Learn about the exciting happenings at Holly Springs Cultural Center on Saturday, Jan. 31 at an open house with family entertainment and fabulous door prizes from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Highlights include a family movie at 10:15 a.m. Stacy Clearman will perform children's songs at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The open house is the first of its kind at Holly Springs Cultural Center, which opened in December 2006. http://www.hollyspringsnc.us/news/2009/openhouse.html The town-operated center adjoins a Wake County branch library.

"It's an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the programming we do, the classes we have and the shows we produce," said Don Briscar, manager of the Cultural Center.

Cultural Center staff members and instructors for programs and classes will be at the open house on Jan. 31. Radio personalities from station 103.9 The Light will also attend.

Door prizes include:

Complimentary stay with breakfast at Holiday Inn & Suites in Cary
4 tickets to a Beatles tribute by The Back Beat on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Cultural Center
Dinner and show package for La Dolce Vita restaurant and Route 55 Jazz Orchestra on Friday, Feb. 27
Dinner and show - Golden Corral restaurant and Southern Voices on Saturday, Feb. 28
A year of free coffee at the Cultural Center
In Southern Voices - Red, White & Blues, veteran blues musician Scott Ainslie and seasoned performance poet Glenis Redmond trade licks, vamp off each other, and weave stories, poetry and music. Tickets are $10, $15 and $20.

Southern Voices is part Holly Springs Cultural Center's celebration of Black History Month during February.

The celebration features Mike Wiley's production of "One Noble Journey: A Box Named Freedom" on Friday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Wiley's one-man play is based on the miraculous true stories of three slaves. Tickets are $10 - $20.

NBC 17 presents a free concert by the Shaw University Choir on Monday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.

In just over two years of operation, the Cultural Center has gained popularity, not just in Holly Springs but among residents of other communities as well.

"The Cultural Center is a great asset to the town," Briscar said. "Because we're a growing community and have new people moving to the area on a regular basis, this is our invitation - not only to newcomers, but to people who have been in Holly Springs awhile - to see what we do."

Other upcoming performances include the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra's presentation of CarolinaClarinet on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m.

You can order tickets online for Cultural Center performances and events through etix.com