With kids headed back to school, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS) in Whiteville rolls out the entertainment for the fall starting this week. Creatures in the air, roaming the land, and swimming in the water are on tap for August and September.
On Thursday, Aug. 18, folks are invited to check out a special storytime called “Feather, Fur, Fin.” After the read aloud activity, the museum will have a nature exploration about the many things that animals leave behind. This program is geared toward 3-6 year olds, but families with nature lovers of all ages are welcome to attend. No registration is needed for this event.
The NCMNS will be partnering with the Columbus Council of North Carolina Reading Association, the Columbus County Arts Council, and the Columbus County Partnership for Children (Smart Start) to present the film, “Raya and the Last Dragon,” on Friday, Aug. 19.
The museum’s lawn will be open at 7 p.m. for dinosaur and dragon activities, and the feature presentation will begin at 8 p.m. Movies on Madison are free, and no registration is required. Refreshments will be available for sale onsite.
The N.C. Honey Festival is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 10, in downtown Whiteville, but the museum is getting an early start with bee-related activities.
Buzz on by the museum on Saturday, Aug. 27, to “Bee Crafty.” The entomology (the study of insects and their relationship to humans, the environment, and other organisms) activity will begin at 1 p.m. Participants will have the chance to explore the facility’s insect collection, make observations outside, and build their own bee hotel.
Space is limited for this event, so registration is required. Visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UWFYWCSrbKh7sJw2XpWEBXjisGHCNEktQGz6QW4XRUw/viewform?edit_requested=true to sign up for the entomology session.
The NCMNS will hold an early celebration of the annual Honey Festival on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. To get into the spirit of honoring the tiny-winged heroes, the museum will be playing the film “Bee Movie.”
The lawn will be open at 7 p.m. for nature activities, and the show will start at 8 p.m. This event is free, and no registration is required. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.
The N.C. Honey Festival is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 10, in downtown Whiteville.
Visit the Museum’s downtown Raleigh location to step back in time 290 million years to the age before the dinosaurs. “Life Before Dinosaurs: The Permian Monsters” highlights vivid artwork, mounted skeletons and life-sized models of a giant saber-toothed predator, saw-toothed shark and many more bizarre creatures that dominated life on land and sea before the most devastating mass extinction the world has ever known.
Visitors to the Whiteville facility can also enjoy a pop-up display featuring The Permian Monsters. The exhibit will be closing on Sept. 4.
The Museum of Natural Sciences is located at 415 South Madison St., Whiteville. The facility is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and closed on Sundays and Mondays. For more information about any of the events, call 910.788.5100.
