Weekend Plans: Strawberries, science fest, farm tours

Strawberry picking, baseball watching, stargazing, farm hopping. Sounds like a perfect spring weekend! Here's what's happening on the weekend family fun front.

Posted 1:00 a.m. Apr 23, 2015 — Updated 1:00 a.m. Apr 23, 2015

It’s a busy weekend. Here’s what’s happening. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more.

Strawberries! A few farms opened with already picked strawberries and pick-your-own options in the last week. Most will start opening up this weekend and next weekend. Our strawberry farm database lists nearly 90 of them across the area.

Both the Durham Bulls and the Carolina Mudcats are in town with home games. Those always are fun spring family outings!

The N.C. Science Festival wraps up on Sunday after two weeks of science and technology programs for all ages. They include lots of Statewide Star Parties this Friday. There’s also DNA Discovery Day at Johnston Community College on Saturday; the annual Songbird Celebration at Blue Jay Point County Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, Saturday; and the Wonderful World of Wildlife from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, at the Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham.

The annual Piedmont Farm Tour is 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, at farms all over the region. The event is an opportunity to visit local farms and learn how farmers help ensure we have food on our plates. Some tips: This is a self-guided tour. Don’t plan on going to every single farm on the list. Instead, check out the website and investigate the farms to map out your plans before you go. Also, bring a cooler because I’m sure you’ll pick up some produce, meat, cheese or other goodies along the way.

The Southern Women’s Show is Friday through Sunday at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The annual event will bring actor Peter Facinelli from the Twilight series and Randy Fenoli from “Say Yes to the Dress,” among others, to Raleigh. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door for adults. I do like this option: Admission is $4 on Friday and Saturday if you go after 4 p.m. Might be a good time to gather your girlfriends for an evening out after work in the office or chasing kids around all day.

For the 10th year, Carrboro Farmers’ Market will hold its annual kid seedling event. Starting at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, the market will give away farmer-grown tomato seedlings to kids. Kids will get to pick a seedling of their choice and plant it in a cup to take home. Last year, more than 300 young gardeners participated. Fifth Season Gardening Company will be providing organic potting soil for the pots as well as growing tips and useful information for new gardeners. Kidzu Children’s Museum and market volunteers will host additional tomato-themed activities.

After a visit to the market, you can then head over to The ArtsCenter in Carrboro for its Annual Spring Craft Fair. It’s 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, and will feature more than 25 local artists. A kids’ zone will have hands-on projects.

Cary’s annual Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, at Bond Park, 801 High House Rd. The day includes artists, crafters, performances, food, activities and more. It’s free and open to the public. A Children’s Village will include hands-on crafts for kids, play on the playground and more.

Families On! Challenge, hosted by WakeMed and YMCA of the Triangle, is Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. The event is designed for kids and parents to complete together. Groups will go through a variety of obstacles and challenges along the 2.5 mile course.

Durham Academy Middle School, 3116 Academy Rd. in Durham, will host a used book sale from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Paperbacks are $1. Hardcovers are $2. Cash only. They’ll have children’s books, adult fiction, cookbooks and pretty much everything else.

We have a couple of events that recognize Autism Awareness Month.

My Circle of Girls, a social and service group for girls living with autism in the Triangle, will mark its first year with a special event from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, at Tots to Teens Rainbow Play Systems on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. The event is free, but RSVP is required. Email mycircleofgirls@gmail.com.

And Meredith College will mark the 20th year of its autism program with a Carnival Fun Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, on the Raleigh campus. The event includes music, food trucks, games, a Touch-a-Truck area and other activities. It’s a fundraiser for the program. So the games, activities and Touch-a-Truck area will require tickets. Only children will need tickets. The event’s website has lots of information on the cost of tickets and wristbands.

The Hill Center, a great local resource for kids with learning differences, will host its first #hillmile One Mile Race and Kids' Dash on Sunday. It offers three races - a competitive mile, a recreational mile for runners and walkers and a kids' dash for children 10 and under. There also will be face painting, food trucks and a DJ at Durham Academy.

The Bull City Doula Collective will host a Doula Speed Dating event starting at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, at the Babies ‘R Us in Durham. It gives a chance for expecting couples to meet birth and postpartum doulas in one place.

Finally, Six Sundays in Spring, a popular outdoor concert series in Wake Forest, starts up this Sunday with free concerts at Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Rd., Wake Forest. The music is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mike MickXer will perform. This is a great place for picnic dinners and families.

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