11 family-friendly activities for weekend of July 6 to July 8

See Raleigh's sunflower field. Take in a performance of Pippin. Head over to the Festival for the Eno. And more family fun this weekend.

Posted 1:00 a.m. Jul 5, 2018 — Updated 1:00 a.m. Jul 5, 2018

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

What’s up this weekend? A lot for families. Here’s what’s happening on the family fun front.

And don’t forget:

WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar lists more weekend activity ideas.

Our Summer Activities Guide covers more than 45 ideas to keep you busy this summer.

Raleigh

Raleigh's sunflower field is in full bloom. I have the details on how to see the five acres of sunflowers at Dix Park!

North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, North Carolina Theatre’s flagship training program, will stage its production of Pippin, Friday to Sunday at the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. The show will be performed by the students of NC Theatre Conservatory’s Master Summer Theatre Arts School, NC Theatre’s four-week summer camp with emphasis on pre-professional training of the highest caliber culminating in a full-scale musical production. Tickets start at $15.

It’s the first Friday of the month, which means it’s First Friday in downtown Raleigh. Museums, galleries and restaurants are open for extended hours or have special deals. Marbles, for instance, has a First Friday Kids Camp - if you want to drop the kids off and go enjoy an adult evening (be sure to pre-register for that before you go.) The First Friday website has details about other special events.

Quail Ridge Books will host a visit from author Karma Wilson and illustrator Matt Myers, the team behind the new picture book “A Dog Named Doug.” It’s 10:30 a.m., Saturday. The book is best for ages 4 and up.

Durham

The Durham Bulls play at home Friday through Sunday. Fireworks are planned after both the Friday and Saturday games. Kids run the bases after Sunday’s home game, which also is daddy/daughter day.

The 39th annual Festival for the Eno, a July 4 tradition around here for many, is July 7 (and July 4) at West Point on the Eno park. The event will feature more than 75 artists on five stages, along with lots of crafts and activities for kids. A one-day pass is $18 in advance or $23 at the gate.

Chapel Hill

Morehead Planetarium’s regular Star Families series is 3:30 p.m., Saturday. Tickets are $7.68 for adults and $6.51 for kids. The theme this weekend is summer skies.

The Lumina will screen “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” on Saturday outside on the Southern Village Green. Tickets are $5 and free for kids under 5. The movie will begin when the sun goes down.

Cary

North Carolina FC will play the Charleston Battery at 7 p.m., Saturday, at WakeMed Soccer Park.

New Hill

New Hope Valley Railway will host a Military Appreciation train ride on Sunday. Active duty, reserve, National Guard, veterans and retired military personnel can get free tickets for themselves and up to three family members on a diesel train excursion by presenting military identification at the NHVR ticket booth in the rail yard in Bonsal, located 30 minutes from Raleigh. Free tickets are only available in person at the ticket booth and cannot be reserved online.