Weekend Plans: Baby Loves Disco, Elmo, festivals, more

Elmo and Baby Loves Disco are in town. There's a free family day at the Nasher Museum in Durham. A downtown festival in Fuquay-Varina. And Kids Together Playground celebrates its birthday.

Posted 1:17 a.m. Jun 2, 2011 — Updated 5:44 p.m. Jun 3, 2011

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Here's your weekend family fun! Stay cool!

Baby Loves Disco returns to the Triangle with two shows this weekend! You'll find this dance party for kids and their parents at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Friday and at Crabtree Valley Mall on Saturday afternoon. Read my earlier post for more about both events.

Elmo is here! Thousands of you will be headed over to the RBC Center for Sesame Street 1-2-3 ... Imagine! With Elmo and Friends. Shows run Friday to Sunday and tickets start at $12.

Kidzu Children's Museum, which is closed as staff makes the move to a new space across Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, and the N.C. Symphony are teaming up for an Instrument Zoo, where kids can try out different instruments, and a music making craft before the symphony's annual free concert at Southern Village in Chapel Hill. The activities are from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

The Museum of Life and Science will hold one of its Black Light Insect Hunts from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday. Strong lights will lure moths, beetles and other active insects to stations set up outside. Museum entomologists will help visitors identify and learn about what they're seeing. Pre-registration is required for this event. It's $2.50 for kids ages 12 and under and $5 for adults. Call 919-220-5429 ext. 313 to register. (This event has sold out in the past).

There are a couple of free events at Cary's Sertoma Amphitheater at Bond Park this weekend. The Triangle Bass Band will play a Pops in the Park concert at 7 p.m. Friday. And Bright Start Children's Theatre will present African Folktales at 3 p.m. Saturday. Click here for more information about both events.

It's the first Friday of the month, which means it's First Friday in downtown Raleigh. Local galleries and museums stay open late with some special events. Marbles Kids Museum will be open until 8 p.m. The American Dance Festival's Gaspard Louis, a member of the world-renowned Pilobolus Dance Theatre from 1996 to 2001, will lead two children's movement workshops at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate Fuquay-Varina festival will take over downtown Fuquay-Varina this weekend. A street concert starts at 8 p.m. Friday. And from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, there will be music, food, art, a zone for kids and more.

Safe Kids of Orange County will host a Summer Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Meadowmont Village Circle (next to to The Fire Place, 301 Meadowmont Village Circle). Families can learn about fire safety, water safety, bike and pedestrian safety, gun safety, sports injuries and prevention, heat exposure and more. Kids also can participate in the Junior Firefighter Challenge and a bike rodeo; crawl through the Kid’s Fire Safety House; and bounce in a special inflatable fire truck. The fire safety puppet show, Johnnie Joins the Fire Department, is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Northgate Mall in Durham will celebrate Arts on the Plaza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. You'll find food, live music and art. Plus, Northgate is a great place to go when it's so hot outside with both a carousel and kiddie train.

Fit Momma Boot Camp, a new workout program for moms, will offer a couple of free classes on Saturday. They're at 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Hank Anderson Park in Carrboro off Highway 54. The classes will be led by Gina Lacava and Carolina Hurant, both certified personal trainers. Meet at the park in the parking lot by the tennis courts.

Kids, adults and families are invited to participate in a community mural painting project from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Carter Building, 14 Glenwood Ave. The theme of the project is Raleigh: My Dream City. The piece will be installed on the Carter Building, which is near the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Hillsborough Street.

If you love dogs, head over to Cary's Dog Days of June from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Bond Park, 801 High House Rd. Cary will offer a rabies vaccine and micro-chipping clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for both cats and dogs. And there's a Canine Frisbee Disc Competition. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. for the event, which benefits the Cary Teen Council. Local pet advocacy groups also will be there. Pets should be leashed or in a kennel at all times.

The 16th annual Ammon Blueberry Festival is 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of NC 242 and Old Fayetteville Road in Bladen County. A blueberry pancake breakfast is from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. There's a parade at 10 a.m. plus games, rides, crafts, entertainment and more (including blueberries!). Admission is free. Proceeds support the Ammon Volunteer Fire Department.

Speaking of blueberries ... strawberry season is just about over. But that means blueberry season is picking up! There are several farms in the area where you can pick your own blueberries. Check our database to find one in a county near you.

Triangle Mommies will hold its annual yard sale from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the 5/3 Bank parking lot at 5500 Six Forks Rd. There will be 25 moms participating, along with a table of items donated by Triangle Mommies members. Cold drinks and baked goods also for sale. Lots of baby and kid items here.

The Nasher Museum of Art in Durham will hold one of its very popular Family Days from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The event celebrates the museum's exhibitions and collection. Families can stamp their own Art Passports as they explore the galleries together. Hands-on activities include collaged masks, painted self-portraits and a community sculpture. The Gregg Gelb Jazz Quintet will perform at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Activities are designed for kids ages 3 to 12 and their adults. All ages welcome. It's all free.

Raleigh's Sunday in the Park concert series begins Sunday with a concert by the Milagro Saints. This outdoor concert series, which is great for kids and families, is at Fletcher Park, 820 Clay St. Concerts run on Sunday evenings from June to August starting at 6 p.m. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs and blankets. It's free.

Kids Together Playground in Cary will celebrate its birthday from 3 p.m.to 5 p.m. Sunday. Kids can make noisemakers; march with KATAL, the Kids Together dragon, in a parade; and enjoy some sweet treats. This is a great playground. See my review from last year. The event is free.

And New Hope Valley Railway in southwestern Wake County will be running its trains on Sunday. These monthly train rides are really popular. Just be sure to check the website for more information before you go.

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