Weekend Plans: Train rides, festivals and more

So it will be a great strawberry picking weekend. Here's our sortable list of strawberry farms. And if you're willing to make the 2.5-hour drive, Chadbourn, N.C., which I'm told is called the Strawberry Capitol of the World, will celebrate the 78th North Carolina Strawberry Festival this weekend.

In the Triangle, the Central Park School for Children in Durham will hold a strawberry festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Old North Durham Park, 724 Foster St. Admission is free, though there is a small charge for some activities. Proceeds benefit Old North Durham Park.

The New Hope Valley Railway starts up again this Sunday for its season in Bonsal in Wake County. You can ride an old diesel or steam engine on a nine-mile trip. The rides are about 55 minutes long, start at 11 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. It's best to get there at least 30 minutes before your desired departure time. Be sure to check the website for all the details before you go.

Apex will hold its big spring event Saturday with Apex Peak Fest. The festival spreads out across downtown Apex and includes a special kids stage with magic and puppet shows, including the popular Carolina Puppet Theatre. Food, games, live performances and more. Downtown Apex stores also will offer some special deals and events, including All Booked Up, which will have two special appearances by authors and hold a raffle every hour for free gifts.

Raleigh Little Theatre presents "How Reading Came Back From Nowhere," a comedy with a serious lesson about the importance of reading. It's from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Cameron Village Library, 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh. The performance is free and open to all ages.

Mordecai Historic Park near downtown Raleigh holds its Blast from the Past from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The free family fun day includes crafts, games, performances, food, old-time cartoons, an open house and more.

As you may have read earlier this week on Go Ask Mom, it's a big weekend for Raleigh's Five Points. A new farmers market is opening there Saturday. Also Saturday, the children's consignment store Babiology is hosting a special event, including a class on how to use cloth diapers.

North Raleigh's Falls River Town Center's Spring Fling is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. You'll find inflatables, fire trucks, a scavenger hunt and raffle at the shopping center on Durant Road. The North Raleigh Farmer's Market will be open there from 8 a.m. to noon.

Middler schoolers and high schoolers can jam to bands competing for the Jamfest 2010 title. The free event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with awards presented at 4:30. It's free and at the Sertoma Amphitheater at Bond Park in Cary.

Also in Cary, Sk-8 Cary will hold its bi-annual skateboard and BMX competitions this weekend. The Sk8 Contest is Saturday; BMX on Sunday. It's free to watch the competition at the park at 2040 NW Maynard Rd. in Cary.

It's Ham and Yam Festival time in downtown Smithfield. The annual festival runs Saturday and Sunday and includes all kinds of entertainment and a ham and yam supper.

Carrboro Day is 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The annual event features live performances, fire department displays, food and lots of events and activities for kids.