Get Ready: Marbles' free Kickoff to Kindergarten is Aug. 17

The event is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17, at the downtown Raleigh museum and is designed for rising kindergartners and their families. Thanks to the event's sponsors, admission to Marbles and the full-day event is free.

During the event, kids can practice activities like hopping on a school bus and going through a lunch line. Characters from Letterland, a popular early reading program that's used in Wake County, also will be on hand for meet and greets. For parents, there are opportunities to ask educators questions and,, even, get more information about saving for college.

I took my younger daughter when she was moving up to kindergarten. We had a great time together. It gets pretty busy, but I highly recommend this long-running event. A kindergarten kickoff for year-round students was held in June.