Things To Do in NC When You're Bored -- July 22-24

Many things to do in North Carolina this weekend. While most events listed are in the Five County Stadium area and surrounding towns, some events are in other parts of the state.

What’s missing? Let the editor know.

Note that multi-day events are listed under the first date.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Preschool Storytime (July 22 @ 10:30-11am)

Kids ages 3-5 (with their caregivers) may participate in “an interactive program that incorporates age appropriate books, songs, and movement to nurture pre-reading skills.” This storytime is at Wendell Community Library, 207 S Hollybrook Road, Wendell NC.

This event is also available, same date and time, at the Zebulon Community Library, 1000 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon NC.

Novel Writing 101 — Free Writing Workshop (July 22 @ 5:30-7pm)

Mohana Rajakumar will be leading a workshop (5:30pm) and giving a reading (7pm). This workshop will introduce participants to the basics of fiction writing to plan and begin a manuscript in two months. No previous writing experience is necessary. The presenter and audience will discuss the basics of fiction based on the 3 Act structure and use exercises to get participants thinking about their own stories. So & So Books is located at 704 N Person Street, in Raleigh NC.

2016 Youth Revival (July 22 @ 6:30pm)

Come to Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 318 Denmark Street, in Goldsboro NC, to take part in this youth revival with speaker Elder Charity Williams. For more information, call 919.735.3242.

Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Mountain (July 22 @ 12:30-1pm)

Come join the naturalist and learn about all the different edible and medicinal plants on Mount Mitchell. Class held at the Education Classroom at Mount Mitchell State Park, 2388 State Highway 128, Burnsville NC. Contact 828.675.4611 or email.

Roald Dahl’s “James And The Giant Peach JR” (July 22 & 23 @ 7pm)

Based on the beloved book, Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach JR. is about a young boy who escapes his conniving aunts via a magical giant peach and discovers adventure, friendship, and the true nature of family along the way. Words and Music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Book by Timothy Allen McDonald. Tickets are $7 for students/seniors, and $12 for adults. These presentations are at The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts, 3400 N Wesleyan Blvd, in Rocky Mount NC.

2016 Downtown Sundown Concert Series (July 22 @ 6-10pm)

For this Downtown Sundown concert, enjoy the Funky Monks rocking the audience with The Red Hot Chili Peppers experience. The Downtown Sundown Concert Series offers a free concert. Shows are held in the parking lot located at the corner of Water and Princess, Wilmington NC. For more information, visit this site.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Raleigh Raptors Tryouts (July 23 @ 12-6pm)

Come by Marsh Creek Park, 3016 N New Hope Road, Raleigh NC for the last tryout to be a Raleigh Raptor. We need dedicated, committed, serious football players. Tryout consists of 40, SS, 225 bench press, vertical jump, and position drills. Camp starts this week. Required $35 fee. More information on the Raleigh Raptors Football Team is here.

Clear the Shelter (July 23 @ 10am-6pm)

The Wake County Animal Center is participating in the 2016 Clear the Shelter Event. The goal of this day is to find EVERY animal in the shelters care a home and to clear the shelter. Organized by Friends Of Wake County Animal Center, the event is at the Wake County animal shelter, 820 Beacon Lake Drive, Raleigh NC.

Pastor Leonard A. Smith Memorial Back to School Fundraiser (Sat, July 23 @ 10am-4pm)

Come out and support B.U.D.’S Foundation (Bikers United to Defend driving safely) as they raise funds and back to school supplies in memory of the late Pastor Leonard A. Smith. School supply drop off and Plate Sale at CycleMax of Wilson (6723 Ward Boulevard, Wilson NC). Plates at CycleMax — $7 plate w/ fish and turkey BBQ, two sides, canned drink, and small dessert. School supplies may also be dropped off at Holiday Inn Express and Suites downtown (2308 Montgomery Drive, Wilson NC).

B.U.D.’S Foundation is a non-profit organization that assists motorcyclist and their families when available through donations or gifts when they have a fatality from a motorcycle accident, as well bring awareness to motorcyclist’s safety and educate drivers. See more on their Facebook page.

Family Storytime (July 23 @ 10:30-11am)

Bring the family and participate in “an interactive program with books, songs, and movement to nurture pre-reading skills.” Designed for ages birth to 5 years old, this storytime is 10:30-11am at the East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale NC.

Parkfest 2016 (July 23 @ 1-6pm)

This is an event where “a bunch of people gather under a shelter Berkeley Park and play music for people who will listen.” The lineup is expected to include:

Moon House
Date Fund
No Grey
Sancho x Sheme The Great
Matthew and the Mountain
Madeline Edwards
Dexter Howell
and more

This event is held at Berkeley Park in Goldsboro NC.

Bluegrass Fest at The Farm (July 23 @ 11am-10pm)

Come to The Farm, 215 Batten Road, in Selma NC and enjoy a day full of music, starting at noon, from Bluegrass acts including:

Official Dailey & Vincent
Rhonda Vincent
The Grascals
The Malpass Brothers
Al Batten & The Bluegrass Reunion

General admission tickets are $20, on sale via etix.com. Bring a blanket/chair. More information on The Farm call 919.750.5464 or visit their website.

Wilson Pokemon Go Meet Up (July 23 @ 3-5pm)

Join the fun for the first Wilson NC PokemonGo Meet-up. The Wilson Pokemon Go League plans to meet at the Wilson Public Library, 249 Nash Street W, Wilson NC, and then as a group walk around downtown collecting Pokestops while making friends. Afterwards, whoever wants to can join the league at Heros for dinner. Find out more about the Wilson PokemonGo League here.

Big Lebowski “The Dude Abides” Party (July 23 @ 6:30pm)

Come to the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), 2110 Blue Ridge Road, in Raleigh NC, for their fourth annual Big Lebowski “The Dude Abides” Party. Purchase food at a food truck roundup, sip White Russians, listen to Creedence, play Bowling Wii in the Lebowski roll-up game truck, and engage in other Dudeist traditions—all before a screening of The Big Lebowski. Costumes encouraged, and there will be prizes. Event takes place in the NCMA Park. Doors open (and activities start) at 6:30pm, with the movie screening at 9pm. There is a $6 ticket fee for non-members; however, the event is free for NCMA members. More party information, future films, and attendance guidelines are online here.

The Dude Abides Ride (July 23 @ 7pm)

Dudes and Dudettes – let’s ride! This ride will start at the NCSU Bell Tower (2011 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh NC) and end at the NC Art Museum’s outdoor showing of The Big Lebowski. Prizes will be awarded to the best costumes. Note: Scholarly evidence has no specific reference to “The Dude” riding a bike in The Big Lebowski, but we’d like to think he was an avid bicyclist. This ride is organized by Oaks & Spokes, a collectively led not-for-profit organization that seeks to promote and sustain cycling culture in Raleigh NC.

Don’t Try this at Home Horror Movie Night (July 23 @ 9:30pm-3am)

Watch scary old movies at Arkham Comix, 3010 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount NC. Come out to Arkham Comix July 23 at 9:30pm and watch Brockton McKinney, Bo Fader, and special guest Michael Myers. This free event is 21-and-older only. Folks who’d like to help cover cost of hotel for the artists, drinks, etc may make a donation if they wish. More information and updates here.

Saturday Farmers Markets and Farm Stores

Knightdale Farmers Market — A new theme each week! The food truck onsite from 11am-2pm. The market is at Knightdale Station, 810 S Main Street, Knightdale NC. It is open Saturdays, 10am-2pm. Contact the market manager via email with questions. (Article)
Ray Family Farms — This farm store is open Saturdays from 10am-4pm. (They also have Friday hours.) The farm is located at 6913 Pearces Rd, Louisburg NC — just outside Bunn NC. For more information, visit rayfamilyfarms.com.
Rocky Mount Farmers Market— This Saturday Market is held at 1006 Peachtree Street, Rocky Mount NC, 8am-1pm. Call 252.407.7920 or email with questions.
Vollmer Farm Market — The farm store is open Saturday 10am-7pm (same hours Friday and Sunday). The farm is located at 677 NC 98 Hwy E, Bunn NC. More online at vollmerfarm.com.
Wendell Farmers Market — The Wendell Farmers’ Market is open, 8am to noon. The market is located at 3700 Wendell Blvd, Wendell NC (Wake County). The market accepts EBT, debit and credit cards. For more information, email the market Director, Cathrine Evans.
Wendell Yellow Dog Farm Roadside Produce Stand — Located at 1705 Eagle Road Road in Wendell NC, this farm stand’s opening day is June 4, 2016, and is open each Saturday from 9am until noon. (Article)
Wilson Farmers Market — The Saturday Market is held at the Wilson County Fairgrounds, Hwy 301, Wilson NC, and is open Saturdays, 7:30am-noon. Call 252.237.0111.
Wrenn’s Farm — The farm store is open daily, with Saturday hours 8am-6pm. The farm address is Zebulon NC; they are close to Middlesex NC. Updates on their Facebook page.
Zebulon Farm Fresh Market — Held on the grounds of the Zebulon Municipal Complex, 1003 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC, this market is open Saturdays, 9am-1pm. For more details, contact Market Manager Maurine Brown at 919.823.0432 or email.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Revival 2016 (July 24-31 @ 7pm)

Come to Grace Baptist Church, 202 Kincaid Avenue N, in Wilson NC for their Second Annual Revival — held with Bible, Aenon, and Pleasant Hope Baptist Churches. Music, testimonies, and Preaching each evening. See the Grace Baptist Church Facebook page.

Matty Begs Unplugged at Koi Pond (July 24 @ 3-6pm)

Matty Russo, lead singer, along with Matty Begs’ sixth member Matthew Bergenn, is bringing acoustic fun to Koi Pond Brewing Company, 1107 Falls Road, Rocky Mount NC. Matty and Matthew will be doing two acoustic sets, playing Matty Begs tunes along with cover songs. See www.mattybegs.com.

Pokemon Go & Coglin’s Present: Gotta Catch ‘Em All Crawl (July 24 @ 1-6pm)

Join this bar crawl event in Downtown Raleigh. Multiple bars participating. Registration is 1-2pm at Coglins. Participants may choose free or competitive ($10). Both types may participate in the costume contest at Anchor at 4pm. For details and catching schedule, visit the Facebook event page.

Baseball Games

It’s that time of year! Check for local baseball games on:

Carolina Mudcats — www.gomudcats.com
Durham Bulls — www.durhambulls.com

(Both above baseball links redirect to the team pages on the MiLB.com (Minor League Baseball) website.

Wilson Tobs — www.wilsontobs.com
Fayetteville SwampDogs — goswampdogs.com
Hickory Crawdads — www.hickorycrawdads.com

Coming Soon

Family Movie Night at Joyner Park (July 30 @ 8:30pm)

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department presents Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park. Films are projected on a 26-foot inflatable movie screen in the park’s amphitheater. There will be food vendors on-site. Movies are free and open to the public. Bring a blanket and/or chairs for your comfort. Pets, smoking, and alcohol are not allowed.

Teen Harry Potter Party (July 31 @ 3-4pm)

This teen event is a celebration of Harry Potter. Enter for a chance to checkout “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” make a wand, and try your hand at other wizarding challenges. For grades 6-10. This event is at multiple libraries; be sure to register in advance (required) at the desired library.

Stay tuned for more from Eastern North Carolina!