Weekend Plans: State Fair, Tony Hawk, Handmade Parade, Bulls fan fest, more

Thousands will flock to the N.C. State Fair for its first weekend of 2014. Be sure to check my earlier post on tips for families if you go. And, don’t forget that Saturday is Guest Star Day at the UNC-TV booth next to Dorton Arena.

If you’re looking for alternatives to the fair, our region's pumpkin patches, corn mazes and haunted trails are in full swing. Or you could check out the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences new “The World’s Largest Dinosaurs.”

Of course, there’s more. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for other ideas. Here’s what’s happening this weekend.

Durham Bulls Fall Fan Fest is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. It gives visitors a chance to get autographs from Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jerry Sands, a Smithfield native, and take batting practice and play catch on the field. There also are deals in the team store and a raffle. The winner will get to have Wool E. Bull hang with them for trick-or-treating. The event is free with the donation of three canned food items.

The Bull City Chicken Coop Tour and ChickenStock event will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, in Durham. A new city ordinance allows backyard chickens in Durham. The event will showcase 10 of Durham’s chicken coops. Visitors can learn more about backyard chickens and ask questions. Proceeds will benefit Welcome Baby Durham and their Cribs for Kids program. After the tour, Bull City Burger and Brewery will host ChickenStock Music Festival from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Maps can be purchased for $3 per person. 

The fifth Handmade Parade in Hillsborough features all sorts of handmade puppets. This is one of those parades where all are welcome to join. It starts at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, and ends at the Burwell School lawn.

The Raleigh Little Theatre will be hosting its bi-annual costume sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at the parking lot behind its Stephenson Amphitheatre near Cameron Village. The sale features costumes and a large selection of tuxedos.

Friday is an early release day for many Wake County students. JC Raulston Arboretum will host an afternoon adventure from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, in Raleigh. It’s near the fairgrounds. You can explore the gardens while you look for five questions so you can try to guess the answers. Pick up a map at the visitor center. The cost is $1 per family. You don’t need to pre-register.

The third annual Downtown Harvest Festival is 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, on the 100 block of West Chatham Street in downtown Cary. The street is closed off for activities that include carnival games, corn hole, a bounce castle and slide and other entertainment. Halloween costumes are welcome. Wristbands are $2 for kids ages 2 and up. Adults are free.

Let There Be Rock School, a new rock and roll school for kids in Durham, will hold an open house from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. Families can tour the facility, talk to instructors and learn more about what the school will offer. It opens at 4300 Garrett Rd. on Nov. 4.

Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights, will be celebrated for the 14th year in Cary. Gates open at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre at 10:30 a.m., Saturday. Admission is free. Parking is $5. The day includes music, food and fireworks.

The N.C. Museum of Art is offering new Pop-Up Art Carts on some weekends, including this weekend. From noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, in the east building, museum staff will offer art-making activities and gallery games. Projects are inspired by portraits in the museum collection. All ages are welcome. Saturday’s activity involves creating mini collage portrait magnets.

We have consignment sales in Apex, Chapel Hill and Fayetteville.

Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh has several events this week for kids. They include a special 11 a.m., Saturday, storytime with the Ladybug Girl, the character from the popular picture book series.

Wake Forest Renaissance Centre will host The Princess and The Pea Tea at 3 p.m., Saturday. The event includes a performance by Rags to Riches Theatre, along with refreshments. Princesses, ages 3 to 10, and their adults are invited to dress in their princess or fairy guardian best. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for kids in advance. The price goes up to $15 for adults and $10 for kids on Saturday.

Tony Hawk will be among the skating legends planned for a charity event on Saturday at Raleigh’s Marsh Creek Stakepark. Others include Christian Hosoi, Steve Caballero, Eddie Elguera and Ben Raybourn. The charity event celebrates the life of Ray Underhill, a Wilmington native who was one of Hawk’s teammates. Get Rad for Ray is presented by Endless Grind and supports the Ray Underhill Foundation, which helps North Carolina families affected by Chordoma. Underhill died in 2008 from the rare spinal cancer. Saturday’s event is free and will feature displays of local and legendary skate talent, along with food, a beginners’ skate clinic, which requires pre-registration, and an amateur contest. It ends with an 80s-themed legends skate jam. It runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Marsh Creek Park, 3016 N. New Hope Rd. Raleigh’s parks’ website has details about registering for the clinic and contest and parking and shuttle information.

Raleigh parks and its Teen Program will host the We Are Bully Free 5K Fun Run from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, at Anderson Point Park. The run starts at 9 a.m. It aims to raise awareness about the dangers of bullying. Registration is open to all ages. The cost is $5 for ages 18 and under and $10 for ages 19 and up.

And Northgate Mall and Durham County Library will host another Discovery Nook event for kids at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, in the children’s alleyway between entrances 2 and 4. Saturday’s event will feature hands-on, science-themed exploration stations on the science of light and color. There also will be a skit and stories with science themes. It ends with free books provided by Reading is Fundamental.