Weekend Plans: Bubbles, doughnuts, history and more

Marbles Kids Museum will host a Family Fun Night from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday (that's June 10) for children ages 10 and under with special needs and their families. The after-hours event allows the kids to experience Marbles in a calmer, less crowded environment. It's free and exclusively for children with special needs and their families. The program is held quarterly with help from a variety of local groups. Marbles also will host a Home Depot Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday for all. That's free with admission.

The state's historic sites and museums launch the new Second Saturday series, which feature a variety of mostly free events across the state on the second Saturday of the month in June, July and August. There are many events planned in the Triangle including a garden and craft festival at Duke Homestead in Durham, a 170th birthday party at the State Capitol in Raleigh, and a Juneteenth celebration at Historic Stagville in Durham.

The Museum of Life and Science in Durham holds its Bubble Blitz from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. with demonstrations, experiments and hands-on bubble activities. Activities are free with admission.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast continues its run at the Durham Performing Arts Center. It runs through June 13. Tickets start at $25.

Sign up your kids (and in many cases yourself) for a summer reading program at libraries across the region. Registration for some has already begin and is about to begin for others.

The Eno River Farmers Market holds its Enchantment Under the Soil from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in Hillsborough. The event includes several activities for kids, including information about composting and a butterfly release.

Doughnut lovers ... it's your time. The Raleigh City Musuem will offer The Fabulous World of Doughnuts at 2 p.m. Saturday. The family program will delve into the details of doughnuts and feature a Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts blind taste test off. The program is free.

Some free outdoor concerts. The 2010 Starlight Concert Series begins Friday at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center garden, 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary. The series' five concert are all free and begin at 7:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and blankets. Cary's Summer Sertoma Series will feature the Triangle Wind Ensemble at 6 p.m. Sunday at Bond Park's Sertoma Amphitheatre, 801 High House Rd. Raleigh's free Fletcher Concert Series will feature the rock stylings of The Stray Dogs at 6 p.m. Sunday.

And RebusFest, a celebration of local art and music, will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Rebus Works on Kinsey Street in downtown Raleigh. The free festival is family friendly and includes art, music, crafts for kids and food.