Weekend Plans New Year's Edition: What's happening, open, closed

Check WRAL.com's Out & About calendar and WRAL’s Holiday Guide for lots of events in the region. Holiday light shows are still on. Click here for details about major shows. Click here for a map. And Go Ask Mom’s winter break guide has some ideas too. Keep reading below for the holiday hours for popular family destinations.

Kwanzaa celebrations are planned in Cary on Thursday and Durham on Sunday and Jan. 1. Read my earlier post for details.

First Night will take over downtown Raleigh on Monday. The event begins at 2 p.m. with the Children’s Celebration in and around the N.C. Museum of History and N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. Then it moves over to Fayetteville Street for an early acorn drop at 7 p.m., followed by the official drop at midnight. Of course, there are lots of performances, crafts and other activities, including a big Ferris wheel. Read my earlier post for details.

Marbles Kids Museum will celebrate a Noon Year’s Eve starting at 11:30 a.m., Monday. Ring in the “noon” year with bubble wrap “fireworks” and a ball drop at noon. If you have a First Night Raleigh button, you’ll get a buy one, get one free museum admission (no more than two free per button) on Dec. 31 and $2 off an IMAX movie from Dec. 31 to Jan. 31.

The Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker moves over to the Durham Performing Arts Center with performances Saturday and Sunday.

And the Eno River Association’s annual New Year’s Day hike at the state park in Durham is 2 p.m., Tuesday. This is a popular family event that includes a three-mile hike and a five- to six-mile hike option. It’s free. No registration required. Great way to start the year on a healthy note.

The rides at Raleigh’s Pullen Park are closed Jan. 1. The hours on every other day are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park’s grounds and playground are open from dawn to dusk.

Marbles Kids Museum will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 31, and noon to 5 p.m., Jan. 1. The IMAX Theatre at Marbles will be open.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of History are closed Jan. 1.

The N.C. Museum of Art is open Dec. 31. Only the East Building, featuring some special exhibits, will be open. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Jan. 1.

Kidzu Children’s Museum is closed Dec. 31 (it’s usually closed on Mondays) and Jan. 1.

The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is open until 5 p.m., Dec. 31. It is closed Jan. 1.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill is open with special holiday hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The N.C. Zoo is open.

The Raleigh Winterfest ice rink is open daily, including New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.