Moms and dads from across the country will be visiting Pitt County this weekend — it's graduation time at East Carolina University.

More than 3,000 new graduates will don caps and gowns for ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at Minges Coliseum, their parents crammed in to watch.

But what about the rest of the time visiting family is in town? What is there for them to do in Greenville?

Pitt County boasts a wealth of cultural and recreation facilities — there's always something doing around here — and The Daily Reflector has compiled some of the top spots for newbies to visit.

There are also quite a few entertainment and event options available this weekend. Simply turn the page and visit our Go! Guide, broken down by date, to see what's available.

But at some point, people have to eat, right? Keep in mind that eastern North Carolina is known for its barbecue (that vinegar sauce!) and its seafood restaurants.

In the last few years, Greenville has blossomed with varied dining options. However, with the influx of graduation visitors and kids going out for high school proms, dine-out seekers are liable to be in for a wait if they haven't booked ahead. We can help — a little. For a list of local restaurants to consider, broken down by style of food, visit www.reflector.com/news/content/community/factbook/2005, and follow the "restaurants" link in the Lifestyles section.

The Greenville Museum of Art

Location: 802 S. Evans St.

Phone: 758-1946

Hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 1-4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.

About: The Greenville Museum of Art has seven galleries housing a variety of work. The galleries include:

n West Wing Gallery currently displays the Pitt Community College Advertising and Graphic Design Portfolio Show. The 13th-annual exhibition is comprised of works by the PCC program's graduating seniors.

n The Commons Gallery, displaying work by North Carolina Artists from the museum's collection.

n The Speight/Blakeslee Gallery is a permanent exhibition of works by Francis Speight (1896-1989) and Sarah Blakeslee (1902-2005), two of the state's most important artists, who called Greenville home for many years. A free brochure is located in the gallery.

n The South Gallery displays works by American landscape artists from the museum's extensive collection, with pieces dating from the 1870s.

n The Kenneth Noland Gallery, a permanent exhibition, includes "Mysteries: West Light," painted by Noland in 2001, and the paperwork "Untitled," from 1978.

n The Students' Gallery, which contains changing exhibitions of work by local students.

n The Look & Learn Gallery, with two- and three-dimensional art from the museum's Education Collection. Young visitors are invited to browse and engage in the project sheets found in the Activity Corner.

Wellington B. Gray Gallery

Location: The Jenkins Fine Arts Building on the East Carolina University campus, Fifth Street.

Phone: 328-6336

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.

About: The Wellington B. Gray Gallery at East Carolina University has the 2006 Masters of Fine Art Thesis Exhibition through May 22. The show features the best work from each discipline in ECU's School of Art and Design.

Emerge Gallery & Art Center

Location: 404 S. Evans St., downtown

Call: 551-6947

Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays (summer hours)

Emerge Gallery & Art Center will show the East Carolina University Senior Exhibition through May 27. The exhibition will feature the senior undergraduate work of Janie Askew and Vicky Sawyers (printmaking, metals, wood), and Jairus Dolfi and Jodi Stevens (textiles).

The Greenville greenway

This 1 1/2-mile scenic and environmentally friendly path winds alongside Green Mill Run for the enjoyment of walkers, runners, bicyclists and nature enthusiast. Pick it up at the bottom of College Hill, or at Elm Street Park, near the intersection with 10th Street.

Golf

The 18-hole Bradford Creek Golf Course, a public course, includes a driving range, putting green and club house. Yardage ranges from 5,124 from the forward tees to 7,151 from the championship tees. The course is at 4950 Old Pactolus Road. Call 329-4653

Walter L. Stasavich Science and Nature Center/River Park North

Location: 1000 Mumford Road

Call: 329-4560

Nature center hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 1-5 p.m .Sundays

Park hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays

The center houses a 70-seat theater, a variety of stationary exhibits, a turtle touch tank, a waterfowl flyway, a 10,000 gallon freshwater aquarium, live snakes and the North American Diorama. The 324-acre River Park North offers five ponds, fishing, wildlife observation, pedal boats, camping, nature trails and two picnic shelters with grills.