Weekend Plans: Egg hunts, MythBusters, Puppet Palooza, Little Mermaid, more

We have another big weekend of fun activities ahead of us. Most of the egg hunts in the region are March 31 or April 7, but the Easter Bunny continues to make appearances at local malls and there are some egg hunts this weekend, including in Wake Forest and Apex. Check our Easter events database for all the details about these and many other events.

MythBusters is here! The stars of the very popular Discovery series will be at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh for two shows - 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday. I know this is a really popular show for families. Tickets start around $30 a piece.

We have three consignment sales in the region - Kidaround Kidsale in Wake Forest; Triangle Mothers of Twins & Triplets clothing and equipment sale in Raleigh; and Take 2 Kids Consignment in Benson. Read my earlier post for public shopping hours.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host one of its regular skywatching sessions at Jordan Lake State Park from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday. See Venus, the moon, Jupiter and Mars and learn from expert observers. Check the website for exact directions and weather information.

Eva Perry Regional Library in Apex will host a Puppet Palooza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. The event includes drop-in puppet crafts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are two 30-minute puppet shows in the morning. A 10:30 a.m. performance called "Mo Fun," is inspired by the popular children's author Mo Willems. Furry Tales, a puppet show about animals, is at 11:30 a.m. No registration is required for either of these shows. You do need to register for the two afternoon shows. Red Herring Puppets will perform at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The 40-minute show called "Rowby's Travel's: An Adventure in Folklore," focuses on Rowby, an alien hand puppet. All activities are for all ages. To register for the Red Herring Puppets shows, call 919-387-2100.

Marbles Kids Museum is having a Barbie Bash at its IMAX theater on Saturday. Watch "Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2" at the theater at 10 a.m., Saturday. Then stay for themed activities, including creating surfer fashions for Barbie and more. All you need is a ticket to the 10 a.m. show to participate. Tickets are on sale now.

Wheels on Academy, Cary's first car and motorcycle show, will feature classic roadsters and motorcycles. Fire trucks, police cars and army trucks also will be on hand for kids to climb in and explore. There will also be live music, art and more. It's from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, on Academy Street in downtown Cary. Free parking will be available two blocks from the car show at the Cary Town Hall Parking Deck next to the Herbert C. Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that this is going to be really popular.

Raleigh Little Theatre's run of Nate the Great, based on the series of books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, ends this weekend at the theater near Cameron Village. The show runs through Sunday. Tickets are $13 for teens and adults and $9 for kids 12 and under. Here's a synopsis: "Nate the Great is the sharpest kid detective ever to solve his neighborhood's mysteries. With his faithful dog, Sludge, and his friends, he solves important cases, always remembering to leave a note for his mother and wear his galoshes! It's the Our Gang comedies meet Raymond Chandler, a spoof of "B" movie mysteries."

The Carolina Ballet's run of The Little Mermaid continues through April 1. There is a special, shorter family show at 11 a.m., Saturday, featuring just The Little Mermaid. For more information, read my earlier post.

Durant Road Musical Theatre in north Raleigh will wrap "Winnie the Pooh" on Friday. Showtime is 7:30 p.m., Friday. The theater's shows aren't always open to the public, but I'm told this one was so cute they decided to open it up to a broader audience. The show features students at the theater, including members of its competition team. It's appropriate for kids ages 3 to 8. Tickets are $6. It's best to call ahead and reserve your tickets before you go. To reserve tickets, contact the theatre at 919-844-3228 or info@MyDRMT.com.

India Fest is at Dorton Arena at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh this weekend. The festival, featuring music, crafts and more, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $5 each day and $10 after 5 p.m. on Saturday (when the event will feature Meiyang Chang of Indian Idol and India's Got Talent). Free admission for kids five and under.

Chapel Hill Public Library will feature The Waterlilies, a local trio playing what they call "all ages rock." The free concert is from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday.

The Tarradiddle Players will present "Rapunzel" at the Cary Arts Center at 3 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $5. The one-hour performance is best for kids in second to sixth grade. Read my earlier post for details.