Family Picks: Chapel Hill library unveils climbable animal statues

A new school year is soon upon us and, for the first time, this means something to me – my oldest starts kindergarten in just a few weeks. This means buying supplies and getting ready,but it also means the bittersweet end of summer. Then again, summer’s not over yet, so no sense in getting maudlin. We have weeks to go – weeks – and there’s plenty to do in the meantime.

▪ Northgate Mall’s Safari Adventure Train opened this week and will run through August 31. The wilderness-themed ride is in the mall’s center court. The train runs between noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and between 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. Visit northgatemall.com.

▪ The Chapel Hill Public Library unveils four animal statues Saturday. Artist Todd Frahm’s rabbit, turtle, frog and snake statues represent creatures that show up throughout literature, and these permanent fixtures are designed to be climbed or sat on. There’s a special story time at 10:30 a.m., immediately followed by an 11:00 a.m. unveiling with cookies and ice cream. Visit chapelhillpubliclibrary.org.

▪ Transactors Improv lets kids experience improv theater without parents having to worry about the actors watching their language – Transactors, after all, keep it clean. This show’s theme is dogs, hamsters and turtles, and the actors will base their skits on what goes through pets’ minds (or what they do when people aren’t around). The show is at 6 p.m. Saturday and tickets run from $6 to $10. Visit artscenterlive.org.

▪ The Little River Regional Park and Natural Area in Rougemont will have black lights and moth baits out Saturday evening from 7:30-9:30 p.m. to attract nocturnal creatures – winged, four-legged and six-legged. While Black Light Bugs is a free event, registration is required, so call 919-732-5505 to save a spot. Visit nando.com/1l- for park info.

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Family Picks: Chapel Hill library unveils climbable animal statues."