March Happenings in the Triangle

March 2009 Put a little 'spring' in your step this March with an affordable visit to the Raleigh area and experience the sights and sounds of numerous festivals, exhibits, cultural performances and more! Discover many events featuring hot deals and special offers that you can only take advantage of in Raleigh. March Madness March Madness in Greater Raleigh encompasses a lot more than basketball; it is a month made for sporting enthusiasts, no matter what team you cheer for! N.C. State University takes to the court for games against ACC rivals Maryland (3/1) and Boston College (3/4), while female athletes from across the country descend on the RBC Center for the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Regional Tournament (3/28, 3/30). The Carolina Hurricanes take on NHL rivals the Calgary Flames (3/6), New York Rangers (3/9), New Jersey Devils (3/18), New York Islanders (3/20), Washington Capitals (3/21) and Ottawa Senators (3/25). The Carolina RailHawks don't officially start the soccer season until April, but fans can catch an early match at Cary's WakeMed Soccer Park during the New England “Community Shield” Match (3/14). Lace up those running shoes—downtown Raleigh hosts the St. Patty’s Run Green 8K (3/8), the area's first sustainable "Race without a Trace," and the 27th Annual Run for the Oaks 5K (3/14) attracts more than 900 runners each year. Learn More ................................................. Performing Arts What does a car that can fly have in common with beach music and literary greats like Tolstoy and Shakespeare? They all are part of Greater Raleigh’s incredible calendar of performing arts this month. Carolina Ballet pays homage to two literary geniuses in Tolstoy and Shakespeare: Masterworks in Motion (2/26-3/1), while Raleigh Little Theatre recreates a classic African-American fable in Wiley and the Hairy Man (3/13-3/29). Love, loss and sacrifice is told by the N.C. Theatre with performances of the Tony-award winning Miss Saigon (3/21-3/29), and Broadway Series South presents family favorite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (3/31-4/5). Pinecone presents the Dan Tyminski Band & Tony Rice Unit (3/11), and the N.C. Symphony takes a journey down the Carolina Coast with a program of early American gospel, blues and beach music - Blue Skies and Golden Sands (3/27-3/29). Learn More ................................................. Festivals Festivals abound in March with events taking place throughout the Raleigh area. The UniverSoul Circus (3/11-3/15) returns to Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, while the Woman's Club of Raleigh Spring Antiques Show and Sale (3/13-3/15) offers outdoor accessories, period furniture, folk art and more. Celebrate Persian New Year (3/17) and India Fest (3/28-3/29), both at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Downtown Raleigh turns green celebrating shamrocks, pots of gold and leprechauns at the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival (3/14), and Cary hopes for wind during the 14th Annual Kite Festival (3/28). Learn more ................................................. Pirates, Parks and Pythons Are you a buccaneer or a landlubber, a lass or a scallywag? Learn about pirate-speak along with the legacy of infamous rogues of the high seas, from ancient times to the present. Intriguing artifacts, legends and history will bring their ruthless adventures to life at the N.C. Museum of History's special exhibit Knights of the Black Flag (3/6-7/6). This is an interactive exhibit showcasing the largest collection of artifacts ever assembled from Blackbeard's famous ship—the Queen Anne's Revenge. After the exhibit, head over to North Carolina's only 3D IMAX theatre at Marbles Kids Museum and discover the creatures that call the sea their home in films like: Wild Ocean 3D and Under the Sea 3D. The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences brings out giant snakes, tiny turtles and more during the 14th Annual Reptile and Amphibian Day (3/14). This annual event features dozens of exhibits and activities highlighting reptiles and amphibians, many native to North Carolina. Enjoy the first signs of spring on 164 acres of trails, woodlands and open areas at the Museum Park at the N.C. Museum of Art, and explore the people that make up the Raleigh area's history during Portraits of Raleigh: Images of a City and Her People at the Raleigh City Museum Learn more ................................................. Hometown Discoveries - Wake Forest In 2009, the Town of Wake Forest turns 100, and this northern Wake County town continues to grow while maintaining its warm, welcoming, small-town character. Wake Forest boasts a vibrant downtown featuring more than 100 businesses, including several restaurants and specialty shops. Mindful of its rich heritage, downtown is also an officially registered historic district. Representative of its academic history, Wake Forest is the home of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern. During the month of March visit Wake Forest for Art After Hours (3/13), Irishfest (3/14), the Winter Farmer's Market (3/21) or the popular Carnival for Kids (3/24-3/29). Learn More