By Kay Whatley, Editor

This list covers events from the North Carolina counties of Edgecombe, Franklin, Nash, Johnston, Wake, Wayne, Wilson, and beyond. Contact information or RSVP deadlines, where applicable, have been included.

In addition to the events below, the North Carolina State Fairgrounds is hosting multiple events. Their January list may be found online here.

A variety of coastal events may be found via What’s On Wilmington’s calendar.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Science Cafe: Cats Rule. Dogs Drool (January 19, 2017 @ 7-8:30pm)

Come for this Science Cafe event. Event is free; donations are appreciated. Scheduled for the SECU Daily Planet Cafe, Nature Research Center, 121 W Jones Street, Raleigh NC. See more here.

Stantonsburg Crafternoon (Jan 19, 2017 @ 2-4pm)

This library adult program invites you to bring your current craft project to this branch library for “Crafternoon.” The address is Stantonsburg Library, 114 S Main Street, Stantonsburg NC.

Resume Workshop (January 19, 2017)

Get help with your resumes and give yourself a good shot at making a first impression. Harold D. Cooley Library, 114 W Church Street, Nashville NC. See more events on the library website.

Toddler Storytime (January 19, 2017 @ 10-10:25am)

Children from walkers to age 3 and their caregivers are invited to participate in a 25 minute interactive program that incorporates age appropriate books, music, rhymes, and movement. Held at Wake Forest Community Library, 400 E Holding Avenue, Wake Forest NC.

Meet the Artists: Colored Pencils (January 19, 2017 @ 11am-noon)

Meet members of the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) as they demonstrate and showcase their colored pencil creations. No registration required. Held at East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale NC.

K-5th Super Special: Snow Party!  (January 19, 2017 @ 4:30-5:30pm)

Snow in the library? K-5th graders and their families  are invited to celebrate the winter season with crafts, activities, and snow! Held at Wake Forest Community Library, 400 E Holding Avenue, Wake Forest NC.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Teen Read-a-Thon (January 20, 2017 @ 1-4pm)

Join the fun in the Assembly Room at the Wilson County Public Library, 249 Nash Street W, Wilson NC. See more online on their Teen-events page.

See Spot Read (January 20, 2017 @ 4-5pm)

K through 5th grade and their families, come practice your reading skills with the certified therapy dogs of the local organization, See Spot Read. Readers of all levels welcome. No registration is required. Held at Wake Forest Community Library, 400 E. Holding Avenue, Wake Forest NC.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

ABC Craft and Learn: A Kindergarten Readiness Program (January 21, 2017 @ 10:30-11:15am)

Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are invited to participate in an interactive program with an alphabet craft to nurture pre-reading skills through writing and play and to give opportunity to develop fine motor skills children require to start school.
Free. No registration necessary. Held at Wendell Community Library, 207 S. Hollybrook Road, Wendell NC.

ABC Craft and Learn: A Kindergarten Readiness Program (January 21, 2017 @ 10:30-11:30am)

Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are invited to participate in an interactive program with an alphabet craft to nurture pre-reading skills through writing and play and to give opportunity to develop fine motor skills children require to start school.
Free. No registration necessary. Held at Zebulon Community Library, 1000 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon NC.

Information Sessions – Affordable Care Act (January 21, 2017 @ 2-3pm)

Confused about the Affordable Care Act? Sign up for a one-on-one appointment with a representative from Legal Aid of North Carolina. You’ll be guided through the entire process from start to finish. Registration required (contact Brandy Hamilton via 919.217.5300). One person/family per session. Held at East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale NC.

Women’s March on Raleigh (January 21, 2017 @ 10am-1pm)

Protest/gathering at Moore Square, 200 S Blount Street, Raleigh NC. All are welcome to participate, meet at City Plaza (on Fayetteville Street in front of the Marriott). More information at www.WomensMarchOnRaleigh.org and on the Facebook event.

Winter Volksfest 2017 (January 21, 2017 @ 9am-4pm)

Hosted by South Eastern VW Association (SEVWA). Held in the Scott Building, NC State Fairgounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh NC. More information at www.kandlmotorsports.com/volksfest.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Purrfect Smiles Garage Sale (January 22, 2017 @ noon-6pm)

Purrfect Smiles is holding its first garage sale fundraiser! Please come by on Sunday, January 22nd, and check out the stuff we have available – pet supplies, purses, toys, household goods and more! All proceeds will provide medical care and enrichment for the cats at the Wake County Animal Center. Event is being held at Wake County Animal Care, Control & Adoption Center, 820 Beacon Lake Drive, Raleigh NC.

Paramount Movie Nights (January 22, 2017 @ 3pm)

Come and watch the movie Gandhi. Tickets for Movie Nights are $5; free for age 12 & under with a paying adult. Held at the Paramount Theatre, 139 S Center Street, Goldsboro NC. More information at www.goldsboroparamount.com/movies.

Coming Soon

Teen Scene: Paracord Survival Bracelets (January 23, 2017 @ 6-7pm)

6th-10th graders read, create, journey and take on challenges at our weekly events.  This week: Paracord Survival Bracelets!  Make a bracelet for yourself and one to donate.  We’ll make cards for the Valentines for Vets project too. Registration optional. Held at East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale NC.

Death Cafe Raleigh (January 24, 2017 @ 6:30-8:30pm)

Renaissance Funeral Home and Cremation Service is hosting their second Death Cafe Raleigh at the funeral home, 7615 Six Forks Road, in Raleigh NC. During the event, they will discuss death, dying, hospice, green burial, cremation, end of life issues, and anything else the attendees suggest. Email to register and ensure a seat.

Presentation: “Mars: Fact and Fiction” (January 25, 2017 @ 7-8pm)

Edgecombe County Memorial Library is honored to welcome Mr. Charles Goodman a Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Instructor with Pitt Community College. His Mars presentation will be at the library at 909 N Main Street, Tarboro NC. For more information, call 252.823.1141.

Wendell Family Movie Night (January 28, 2017 @ 6:30pm)

Come and enjoy a movie Saturday at the Wendell Community Center, 601 W 3rd Street, Wendell NC. Bring a blanket or chair and hang out with the neighbors while enjoying Finding Dory.

Motown, Soul and Groove (January 28, 2017 @ 7pm)

This concert is coming up at the Rudy Theatre, raising funds for a special needs music program. Held at the Rudy Theatre, 300 N Railroad Street, Selma NC. Tickets $20. Call 919.202.9927 to purchase, or visit www.Music-and-MoreStudio.com for a ticket link.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park Oyster Roast Fundraiser (January 28, 2017 @ 6-9pm)

Cooler weather means oyster season in Eastern NC. Sylvan Heights Bird Park is hosting its first annual Oyster Roast fundraiser.  Tickets are $40 and include shrimp, oysters, slaw, hush puppies, beer, wine, and entertainment. There will be a non-seafood option and a vegetarian option. This event will raise funds to support the Park’s mission of conservation and education. Did you know that the staff use ground up oyster shells to feed nesting birds? The shells provide critical calcium to nesting shore birds and waterfowl. So come eat oysters and help the birds at the Sylvan Heights Bird Park, 500 Sylvan Heights Park Way, Scotland Neck NC. **UPDATE: Sold out. Other Sylvan Heights events here.**

Rocky’s Space Camp: Living on Mars! (January 28, 2017 @ 1-2pm)

Come for this special Space Camp event by the library’s Youth Services. Held at Braswell Memorial Library, 727 N Grace Street, Rocky Mount NC.

16th Annual African American Cultural Celebration (January 28, 2017 @ 10:30am-4:30pm)

Free event. Join the statewide kick off to Black History Month by celebrating our state’s diverse heritage and culture. Have fun while learning about the state’s diverse African American heritage and culture during this event for all ages. Features more than 75 musicians, storytellers, dancers, chefs, historians, playwrights, authors, artists, reenactors, and more. Held at the NC Museum of History, 5 E Edenton Street, Raleigh NC. More information at ncmuseumofhistory.org

Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting (February 2, 2017 @ 6-8:30pm)

Tickets may still be available for this 113th-annual meeting at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount NC. To purchase tickets, see rockymountchamber.org.

Praxis Film Festival (February 3-4, 2017)

PRAXIS Film Festival is in its 7th year of screening independent film. The two day event includes narrative features and shorts, documentary features and shorts, animation, and student films. Held at the Paramount Theatre, 139 S Center Street, Goldsboro NC.  Tickets are $15 for one day, or $25 for both. For more information, see the lineup and ticket information at www.goldsboroparamount.com.

Take Your Child to The Library Day (February 4, 2017 @ 10am-noon)

Families are invited to attend this free event with stories, crafts, snacks, door prizes, and books. To learn more visit www.edgecombelibrary.org or call 252.823.1141 Held at the Edgecombe County Memorial Library, 909 N Main Street, Tarboro NC.

Say Their Names: Reclaiming Wilson’s Slave Past (February 7, 2017 @ 7-8:30pm)

Come for this special event by the library’s adult programs. Held in the Assembly room at the main library, 249 Nash Street W, Wilson NC.

Artists of the Year Reception (February 9, 2017 @ 6:30-8pm)

Recipients of this year’s award are Craig Kassan and Joy Ayscue. Join the festivities at FCAC Headquarters, 22 S Main Street, Franklinton NC.

Feast Down East Local Food Conference (February 10, 2017 @ 8am-3:30pm)

Feast Down East’s 7th annual Local Food Conference brings together all those in our community who are involved in supporting and growing the local food system in Southeastern North Carolina — farmers and fishermen, food retailers and establishments, foodies, advocates and community leaders, etc. Conference registration includes full access to workshops and activities, along with locally-sourced breakfast and lunch. Tickets range from $20-45 per person. Details, schedule, and registration link online here. Held at the UNCW Burney Center, on Price Drive, Wilmington NC.

NCHRC Volunteer Orientation (February 13, 2017 @ 6pm)

North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition is holding an orientation for new volunteers with information on NCHRC and what we do. Held  at 2416 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh NC. RSVP by email if you are interested in attending. Food provided. Street parking on Hillsborough Street is free after 5pm.

Walk-up Rabies Clinic (February 25, 2017 @ 8-9am)

No appointment needed. Tar River Veterinary Hospital is holding rabies clinics at the Franklin County Animal Shelter, 351 T. Kemp Road, Louisburg NC. Rabies Vaccines will be $5 for one-year vaccines. Three-year vaccines will be available, but will only be administered with a current certificate of previous rabies vaccine. Also available are one-year vaccines, at $15 per vaccine, for the following: Canine Distemper-Parvo, Canine Kennel Cough,Feline Distemper, and Feline Leukemia Vaccine. Tar River says, “Be sure to thank Dr. Goldman for her service to Franklin County and the surrounding areas!” Call 919.494.5500 if you have any questions.

Seussical The Musical (March 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12, 2017)

Performances will be at The Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, located at 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount NC.

If you have any questions, contact the Theater Manager of the Imperial Centre via email, or visit the website at imperialcentre.org.

International Festival of Cultures (March 4, 2017 @ noon-4pm)

Celebrate the diverse cultures of Rocky Mount. There will be food and entertainment. Held in the Brown Auditorium, Nash Community College, 522 N. Old Carriage Road, Rocky Mount NC.