Weekend Plans: Christmas events, library book sale, more

Just like last weekend, there are an insane number of events and activities this weekend! So let’s get started. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more weekend fun.

First, Go Ask Mom is excited to be a part of North Hills’ Winter Wonderland event, which was moved to this Saturday because of last week’s rainy weather. It’s 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, at Midtown Park, which is on the east side of Six Forks Road. We’ll provide an easy Christmas ornament craft from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. That’s followed by outdoor screenings of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Elf.” There's also holiday music and more.

All of the major Christmas light shows are on this weekend, including Park West Village’s Magical Winter Lights, which opens Friday and includes free train rides, storytimes with Santa and more.

The Nutcracker will be on multiple stages at various places across the Triangle, including the City Ballet’s production at Rolesville High School, which includes young dancers and professional ones from the Carolina Ballet.

The State Capitol tree lighting is Thursday. The building and the nearby Executive Mansion in downtown Raleigh also are open for holiday open houses.

We have shows:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts

Cinderella at Raleigh Little Theatre

A Christmas Carol with Theater in the Park

Disney on Ice presents Frozen at the PNC Arena

Sandbox will perform a family-friendly concert of holiday music “under the stars” of Morehead Planetarium on Saturday. (UPDATE: Ticket for kids have been discounted to $4).

We have Santa trains, though please note that tickets are limited or even sold out for some of the departure times.

Holiday Express at Pullen Park

There’s ice skating:

Raleigh’s Winterfest rink with hours all weekend. There is something special this weekend: Starting at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, the rink will host the 2nd annual Winterfest Classic featuring games played by kids under 8 years. It's free to watch.

And there's The Ice Factory at American Tobacco Campus in Durham.

And we have about seven Christmas parades this week, including in Cary and Chapel Hill-Carrboro.

The N.C. Museum of Art will hold family tours this Saturday and Sunday to highlight its exhibit “Small Treasures.” Tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, for families with kids or grandkids age 6 to 12. Explore the exhibition Small Treasures during an interactive tour led by Museum family guides. Tours are free. An exhibit ticket is required for entry. Visit the Museum Box Office in East Building on the day you plan to see the exhibition to sign up for tours and to purchase exhibition tickets, or call 919-715-5923. Space is limited.

Give the gift of reading for Christmas by snagging some gently used or new books at Wake County Public Library’s book sale. It’s 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. On Saturday, the sale will include a holiday magic show, a performance from Baron von Rumblebuss, juggling and other family activities. Sunday is bargain day when a box of books is $5 and a bag is $2.

Flying Froyo in northeast Raleigh will hold a grand opening celebration on Saturday.

Near downtown Raleigh, Mordecai Historic Park will host a holiday open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. The free open house features tours of the historic home, light refreshments and holiday music. Special lantern tours, which require tickets, are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday. To purchase tickets or for more information call 919-996-4364.

In Durham, Northgate Mall’s Discovery Nook for Kids will feature a performance of the “Gingerbread Boy” with Rags to Riches Theater at 12:30 p.m., Saturday. Free books also will be available from Reading is Fundamental.

Duke Homestead will celebrate Christmas by Candlelight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for kids ages 10 and under. Take an evening tour of the historic site and enjoy hot apple cider, goodies, caroling and dances. Then, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, there’s Victorian Family Christmas with crafts, Santa, carols and more. Tickets are $2. Kids 6 and under are free.

And Historic Yates Mill County Park just south of Raleigh will offer pictures with Santa as part of a fundraiser for Yates Mill Associates, the non-profit group that maintains and operates the mill. Professional photography sessions are available on a first come, first served basis. Prices are between $15 and $65 depending on the size of the photo. They are offered at 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday.