Artspace, the downtown Raleigh nonprofit arts center with a collection of artist studios, will culminate its summer kids programs with a Family Fun Day this Saturday. It's an artsy, carnival-like event that's open to the public.

Kids from third grade to 12th grade have been participating in workshops all summer as part of Artspace's summer art programs. Their work will be on view at a special exhibition during the event.
But there also will be other ways to while away Saturday afternoon. Artspace will offer a variety of make-and-take projects, including screen printing and print making. Participants also can make magnets and try their hand at Japanese textiles. Artists at Artspace also will be demonstrating their work throughout the event.

At 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., Happy Dan the Magic Man and his Magic Youth Raleigh will be performing a magic show. Members also will be roaming the building throughout the event. And at 1:30 p.m., Artspace's puppet-making class of third through fifth graders will show off their new skills.

Face painting and food, including popsicles from Locopops, also will be available.

On the edge of City Market about two blocks from Marbles Kids Museum, Artspace is worth a visit if you're downtown or looking for a new place to take grandma when she visits. Artists are usually at work in their studios. And on the first Friday of each month, the gallery stays open until 10 p.m. for First Fridays, occasionally offering special programs for kids. While First Friday might often draw the wine and cheese crowd, Mary Poole, Artspace's executive director, says Artspace is a popular place for families on those Friday evenings. The buildings usual hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

This fall marks the beginning of a couple of new Artspace programs for kids.

Starting Sept. 14, Artspace will begin offering track-out camps for year-round students in the third through eighth grades. The week-long sessions are $100 for nonmembers and $90 for members with a $25 fee for materials. There are a variety of programs for kids in tracks one through four, including silk painting, big animal sculpture and mosaics. Classes run in the mornings from 9 a.m. to noon and afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The gallery also is working to start up a program for teenagers. Plans are tentative, but check back on Artspace's Web site or give them a call for more information about a special event for teens around Halloween.

Also ...

Shop  the Twice as Nice consignment sale in Apex. It starts up Friday afternoon and runs through Saturday.

Head over to the 33rd annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in downtown Cary from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The event draws tens of thousands of visitors for crafts, food and entertainment. The Kid's World Stage features live music, puppet shows, and magic from 10 a.m. to about 4 p.m. You can find the stage near the corner of East Park and Academy streets. The best way to get to the festival is by taking a shuttle, which run from Cary Towne Center at Sears to Cary Elementary School. The first bus leaves at about 8:30 a.m. The last one leaves Cary Elementary at 5:30 p.m.

Check out bugs at night during the Museum of Life and Science's black light insect hunt in Durham. Museum staff will lure creepy crawlers to a white cloth with strong lights that are set up on the boardwalk. Visitors will see a variety of moths, beetles and more. Entomologists will help visitors identify the bugs. The event is from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday. For kids ages 3 and up.

Learn about art with your kids during the Ackland Art Museum's regular Family Fun Tours, interactive gallery tours for kids ages 6 to 12 with their families. The event is free and starts at 1:15 p.m. Sunday. 

As always, there's more on the Mom2Mom calendar.