina’s annual Women’s Day and Pink Meet. Admission is free.

The town will host a variety of special events and activities ahead of Martin Luther King Jr Day, including a family-friendly performance from storyteller and author Willa Brigham at 10 a.m., Saturday, at the Cary Arts Center. It’s free and best for ages 4 to 10. Crafts and other activities also are part of the program.