Ideas for late summer activities for families in the Triangle

School is almost back in session across the Triangle, which means the events of summer are nearly over. But that doesn’t mean summer fun has to end. Before you get busy with the school year, take advantage of these late summer activities for families, which will keep the fun going before cooler weather sets in.

If you’re looking for things to do with your children throughout August and into September, check out our list of ideas from around the Triangle.

Middle school and high school teens won’t want to miss Raleigh Teen Connect’s pool party, which will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 9 at Biltmore Pool, 701 Crown Crossing Lane. It’s a free event with free food and music. Plus, anyone who shows up will get an entry for a raffle for free sneakers, just in time for school to start. Students can earn more entries with registration to Raleigh Teen Connect and Raleigh Youth Council.

Do you have a child showing an interest in music? Stop by Fenton on Thursday, August 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for playtime and performances during Little Fentonians Music Day. Plus, organizers help cultivate a love of music by giving your kids the chance to play different instruments that will be available at the event. Attendance is free, but registration is required.

Celebrate the end of summer at the Oberlin Regional Library’s Summer Reading Wrap-up Party. Oberlin Regional Library, located at 1930 Clark Ave. in Raleigh, celebrates the end of its summer reading program on Friday, August 15 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. This event allows kids to enjoy crafts, coloring, and you’ll get to celebrate your child’s love of reading. It’s open to kids of all ages.

Walnut Creek Wetland Center hosts its 7th Annual Mud Day Festival on Saturday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. One of the most exciting late summer activities for families, kids can play in a giant mud pit or slide down a mud slide while learning more about the environment. This free event includes numerous activities, like a Kiddie Zone with a mud kitchen and water play, craft tables, an obstacle course trail, fort building, live music, and food trucks.

If you’re looking for great late summer activities for families, the Downtown Cary Park movie night series is a soon-to-be favorite. Enjoy free film screenings of top family-friendly movies at Downtown Cary Park’s Great Lawn. Movies are shown on the Great Lawn Pavilion’s big screen, and families can enjoy snacks and activities. Events take place from 6 to 10 p.m. And the calendar shows the schedule of movies, which include recent favorites as well as holiday features. Don’t forget to take time to play and explore Downtown Cary Park ahead of movie night. Check out the movie series page to plan your visit.

Durham County Library is hosting an exploration challenge throughout August for preschool through elementary school ages and their families. Stop by the East Regional Library, 211 Lick Creek Lane, to grab a nature journal and explore the area’s natural surroundings. The journal features numerous activities with guided prompts, journal pages for making observations, and blank pages for creativity. Kids who complete the journal by August 31 will win a prize. Library hours are Monday through Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Head to Midtown Park at North Hills on Tuesday, August 20 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for the last event of the North Hills summer Kidchella event. It’s a free event that highlights local programs and classes. And kid-friendly performances happen throughout the event. Kids get to learn, exercise, and socialize together.

Help your kids get ready to return to learning with a visit to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The museum offers events and special exhibits where your family can explore, learn, and play. A special exhibition about blue whales is now available at the museum. It showcases details about these 400,000-pound mammals, including information on how they became the planet’s largest animals. It’s open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Labor Day. This is an outstanding option if you’re looking for late summer activities for families.

While summer camps are sold out at Marbles Kids Museum, there’s still plenty to do at this top Raleigh destination. Enjoy everything from feature films — including the 50th anniversary celebration of Jaws on the IMAX screen — to numerous exhibits that help kids learn and grow. These many offerings are why Marbles is a favorite for kids of all ages. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with extended play hours on Thursdays.

As you search for late summer activities for families, follow places like VisitRaleigh.com and DiscoverDurham.com for an events calendar. Websites like the Wake County government site, the Research Triangle Park. And tourism sites for places like Johnston County, Cary, and Chapel Hill are great resources, too.