This weekend is Artsplosure, the huge tw0-day arts festival that brings more than 80,000 people to downtown Raleigh.

Huge festivals can be a pretty great or pretty miserable experience with kids. But this one works, primarily, because it's not spread out across a huge expanse. Most of the kids activities are in one location on Moore Square.

Couple tips. Don't bring a stroller unless you expect your little one to fall asleep in it. There are lots of people to maneuver around and Moore Square isn't the best surface for strollers. Also, the art market might not be the best place for little ones to stroll, unless they're perfect angels or you don't mind yelling "Don't Touch That!" every time they reach for a $200 platter or a tray of $30 earrings.

Don't miss the giant bubble wands (shown on the front of Mom2Mom), the crafts in Kidsplosure and the live music and programs at Kids Rock Artsplosure at Marbles Kids Museum across the street from Moore Square. For more details on Artsplosure, read my Family Outing column.

If you're not into giant festivals, there's the Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival in Holly Springs from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Spots for the kids art contest are full, but call 577-1663 to get on the waiting list. The event also features games and live entertainment. It's free.

And one of my favorite local events is on Saturday. It's the Beltline Tour d'Coop. Raleigh's chicken owners will open their backyards and show you how they care for chickens in urban environments.

I call it one of my favorite events even though I've never actually been to the Tour d'Coop. I do kind of feel like I'm regularly on it. Many of the chicken owners are in my neighborhood and we often stop to check out some chickens, feed them and talk with their owner. My daughter loves watching them and has exclaimed several times "they have no hands!" The Tour d'Coop is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Bring a food item or cash donation for the Raleigh Urban Ministries. Area businesses, including the Whole Foods on Wade Avenue, will have maps the day of the event. Check the Web site for details.

For more events this weekend and the weeks to come across the Triangle, check out our calendar.

Every Friday, TriangleMom2Mom.com features family-friendly weekend events.

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!

WEEKEND: Relax!