Weekend Plans: Baseball, food drive, festivals

Happy weekend! Here’s what’s happening in the family fun department. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more ideas.

Durham Bulls’ home opener is Wednesday evening. Home games also are scheduled Thursday and Friday. On Friday, there will be fireworks after the game, along with a performance from the Diamond Cutters, the team’s dancing grounds crew. That’s always fun to see.

The N.C. Science Festival continues with events across the region and state this weekend. The annual festival runs until April 26. There are dozens of events in our area, the Research Triangle region, this weekend. The Science Festival's website has the details.

“Sleeping Beauty” continues this weekend at Raleigh Little Theatre. The show has been so popular with families that it was extended.

Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique will host the Great Cloth Diaper Change, part of an international effort to raise awareness about cloth diapers and set another Guinness World Record for most diapers changed at one time. The event also includes live music and other activities. My earlier post has more information, including details about how to register if you’d like to participate in the changing event.

Designer Consignors, which features women's clothing and accessories and apparel, is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at 1111 Walnut St. in Cary inside the former Harris Teeter. Also for moms: Fashion designer Nanette Lepore will be at Saks Fifth Avenue in Raleigh for a show and shopping that benefits the Triangle Spokes Group, which provides new bikes and helmets to needy kids.

Cabela’s opens in Garner on Thursday. The store, which has hunting, fishing and outdoors gear, will offer some events geared toward families from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.

Here’s a great opportunity to help out kids in need and a kid doing a great thing: Will Winslow, a nine-year-old from Raleigh, has launched his third annual food drive for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s BackPack Buddies program, which provides weekend meals to needy kids during the school year. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Will and his many volunteers will be at some Food Lions and Harris Teeters in Wake County to collect donations. Also, diners who donate items from the list of needs at the Flying Biscuit in Cameron Village on Saturday will get 15 percent off their purchase or a free biscuit with apple butter (and those things are good!). For more information, including the list of the program’s specific needs, Will’s Food Drive Kid website has all of the details. Go, Will!

Jabali African Acrobats will stop at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro for an hour-long family show at 11 a.m., Saturday. Tickets are $9; $7 for kids; and $28 for a family four pack. “Direct from Mombasa, Kenya, the Jabali African Acrobats are an all-male group of phenomenal performers that combine fast paced movement, music, dance, and daring acrobatic feats to create a thrilling, high-energy show,” according to a description.

Carolina Ballet presents the classic Swan Lake this weekend in Raleigh and May 2 to May 3 in Durham. Tickets start around $35.

In Chatham County, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance is Friday through Sunday. Some will camp out at the festival and attend all three days. Others will go in for just a day. The long-running event includes a quiet camping area for families (or others who just want to sleep), along with a special area with performances and crafts just for kids. Tickets for kids ages 13 to 15 are available at a reduced price. Kids 12 and under get in free.

George Watts Montessori School will hold its Spring Carnival and Silent Auction from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The event includes a bounce house, face and nail painting, crafts, food trucks, relay races and carnival games. The silent auction features a beach vacation and regional getaways, gift cards to local restaurants, shops, and salons, summer camps, theater and local events, and many more items.

Northgate Mall’s Discovery Nook will host a special event from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency will offer an interactive environmental program for kids with related crafts and hands-on activities. The Nook is in the Children’s Alleyway and features kid-centered events monthly. Each kid who participates receives a free book.

Wake Tech’s Early Childhood Education Creative Arts event is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, at the Garner campus. The free event includes crafts from the Scrap Exchange, storytelling, hat making, kite making, creative movement, fort building and more.

The 7th annual ‘Cuegrass Festival is noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, on West Davie Street in downtown Raleigh next to The Pit. The day includes lots of barbecue and bluegrass music.

Cary will host a series of three food truck rodeos called Chatham Street Chowdown starting this Sunday. From noon to 4:30 p.m., 15 local food trucks, a beer and wine garden and live music will line West Chatham Street. Future events are July 26 and Oct. 4.

The Durham Symphony Orchestra has a concert this Sunday featuring various works from composer John Williams and Tchaikovsky. This concert will feature the group’s 2015 Young Artist Competition winner and 40 Durham Public School honors musician students. It’s 4 p.m., Sunday, at Riverside High School in Durham. Tickets are $15 and $10 for ages 13 to 21.

Durham’s Earth Day Festival is noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, at Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Dr. The free event includes music, crafts, food, a kids area and an Earth Day Parade, which festival goers are encouraged to join.

Apex Touch-A-Truck, a free event, is 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, at Apex Community Park. A horn-free hour is 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for kids with special needs. Kids can explore all kinds of vehicles - emergency, construction, landscaping, military and more.