With Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, lots of families have a long weekend ahead of them. Today's post includes activities through Monday.
If you're looking for something meaningful to do, consider the United Way of the Greater Triangle's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. You'll find a variety of volunteer opportunities across the Triangle. Check
the website for details.
Here's your long weekend family fun ...
Friday is an early release day for some kids in Wake County. Others are tracked out. If that includes you,
Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve in north Raleigh will hold a Nature Play Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday. The preserve, which opened in August, has some short trails and some small nature play areas designed for kids. Preserve staff will set up nature play stations around the park. It's a great opportunity to explore this new resource in Raleigh. It's free. No registration is required.
Cat's Cradle in Carrboro will present an all ages matinee featuring Abbey Road Live, a Beatles tribute band. The show is 1 p.m., Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids.
The
N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh will offer a free craft from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, in honor of King. Make a paper peace dove in memory of the civil rights hero. This is an informal, drop-in program.
Cary will host a variety of special events this weekend as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamfest. Activities include an art exhibition; a memorial concert at 4 p.m., Saturday, at the Cary Arts Center; a day of service; and more.
Click here for details.
Durham will host a program to remember King's life at an event from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday at the W.D. Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville St., in Durham. The theme is MLK Day: Remembering the Legacy Through Art. There will be art displays, a craft project, community discussions and more. It is free and open to the public. Call 919-560-4292 for details.
N.C. Parent Consultants will hold one of its Saturday forums for parents of kids ages 12 and under. The topic is "Dealing with Angry Feelings in Children." It's 10 a.m., Saturday, at 7009 Harps Mill Rd., in Raleigh. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required at least 48 hours in advance.
Author Kelly Starling Lyons, a Raleigh mom of two, will launch her latest picture book, "Ellen's Broom," at a special event at 3 p.m., Sunday, at
Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh on Wade Avenue. The book is about a young girl who learns a new meaning for freedom during the time of Reconstruction. For ages 6 to 10.
On Monday, Raleigh will mark the King holiday with several events, including a march and concert. For the details on all of the activities,
click here.
Several local moms groups will hold a birthday party for King starting at 10 a.m., Monday, at Northgate Mall in Durham. There will be activities, birthday cake and a visit from an author who wrote about her experiences growing up with King, a family friend. Read
my earlier post for details. It's free.
And we have some special events at local museums and family destinations:
Raleigh Winterfest, the downtown Raleigh ice rink, is open all week and weekend, including Friday (if you have an early release day) and Monday. Check
the website for the hours.
Marbles Kids Museum, which usually is closed on Mondays, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday. Celebrate King Day by meeting with community heroes, including a firefighter, police officer and paramedic. Museum goers also can pack food for the Backpack Buddies program to feed children in need from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday.
The
N.C. Museum of Art's Rembrandt in America continues through Jan. 22. The museum offers
family tours at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The topic this month is Little Dutch Masters and is a great tour to go on before heading over to the Rembrandt exhibit with kids. Though the museum is usually closed on Mondays, the Rembrandt exhibit will be open on King Day. The West Building, which houses the museum's permanent collection, will not be open.
The
Museum of Life and Science in Durham has two special exhibits this season. The Wonderland Express features model trains traveling through a wintry North Carolina scene. It runs through Sunday. And Race: Are We So Different?, which explores the science, history, and everyday impact of race and racism, ends Jan. 22.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill is closed for maintenance through Jan. 20,
