1). Ackland Art Museum: The Ackland Art Museum and the North Carolina Botanical Garden at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill present a Family Celebration of the Summer Solstice at the Forest Theatre on Saturday, June 21, from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Featuring storyteller Faye Stanley, this event is presented in conjunction with the Ackland's major summer exhibition “In and Around the Garden: Perspectives East and West,” and will celebrate the longest day of the year with songs and stories from around the world.

2). Asheville Art Museum: Penland-based potter Cynthia Bringle will talk about her four decades as a ceramicist as well as the different techniques and influences used to create her work during her “Up for Discussion” lecture at the Asheville Art Museum on Friday, June 27, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Bringle is an extraordinary ceramicist, a highly sought-after teacher and a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. In 2002, she received the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Fine Art.

3). Greensboro Children’s Museum is proud to host the city’s World Refugee Day Celebration on Friday, June 20th from 9am-1pm. This special event will celebrate the cultures and courage of the journeys of refugees from around the world and is brought to you by the following organizations: Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, African Services Coalition, World Relief, Montagnard Dega Association, Save the Montagnard People, Greensboro Jewish Federation – Constituent Agency of the Greensboro Jewish Federation, UNCG Center for New North Carolinians, the Greensboro Public and the Greensboro Children’s Museum. Included in the celebration will be dance and musical performances, storytelling, games, foods to sample, a community art project all can participate in and a short film about refugees. Also, local refugees will be demonstrating and selling their crafts at the event.

4). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: Experience the most remarkable archaeological discovery of the 20th century from June 28 to December 28 at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The Dead Sea Scrolls — objects of great mystery, intrigue and significance — are our bridge to a period that laid the foundation of western traditions, beliefs and practices throughout the past two millennia. Among the Scrolls, some of which are more than 2,000 years old, are 207 biblical manuscripts that represent every book in the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament), and predate any previously known copies of the Bible by more than 1,000 years.

5). Museum of the Albemarle: Join us for a week long summer camp entitled “Yo Ho Ho: Pirates of North Carolina,” June 23 through June 27, 2008 at 9:00 am until 12:00 noon. Students that have completed kindergarten through second grade will experience a high seas adventure at the Museum of the Albemarle with this exciting day camp. Discover the pirates that sailed the coast of North Carolina.

6). The Orange County Historical Museum is happy to introduce the first ever Colonial Kids Writing Contest. Co-sponsored with the News of Orange County, this contest encourages students in grades 1-8 two write creative essays about children living in Hillsborough during the 1770s. Entry forms will be available at the Orange County Historical Museum and online. Entries are due by July 15. Winners will have their story published in the News of Orange County and will receive other great prizes. The winning stories will also be used in preparation for the Colonial Girl Event (formerly Felicity Day) scheduled for September 13.

7). Cameron Art Museum presents a lecture on Sun., June 29 at 2:00 pm featuring Roy Strassberg, Department of Art and Art History Chairperson and Professor of Art, UNC Charlotte. Program admission is by donation. Professor Strassberg will present an overview of his ongoing series “Holocaust Bone Structures,” a portion of which is on view in the exhibition “Art and Social Conscience: HOLOCAUST.” Strassberg has been making art which consistently references the Holocaust since 1992.

8). North Carolina Maritime Museum: Find out who will be King during “Shrek the Third,” the feature film on June 20 for “Cinema by the Sea, ” the outdoor film series for the family. Films are offered every other Friday night through the summer. Bring a blanket or chair and join the fun at the North Carolina Maritime Museum’s expansion site at Gallants Channel, next to Town Creek Marina. Movie-goers who enter the grassy lawns when the gates open at 7 p.m. will find a choice of refreshments and snacks for purchase as well as a stunning view. A comedy favorite, “Shrek the Third” is tops on the “kids favorites” list. Tickets include admittance from 7-8 p.m. to the Repository for Artifacts exhibit “Our Sunken History: Archaeological Treasures for North Carolina Shipwrecks.”