Weekend Plans: Mary Poppins, Potter parties, train rides with ice cream, more

Happy weekend! Here’s what’s happening on the family fun front. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar and our #100thingsWRAL list of summer fun.

The N.C. Theatre’s “Mary Poppins” runs through Sunday. This show is a lot of fun for family audiences with a little “theater magic” that brings Mary’s magic alive. It’s not exactly like the Disney movie we’ve all seen, but the storyline will definitely be familiar. Shows run through Sunday at the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts in Raleigh. Tickets also are available for a special Tea with Mary on Saturday.

Potter Parties! “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the eighth installment in the record-breaking series, will be released in the wee hours of the morning Sunday. This isn’t a novel, but a play, which will officially debut in London’s West End theater district this weekend. J.K. Rowling is one of three authors. Local bookstores and libraries will be hosting special Potter events this weekend, including Quail Ridge Books, Regulator Bookshop, Flyleaf Books and Barnes and Noble stores.

Saturday is Diesel, Steam and Ice Cream at New Hope Valley Railway in southwestern Wake County. With each train ticket purchased, visitors will get two scoops of ice cream and a choice of toppings. Train departures begin at 11 a.m. Tickets are $12 for kids, $13 for seniors and $14 for adults. The rides feature hour-long journeys through southwestern Wake County in an open-air car.

Wake Forest’s Joyner Park will host a Family Movie Night at 8:30 p.m., Saturday. The movie is “Karate Kid,” from 2010, rated PG. The evening includes on-site food vendors selling snacks and refreshments. The move is free.

Apex Nature Park will screen “Zootopia” at dusk, Saturday. It’s free.

And Raleigh Little Theatre will screen the live action version of “Cinderella” at 9 p.m., Sunday. The pre-show begins at 8 p.m. with Disney trivia and food trucks. It’s free.

Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex in Holly Springs is holding a summer celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. All kinds of wheels are welcome - from bikes and skateboards to scooters and inline skates. There will be a stunt show, food and ice cream, giveaways and special deals. The complex is said to be the largest year-round, BMX, mountain bike and skateboard training facility in the world.

Downtown Cary will host its Chatham Street Chowdown from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday. Find it along West Chatham Street between Walker Street and North Harrison Avenue. There will be food trucks, music, wine, beer and more.