15 family-friendly activities for weekend of March 15 to March 17

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

We have a St. Patrick’s Day. Raleigh’s 37th annual parade starts at 10 a.m., Saturday, at Wilmington and Lane streets and then weaves around the State Capitol, heads down Fayetteville Street and wraps up at the Raleigh Convention Center. At 11:30 a.m., Saturday, once the parade has wrapped up, a festival begins on City Plaza with music, dancing, kid-friendly activities and more.

Check out the glorious display of daffodils at Dix Park near downtown Raleigh. The city planted 50,000 bulbs back in November and thousands are now popping up. My earlier post has details about how to see them.

NC Comicon runs Friday through Sunday at the Raleigh Convention Center (and teachers and school staff get in for free on Sunday). The event celebrates comic book pop culture with exhibits, panels, workshops, vendors, the very popular Cosplay Contest and more. Kids 9 and under are admitted free to the event with an adult. Tickets are between $25 and $90 depending on how many days and which day you want to attend.

Raleigh Little Theatre continues its run of “Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds. It runs through March 24. A bit about the show: “Meet Ziggy, a shy boy who would rather stay at home and watch television than explore the island of Jamaica. His adventures are enlivened by the fantastic songs of Bob Marley.” Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for kids.

The 25th annual Reptile and Amphibian Day is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. It’s dubbed the nation’s largest and most popular event dedicated to hopping, slithering, crawling critters. This year’s theme is toads. The day includes presentations, live animals, crafts and more. It’s free.

Marbles Kids Museum's IMAX theater opens "Superpower Dogs 3D," Friday. The 45-minute documentary is great for all ages. (I'll have a review of it on Go Ask Mom on Friday.) And as part of opening weekend, Marbles will host a Dog Trick and Agility Show by Jackie’s Basics and Beyond Dog Training at 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday in the museum. Admission to both the movie and Marbles is $10 per person.

India Fest is Saturday and Sunday at the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds. The annual event promotes India’s cultural arts and features music, dancing, food, crafts and more. Admission is free.

Northgate Mall will host a Children’s Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. Hosted by the mall and the Durham Arts Council, the day will include food, entertainment and vendors specializing in children’s activities. It’s free.

Creek Week in Durham offers a bunch of activities for families, including one of the Triangle Land Conservancy’s family sessions. Get Wild: Creek Critters is 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. It’s best for kids ages 4 to 6.

Duke Baseball plays Louisville Friday through Sunday. Games are at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Tickets are $9.

Chapel Hill-Durham Parents of Multiples Sale is 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, at Hillsong Church, 201 Culbreth Rd., Chapel Hill. Some items are half off from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

UNC Baseball plays Miami Friday through Sunday in Chapel Hill. Tickets start at $7.

The Cary Kite Festival is Saturday afternoon at Bond Park. You can register to compete in the kite flying contest from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Activities run from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. In addition to the contest, there also will be an expert kite flyer on hand to provide some tips and tricks, along with music, concessions and more. It’s free.

The town’s Arbor Day Celebration is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, at Downtown Park. The free event includes tree-themed crafts for kids, education and entertainment. Attendees can pick up a free tree (while supplies last) to plant at home.

Transactors Improv will host a family-friendly show from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, at The ArtsCenter. Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors and $6 for kids. The performance features short-form improv – individual scenes running 5-10 minutes and based on audience suggestions.