Weekend Plans: State Fair, fall fun, Go Ask Mom at North Hills, more!

It’s another busy weekend of family fun. Pumpkin patches and haunted houses are open. Local churches and parks are planning fall or Halloween events. Check our database of Halloween and fall fun to learn about events near year. One to note: New Hope Valley Railway’s Halloween rides run this Saturday and next Saturday in southwestern Wake County. Tickets are available.

And, of course, we have the N.C. State Fair, which wraps up on Sunday. Check WRAL.com’s fair blog for the latest. If you go, be sure to read my earlier post with all kinds of tips and check out the Marbles Kids Museum and UNC-TV tent and the Field of Dreams exhibit, both great for kids 12 and under.

Over here at Go Ask Mom, we’re gearing up for a big Saturday morning at the Midtown Raleigh Farmers’ Market at North Hills. We’ll be there from 8 a.m. to noon with all kinds of fun and free activities for families. Find us on the commons next to Ben & Jerry’s and Starbucks. North Hills will pull out the large, colorful foam blocks that kids love to build with and climb on. We’ll bring crafts and snacks (while supplies last), along with a concert from the Sandbox band, a free Halloween activity from Lil’ Chef, a free Stroller Barre class from Stroller Strides and more. Read my earlier post for all the details and the full schedule (including information about pre-registering for the Stroller Barre workout class, which is required). I hope to see you there!

Of course, there’s much more going on. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more.

It’s a busy Saturday for Sandbox. After playing our Go Ask Mom event at North Hills, the kids and family band will head over to the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh to be part of a free family festival that starts at 2 p.m. The line-up includes Sandbox, which plays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Mommie, led by Doug MacMillaan of The Connells, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The concert continues until 10 p.m. There will be free face painting, balloon animals and other activities. This is a fun and free way to check out the new outdoor amphitheater. Read my earlier post for details.

The alpacas are coming! The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is now home to four alpacas - two babies and their moms. The animals live in the museum’s farmyard exhibit. Read my earlier post for details about the animals and plans over the next week to celebrate their new home.

PBteen is opening a pop-up store at The Streets at Southpoint in Durham on Saturday. The store features home furnishings and accessories designed specifically for teens. They’ll have some special deals on Saturday and a design studio for teens. Read my earlier post for more information, including details on the opening of the Hanna Andersson and Sur La Table stores.

Cary Diwali 2012, the annual Celebration of Lights from India, is 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, at Koka Booth Amphitheater. Admission is free. The event features live music, dance, food and special activities just for kids (which require registration, so check in when you get there). The day is capped by fireworks. Cary Diwali is the main event of Hum Sub, a non-profit Indian-American cultural organization

Kids Together playground’s annual Fall Foliage Walk is 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, at the park off Cary Parkway in Cary. Experts from Little & Little Landscape Architects will lead a guided tour of the trees, shrubs and flowers at the park. The event includes an art activity using plant materials collected during the tour. Refreshments are included in this free program at this great park.

The Handmade Parade in Hillsborough returns this year. The event is set for 2 p.m., Saturday, in downtown Hillsborough. This grassroots parade that features a variety of handmade costumes (there’s still time to register to participate!) is a popular one in Orange County. This year’s theme is creatures and characters of the Eno River. It’s described as a “walking theatrical performance.” There is still time to register to be part of the parade. Or just watch and get ideas for the next one!

A festival celebrating Morgan Creek in Chapel Hill is 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, at the N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill. They’ll have live music, a presentation on the natural history of Morgan Creek, a guided hike, creek exploration for kids and parents and more.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will hold one of its monthly skywatching sessions from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, at Jordan Lake. Check Morehead’s website for details, including updated weather information, though it looks like the skies should be clear. You’ll be able to view Mars and the moon with the help of telescopes and experts.

Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique in Cary will have a special event from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, at the store. There will be live music, an art show, face painting, goody bags while supplies last and other activities.

The 11th annual Down by the Tracks to benefit the SPCA of Wake County is 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, at Seaboard Station near downtown Raleigh. Admission is $10 per adult (includes free beer). Kids 12 and under are free. The afternoon includes a silent auction, live music, doggie pools, food vendors, a photo booth for you and your dog, a dog agility contest and more. This is an event you can bring your whole family too … as long as the dog in your family is on a leash.

If you’re up for a drive, the N.C. Zoo will hold Batology, its annual celebration of bats from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. The day includes zoo educator and keeper talks, educational displays, information about native bats and a children’s activity station with games and prizes. The event will end each day with a vampire bat feeding - with real blood (I think I might sit that one out if I were there). It’s free with zoo admission, which is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for kids 2 to 12. The zoo in Asheboro is about 90 minutes from Raleigh.

I'll throw this one in because I know we all have stuff at home we can get rid of: The Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina will hold a Secure Your ID Day from 8 a.m .to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, at the Coastal Federal Credit Union, 1000 St. Albans Dr., Raleigh. The Secure Your ID Day event will also include free document shredding by ProShred and identity protection tips from the BBB and Coastal Federal Credit Union. Individuals are encouraged to bring up to three boxes or bags of documents that have been removed from binders and up to five electronic devices, such as computers, cell phones or tablets for recycling. (Get rid of your stuff, then head over to Go Ask Mom's event at North Hills to celebrate).

Northgate Mall in Durham will feature a day of music from Triangle-area piano students. It’s part of the Durham Music Teacher Association’s bi-annual fundraiser Playathon. It’s 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, at the Macy’s court at Northgate Mall. Donations are accepted to support need-based scholarships for students in the area.

The IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum will open “Flight of the Butterflies 3D” on Friday. The documentary follows the longest migration on Earth as half a billion butterflies head south on a 3,000 mile journey across North America. I have been to pretty much every single IMAX documentary at Marbles and have not been disappointed. I’m looking forward to taking my seven-year-old to this one.

The N.C. Museum of Art will hold a fall family festival starting at 1 p.m., Sunday. Octoberfeast features art, food and community and includes a family-friendly food tour of the permanent collection, along with lots of other activities. It’s free. Read my earlier post for details about this event and the museum’s other great family programs.

The Contemporary Art Museum in downtown Raleigh will hold a Monster Mash-up family event from noon to 3 p.m., Sundnay. Explore the museum's exhibits and enjoy hands-on activities, including create-your-own monster hands. There will be special treats for kids in costume. Museum admission is $5 and free for kids 10 and under.

And at 3 p.m., Sunday, the Chapel Hill Philharmonia and youth musicians will present "The Three Bs: Bach, Beethoven and Brahms." It features the music from the big three, along with a children's introduction to the sections of the orchestra. It's at the Rehearsal Hall of the Kenan Music Building on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. Admission is free.