Weekend weather promising for festival-goers

A high pressure system parked over the northeastern section of the United States will keep clouds and showers at bay across central North Carolina Saturday, making the weather ideal for three big events in downtown Raleigh.

Posted 4:19 p.m. May 18, 2012 — Updated 2:11 a.m. May 21, 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — A high pressure system parked over the northeastern section of the United States will keep clouds and showers at bay across central North Carolina Saturday, making the weather ideal for three big events in downtown Raleigh.

"We'll have pleasantly low humidity today as we climb into the upper 70s by this afternoon," WRAL meteorologist Mike Moss said. "It's going to be a great day to be outside."

The 2012 Got to Be NC Festival kicked off Friday afternoon at the State Fairgrounds under sunny skies, and that pleasant weather should continue for day two of the festival.

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N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said he hopes visitors drawn by food, rides and concerts are also reminded of the importance of North Carolina's agricultural heritage.

"We want kids to understand how important agriculture is for this state," he said.

Gates repoened Saturday morning and will stay open until midnight before reopening from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free.

Across town at Moore Square, Artslosure marks a 33rd year highlighting the talents of more than 150 visual artists. The open-air market adds an Impressionist Garden of eight life-size, painted bronze sculptures of famous paintings. Works are on display and available for sale from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Artsplosure spokeswoman Terri Dollar said, "Our forefathers who started artsplosure, they were all about exposing people to the arts and just exploding with art, so what we're hoping is that people come downtown and say, 'Wow! There's art everywhere!'"

For the space enthusiast, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the place to be. Astronomy Days offers discussions, exhibits and hands-on ways to touch the sky. NASA's Destination Station, which offers an inside look at the work being done in the International Space Station, will be there, and experts will offer workshops on how humans might adapt to other planets and the search for alien life.

Museum hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Rain chances will return to the Triangle on the final day of the weekend, but areas west of the Interstate 95 corridor shouldn't see more than a passing sprinkle or light shower, Moss said.

Temperatures will climb into the upper 70s again Sunday afternoon under partly to mostly cloudy skies.

"This low pressure system spinning off our southeastern coast could back up toward the west a bit Sunday and bring us a chance for some showers," Moss said. "The best chance for noticeable rain will be in areas east of the I-95 corridor."

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