Weekend Plans: More Santa, plus puppet shows, magic, horses and more

Santa, who is now available for photos at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh and Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville, continues his arrival at area malls. This Saturday, Santa will get to center court at Cary Towne Center at 10 a.m.. Kids ages 10 and under can have breakfast with Santa at Crabtree Valley Mall from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the food court (while supplies last). He'll be ready for photos at 10 a.m. Watch for Santa at Cameron Village in Raleigh on Nov. 18 and at Northgate Mall in Durham, The Streets at Southpoint in Durham, Golden East in Rocky Mount and North Hills in Raleigh on Nov. 20. And check the Go Ask Mom holiday guide for other events.

The Duke Jump for the Children horse show, now in its 27th year, started Tuesday and runs through Sunday. The event opens at 7:30 a.m. daily at the horse complex at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. This is a big, annual event that raises lots of money for Duke Children's Hospital. Of note for families: Friday night features the popular stick horse races. Kids can bring their own stick horse or decorate a stick horse at the event from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Then the kids will gather in the main arena for the big race at 6:45 p.m. They'll get a ribbon and there's generally a big deal made about it all, I'm told. Aftewards, you can stay to watch the horses. And visitors are welcome to watch the competition and get closer looks at the horses in the barns. Concessions will be for sale. Admission is free, except on Saturday evening starting at 7:45 p.m. for the grand prix jumping show. That's $10 for adults and free for kids under 6.

Jungalbook continues its run at the Raleigh Little Theatre. The show is adapted from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Books and runs through Nov. 21. Best for kids ages 7 and up. Tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for kids ages 0 to 12. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sundays. There are a couple of weekday shows planned. They're for school groups though there may be tickets available for individuals. Check the website for details.

Lots going on at the N.C. Museum of Art this weekend. The old East Building is reopened with five exhibits, including one featuring Norman Rockwell and another featuring children's book illustrations. The museum's family performance series also will feature "A Show of Virtues" with the Grey Seal Puppets. The show celebrates courage, perseverance, politeness and tolerance in tales from around the world. Performances are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $3. And the museum will have free drop-in crafts for kids from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You don't need a ticket to participate in the crafts. These shows can, but not always, sell out.

Duke Gardens will hold its final storytime of the year from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the gardens in Durham. For kids ages 3 to 8. The fee is $3 per child. First come, first served.

Applause! Cary Youth Theatre's production of "The Little Prince" runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Cary Academy Fine & Performing Arts Center, 1500 N. Harrison Ave. More than 30 local kids are involved in the production. Cary Youth Theatre offers classes, workshops and performing opportunities for kids. The show is 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 in advance, $8 for students and seniors and $5 for kids ages 5 and under. All tickets at the door are $10.

The Wake Forest Out of the Darkness Community Walk is Saturday starting at Patterson Hall on the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary off Wingate Street in downtown Wake Forest. Proceeds benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Registration is from noon to 2 p.m. The walk, which is just under three miles through Wake Forest, starts at 2 p.m. Memorial activities are planned. There is no cost, but a donation is required for some door prizes. Carolyn Zahnow, who I've written about, is helping to lead this up. Zahnow lost her only child to suicide and has since written a book called "Save the Teens" where she details her own story and offers warning signs of depression, suicide and substance abuse.

Saturday is Pecan Pickin' Day at Historic Oak View County Park. From 10 a.m. to noon visitors can learn about pecans, participate in activities for kids and pick some pecans at the park's grove. Historic Oak View is at 4028 Carya Dr. in Raleigh. Free

Raleigh will celebrate America Recycles Day with a big event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Shops at Seaboard, 802 Semart Dr. You can bring in all kinds of items to be recycled. There will be music, a kids zone with games and crafts and more.

Don't forget that National Gaming Day is Saturday at libraries across the region. The event aims to get more kids to the library and, depending on the location, will feature board and card games, along with video games.

A Christmas Bazaar, to help a local couple raise money to adopt a girl from the Ukraine, is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Hunting Ridge apartment clubhouse off Falls of Neuse Road in north Raleigh.

The ArtsCenter in Carrboro will host An Evening of Enchantments Thursday through Sunday. The show features two magicians who got their start in the Triangle. Best for kids ages 9 and up. 

And band kids might enjoy the Triangle Wind Ensemble's free concert this weekend. The performance at 3 p.m. Sunday will feature contemporary and classic pieces. It's at the N.C. School for Science and Mathematics, 1219 Broad St. in Durham.