16 family-friendly weekend activities for Feb. 23 to Feb. 25

It’s a busy weekend - and it’s shaping up to be a beautiful one. Here’s what’s happening on the family fun front. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more ideas.

New York Times best-selling picture book author Carole Boston Weatherford has two programs for all ages this weekend. The first is 2 p.m., Saturday, at the Cameron Village Library, 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh. That program is called Segregation, Social Justice and Civil Rights. The second is 2 p.m., Sunday, at the N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. It’s called Poetry and All That Jazz and celebrates the poetry of music and musicians.

Marbles Kids Museum hosts its Future Me Fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. The kid-sized career fair will feature professionals from a wide variety of careers so kids can explore, learn and think about what they might want to do. It’s free with admission, which is $7 per person.

Take Two Kidsignment Sale from Triangle Parents of Multiples, is 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. Some items are half off from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The sale takes place at North Raleigh Church of Christ, 8701 Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh.

The State Capitol will host a Black History Month Read-In, featuring the words and experiences of African Americans inside a building that was actually built by African Americans at a time when it was illegal for them to read. It’s 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday.

An Interfaith Food Drive will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at the Islamic Association of Raleigh, 808 Atwater St., Raleigh. The annual event is held in honor of Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, three Muslim college students who were killed in their Chapel Hill home. Donations from last year’s food drive totaled 58,000 meals, which were distributed to North Carolinians in need. On Saturday, groups will be collecting nonperishable food donations. The organizers tell me they’ll also have somebody twisting balloon animals for kids who come out.

JC Raulston Arboretum will host a Family Winter Discovery event from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday. Pre-registration is a good idea for this one as space is limited. The cost is $20 per family.

The N.C. Symphony will perform “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” in Concert on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Watch the hit on the big screen as the symphony plays the score. There are not many tickets left for Friday and Saturday, but there are plenty for Sunday afternoon’s concert. They start at $60.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences hosts a teen volunteer fair from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, at the downtown Raleigh museum. It’s a great opportunity for teens who are looking for volunteer hours and ways to serve the community through the museum.

Twice As Nice Consignment Sale is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. Some items are half off on Saturday. The sale takes place at Cary Towne Center, 1105 Walnut St., in the mall's former Macy's space.

North Carolina Courage, the professional women’s soccer team, starts its preseason this week and that includes free preseason games that are open to the public. The first one is 11 a.m., Sunday, when they play UNC-Chapel Hill at WakeMed Soccer Park.

And Cary will host its 22nd African American Celebration starting at 11 a.m., Saturday, at The Cary Theater, 122 E. Chatham St. The celebration includes musical performances and offers a focus on health in African American communities.

Clayton Youth Theater will present one of my all-time favorites, “Anne of Green Gables,” with shows Thursday through Saturday at The Clayton Center. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students age 18 and under.

Ackland Art Museum’s Friends and Family Sunday is this Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the downtown Chapel Hill museum. The afternoon includes interactive programs, games and more. It’s free.

Morehead Planetarium offers Star Families: African Sky Stories at 3:30 p.m., Saturday. It’s designed for kids ages 7 to 12 and their families. Tickets are $7.68 for adults and $6.51 for kids. The program will focus on stories that different African cultures have told about the moon, planets and stars.

Morehead Planetarium also is involved in Stagville Under the Stars, which runs 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, at Historic Stagville in Durham. Hear African sky stories and then take in some skywatching with help from some experts. It’s free.

And the Scrap Exchange’s Make N Take Family Series will feature a performance from Rags to Riches Theatre for Young Audiences, followed by a themed craft activity. It’s $10 and takes place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday.