First Friday Family Fun: Rockets, hula hoop jam, kids clothing sale, more

Don't forget that downtown will be packed starting Thursday for Hopscotch, the three-day music festival featuring almost 175 bands. Check WRAL.com's Out & About section for more about this. The concerts on Raleigh City Plaza are for all ages. The rest are for ages 18 or 21 and up. 

Back to First Friday, here are some places to take the kids:

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences will offer a host of activities, including a free screening of "The Black Scorpion," a 1957 flick at 7 p.m. about giant scorpions; discounts on adult tickets for Dinosaurs in Motion, the exhibit featuring life-size dinos that wraps up Sept. 12; food and music at the Daily Planet Cafe; and more. The museum stays open until 9 p.m. on First Fridays. 

Also at the museum will be a discussion from Rachel L. Smith, director of the astronomy and space Observation Research Lab and an assistant professor, about LADEE, the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer. She'll talk about the instruments, scientific endeavors and details about the launch to the moon, which is scheduled for 11:27 p.m., Friday, in Virginia. Her talk, at 6 p.m., is for all ages. Then Tony Rice, a NASA solar system ambassador and WRAL.com blogger, will offer an overview at 7 p.m. with some information about how you might be able to see the launch in central and eastern North Carolina. Click here for details.

The First Friday Morning Times Market features local artists and craftspeople selling homemade items including silk screened T-shirts and jewelry. Kids can enjoy a live drum circle and hula hoop jam from 7:30. p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For adults, there's live music on the street and the Big Boss beer tent. It's 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday. Also, there's family and dog-friendly sidewalk dining at The Raleigh Times and Morning Times restaurants (two of my favorites) along Hargett Street. Both are owned by Empire Eats.

Blake Street Studios will offer a show called "Abstract Contemporary." It's open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The studio is featuring the felted masterpieces of Elena Bondar, abstract photography by Caroline Cockrell, abstract paintings by Jacqueline Dulin, and modern works by Anjuli Johnson. There will be light refreshments - wine for Mom and Dad and snacks for the kids. Live music is from the duo Raiford Street. The singer is also an elementary school art teacher and loves to have kids play along, I'm told.

Artspace in City Market is open until 10 p.m. with several exhibits and three 10-minute dance performances scheduled for 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. by Code f.a.d. Company. One exhibit called "It All Goes Back to Childhood" by Kiki Farish blends abstraction and realism and, according to Farish, beings with "text that reflects conflict regarding my own family's words of comfort: ‘Kiki, you're not fat, you're chubby.’”

Nuvonivo, the new children's apparel store on Hargett Street, will take 10 percent off all of the new fall children's wear arrivals at the store. It's open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on First Fridays.

Gallery C will be open until 9 p.m. with an exhibit of vintage photographers from N.C. photographer Bayard Wootten. According to the gallery, "Bayard Wootten was a pioneer photographer, a N.C. native and a woman. She is best known for her portraits of everyday people, both white and black at work and at play in rural communities across the state. This show concentrates on photographs taken during the 1930s."

For the fashion lovers, Moon and Lola will host FashionSpark from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Head over to the shop for cupcakes, drinks and the fall 2013 collection of Rhamey Rhodes by Catherine Fain, a Raleigh native and fashion editor of Metro Magazine, who will be presenting her first collection. All Moon and Lola accessories will be 15 percent off.

Rosenberry Rooms will be open until 9 p.m. The shop on Hillsborough Street features all sort of children's furniture, art and decor.

The Cupcake Shoppe, 104 Glenwood Ave., offer its buy one, get one half off cupcakes deal on First Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. While you nosh on your cupcakes, you also can enjoy local artwork.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit, 170 E. Davie St.,offers free dessert with purchase of a barbecue meat plate and drink or one free kid's meal for ages 12 and under per paid adult meal of equal or greater value.

Marbles Kids Museum, which is open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., on First Fridays, will feature special activities. They also offer a camp for kids until 8:30 p.m.

Videri Chocolate Factory, 327 W. Davie St., is open from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday. You can take a free self-guided tour of the chocolate factory and learn how chocolate is made from the bean to the bar. Then, you can try a free sample.

And CAM Raleigh, the contemporary art museum, will offer free admission, along with a DJ, food trucks, a creation station and more.