Coast

So here’s a thing that’s happening around the country and comes to Wilmington Sunday: Slide the City. Basically, it’s a 900-foot (or 1,000-foot, depending upon who’s doing the promoting) Slip ’N Slide-type thing that runs through the streets of town. Pay $10, get an inner tube, carom down a watery plastic run. Pay more, get more rides. Starts at the Red Cross Street and runs from North 3rd Street to North Water Street.

Logistics: Sunday, Sept. 20, noon-6 p.m., $10 for one ride, multiride and all-day passes available. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 87 and sunny.

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Looking ahead: Maze Craze 5K, a 5K run through a maze blazed in a field of sorghum, Saturday, Sept. 26. More info here.

Piedmont

One of the many great things about Lake James State Park is that it’s somewhat conveniently located to most of the state, situated as it is just off I-40 between Morganton and Marion.

That’s especially good this weekend as Lake James celebrates the 12th Annual Catawba RiverFest Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy live music, food, educational exhibits, a live raptor release at about 10:30 a.m., nature hikes and paddling.

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Lake James State Park, Nebo. Free. More information here.

Saturday forecast: High of 90 and sunny.

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Looking ahead: Campout for Take A Child Outside Week, Chimney Rock State Park, Saturday, Sept. 26. More info here.

Mountains

Demo Day!

We keep an eye out for these, for the opportunity to go out and try the latest equipment and see if it really is the equipment that’s holding us back. Alas … .

Sunday, Highland Brewing Co. is the site of Diamond Brand Outdoors demo day: come try out ENO Hammocks, tents, backpacks, outdoor footwear and more. Live bands, food trucks, outdoor gear from variety of vendors for purchase. And did we mention its at Highland Brewing?

Logistics: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2-6 p.m., Highland Brewing, 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, 90.

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Looking ahead: Family Hiking Day Celebration, Sept. 26, Fontana Village Resort in Graham County. Guided hikes, nature activities and crafts, educational presentations. Free. More info: 828.498.2211.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

The post This weekend: A festive farewell to summer appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This late summer weekend the great hiking is at the coast and the paddle festival is in the mountains. Crazy, eh?

Coast

Think fall hiking and you typically think of the coast. But Saturday at 10:30 one of the weekend’s best guided hikes will be at the Rachel Carson Reserve. Sponsored by the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort, the hike is a rare opportunity to learn about life on this barrier island.

Logistics: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 15. $15. More info here.

Saturday forecast: 82, 20 percent chance of rain.

Piedmont

Did you know Greensboro has a Downtown Greenway? It’s a four-mile loop that wraps around downtown — or will, when it’s done. To raise awareness of the greenway as well as funds to make it happen, join in Saturday’s Run 4 The Greenway 8K on a route approximating the greenway’s path. Not up for the entire route? There’s a 1 Mile Walk/Run as well. Best of all: You needn’t get up at the crack of dawn for this race — it starts at 5:15 p.m.

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 15, $35. Registration begins at 3 p.m., the fun run at 4:45 p.m., the 8K at 5:15 p.m. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 81, cloudy.

Mountains

Celebrate being on the water while it’s still warm enough. This weekend, for instance, at the 9th Annual Catawba RiverFest at Lake James State Park. Live music, vendors, lake tours, canoe and kayak racing, demos — lots to do between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Logistics: Free, Saturday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Lake James State Park. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 81, becoming overcast as the day wears on.

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Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

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The post This weekend: Hike, run, paddle appeared first on GetGoing NC!.