Out and About

Nature Research Center plans block party for 24-hour grand opening

Check out our rundown of the events happening Friday and Saturday for the Nature Research Center's 24-hour grand opening.

Posted — Updated
Nature Research Center
By
Kathy Hanrahan
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is celebrating its new wing, the Nature Research Center, with a 24-hour grand opening and block party tomorrow.
Here's a rundown of the festivities happening in and around the museum on Friday: 
  • 4  p.m. - Shaw University Band performs at the Administration Plaza
  • 4:30  p.m. - The Grand Procession featuring Paperhand Puppets from the Governor’s Residence to SECU Daily Planet Stage
  • 5  p.m. -  Opening Ceremony featuring Kidznotes, Chuck Davis, Ira David Wood & NASA Associate Administrator for Science Mission Directorate Dr. John M. Grunsfeld on the SECU Daily Planet Stage

Following the ceremony, the doors officially open to the public for the Nature Research Center. People will be allowed admittance through the night and until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

  • 5:30 p.m. - Sensory Expressions Steel Drums at the Bicentennial Plaza Stage
  • 6 p.m. - Improv Everywhere's Mp3 Experiment at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
    • Burt’s Bees holds a Bonanza Tent Sale from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Bicentennial Plaza
    • Animal of the Hour: top of every hour & half hour until 3:30 pm Saturday, except 10 am Saturday at the Windows on the World
  • 7 p.m. - Coastal Cohorts at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
    • The Ohm Jazz Quintet at the Bicentennial Plaza Stage
    • Save the Frogs: The Wild World of Frogs at the Museum Auditorium
  • 8 p.m. Global Town Hall: Innovative Solutions for a Changing Planet featuring the Rolex Young Laureates at the SECU Daily Planet
    • Kid Power’s Operation Lunch Line 3D at the Museum Auditorium
    • 8:30 p.m. - Karen Smith Linehan at the Museum Lobby
    • 9 p.m. -  Liquid Pleasure at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
      • Wayne & Margaret Martin Bicentennial Plaza Stage
    • 9:30 p.m. - Michael Stanwood at the Museum Lobby
    • 10 p.m. The Chromatics: AstroCappella – A Musical Tour of the Universe at the Museum Auditorium
      • The Ohm Jazz Quintet at the Museum Lobby
  • 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. - The Science of Beer Making at the Acro Café
  • 10:30 p.m. UNC-G Salutes NC Jazz at the Bicentennial Plaza Stage
  • 11 p.m. - Save the Frogs: The Wild World of Frogs at the Museum Auditorium
  • 11:30 p.m. Hopscotch Band: Gang, Gang Dance at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
  • Midnight -  Earth: The Operators’ Manual at the Museum Auditorium
  • Midnight - 2 a.m. - “A scientist walks into a bar …” Science Comedy with Brian Malow Daily Planet Cafe
    • Events on Saturday: 
    • 1 - 7 a.m. - AV Geeks Creature Feature Marathon at the Museum Auditorium
    • 7 a.m. -  Science Café: Bungee Jumping for Big Science: New perspectives on solutions to climate change with Richard Alley at the Daily Planet Café
    • 7:30 a.m. Yoga with Pam at the Bicentennial Plaza Stage
      • Yoga with Blue Lotus at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
  • 8:30 a.m. - Kid Power’s Operation Lunch Line 3D at the Museum Auditorium
    • Karen Smith Linehan Bicentennial Plaza Stage
  • 9 a.m. - The Ohm Jazz Quintet at tjeMuseum Lobby
    • Wayne & Margaret Martin SECU Daily Planet Stage
    • Burt’s Bees Bonanza Tent Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bicentennial Plaza
    • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Book signing with author Julia Heckathorn at the Museum 3rd Floor Tropical Gallery
    • 9:30 a.m. Michael Stanwood at the Bicentennial Plaza Stage
    • 10 a.m. Kid Power’s Operation Lunch Line 3D at the Museum Auditorium
      • Storytime with author Julia Heckathorn at the Windows on the World
  • 11 a.m. - Animal Costume Parade with Karen Smith Linehan at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
    • Global Town Hall: Trees Are Us, moderated by NRC Director Meg Lowman at the SECU Daily Planet
    • Eli Wittman Solo Jazz at the Museum Lobby
  • 11:30 a.m. - Animal Costume Parade with Karen Smith Linehan at the Bicentennial Plaza Stage
  • 11:45 a.m. - Sensory Expressions Band at the Bicentennial Plaza Stage
  • Noon -  "Surprise" performer at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
    • Kid Power’s Operation Lunch Line 3D Museum Auditorium
  • 12:30 p.m. Meet and Greet the Animals and the Costume Designer in the Museum Lobby
  • 1 p.m. Sustainable Style: Reduce, Reuse, Restyle at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
    • Trash March led by Paperhand Puppets. Visitors can make their own creations from Scrap Exchange. Bicentennial Plaza Stage
  • 2 p.m. - Richard Alley, ETOM (Earth the Operators' Manual) at the Museum Auditorium
    • The Entertainers Beach Band at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
    • Fashion Parade Up Close and Personal at the Museum Lobby
    • Southern String Band at theMuseum Lobby
  • 3 p.m. - The Chromatics: AstroCappella — A Musical Tour of the Universe at the Bicentennial Plaza Stage
  • 4 p.m. - Southern String Band joined by Michael Stanwood at the SECU Daily Planet Stage
  • 4:30 p.m. - Trash March led by Paperhand Puppet Intervention at theBicentennial Plaza Stage
  • 5 p.m. - Citizen Science Charge, Dr. Meg Lowman, NRC Director at the SECU Daily Planet Stage

    • In addition to the Daily Planet Cafe, located in the Nature Research Center, you can also grab some food from food trucks, like Baguettaboutit, which will be downtown for the opening. 

    Other things to watch out for: 

    • Local artist Paul Dumlao will be creating an underwater scene on the sidewalk using chalk. Look for him and create some art of your own on the sidewalks.
    • Redo Reuse will be helping you create your own musical instrument or outfit at the scrap exchange table. 
    • View the sky using telescopes from the Raleigh Astronomy Club. 
    You can get more information about the Grand Opening, including transportation and parking, on the NRC website.
    Suggest A Correction

    Related Topics

    Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.