Minnesota Events Report as of Tuesday, September 2

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Explore Minnesota Events Report as of Tuesday,

Just some of this week’s highlights include the Defeat of Jesse James Days, Kellogg Watermelon Festival, Marigold Days, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, CivicFest, Burnsville Fire Muster, the Fall Harvest Moon Fest, and the Little Falls Arts & Crafts Fair.
Southern Minnesota

The Defeat of Jesse James Days will take place from Wednesday, September 3 through Sunday, September 7, throughout the city of Northfield. Just some of the highlights include bank raid re-enactments, a midway, parade, live entertainment, an old-time tractor pull, a hog roast, horseshoe hunt, Jessie Jane’s Jamboree, a square dance, and a P.R.C.A. professional rodeo. A Fine Arts & Crafts Riverfront Festival will also be offered Saturday and Sunday, September 6 & 7, along the banks of the Cannon River in downtown Northfield, with more than 65 artists participating. For further information, dial 1-800-658-2548, or visit www.defeatofjessejamesdays.org

The town of Kellogg will be the site of the 62nd Annual Kellogg Watermelon Festival, Friday through Sunday, September 5-7, with live music and dancing, vintage tractor rides, a kiddie parade, a Soap Box Derby race, pie sale, Queen’s Tea, grand parade, free watermelon, a pedal pull, carnival, and a flea market. For more information, dial 1-800-565-4158, or check out www.wabashamn.org

Prairie Pothole Day will be held Saturday, September 6, at Stoney Ridge Farm, located just south of Junction 9 near the city of New London. Visitors will enjoy events, exhibitors, seminars, trapshooting, archery, black powder familiarization, dog trials, and just exploring the 100-acre farm site. Concessions will available. All guns and bows must be cased. To find out more, dial 320/214-1497, or visit www.prairiepotholeday.com

The Bluff Valley Campground in Zumbro Falls will be the site of Bow Wow Fest At Bluff Valley on Saturday, September 6, with sporting events, a HyperFlite Distance Competition, demonstrations, hiking, a Doggie Dance and Fashion Show, and other fun activities for dogs and their families. Overnight camping is available. Current vaccination records are required for dogs to be admitted. Non-perishable, pre-packaged dog food donations are encouraged. To learn more, dial 1-800-226-7282, or check out www.BowWowFest.com

Marigold Days will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 6 & 7, throughout the city of Mantorville. This 43rd annual event includes a large antique and flea market, arts and crafts, quilt and flower shows, a music stage, children’s events, water fights, fireworks, bingo, a Firemen’s Dance, grand parade, great food, and much more! For further information, dial 507/527-2275, or visit www.mantorvilletourism.com

Fort Belmont in the city of Jackson will be the site of the 8th Annual Fort Belmont Rendezvous Days, Saturday and Sunday, September 6 & 7. Highlights include primitive camping, cooking over an open fire, blacksmithing, old-time games and crafts, a tomahawk throwing competition, and demonstrations of pioneer living and other trades of the 1800’s era. Watch or join in a black powder rifle shoot, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, or just enjoy the beautiful fall prairie flowers. There will also be guided site tours, and self-guided tours of a fort stockade, the 1873 Lysgard farm house, the 1902 Delafield church, an operational blacksmith shop, a tepee and a sod house. For more information, dial 507/847-3867, or check out www.jacksonmn.com

The 56th Annual Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Days will take place at the Steam Engine Grounds in Mabel, September 6 & 7, with old-time threshing, log-sawing, corn-shredding, and blacksmithing. In addition, there will be antique and classic tractor displays, parades, stage shows, tractor pulls, craft and antique shows, Queen and Little Miss Mabel pageants, exhibits, re-enactments by the Cannon Old West Society, a quilt show, bingo, midway rides, and radio-controlled airplane and helicopter demonstrations. To find out more, dial 507/493-5350, or visit www.steamenginedays.com

Minnesota Square Park in St. Peter will be the site of the 18th Annual Rock Bend Folk Festival, September 6 & 7, in a celebration of Minnesota artists and musicians, with blues, bluegrass and jazz music, artwork, and lots of great food. To learn more, dial 1-800-473-3404, or check out www.rockbend.org

The 34th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival and Taste of Hutchinson will be held Friday and Saturday, September 12 & 13, at Library Square in downtown Hutchinson. Featured will be over 200 art, craft, and food booths. Other activities taking place in Hutchinson September 12-14 will be four garden tours and two gardening workshops, a flea market, cruise-in car show, Belgian Waffle breakfast, and a book sale. For more information, dial 1-800-572-6689, or visit www.explorehutchinson.com/arts.htm

The Faribault Airport will be the site of the Faribault Airfest & Balloon Rally, September 12 & 13. Featured will be the beauty and color of hot air balloons, a spectacular air show, a WWII B-25 Mitchell Bomber, live music, military fly-bys, a speakers’ forum, kids’ activities corner, ultra-light and aircraft displays, and glider, aircraft and helicopter rides. For further information, dial 507/334-4381, or check out www.faribaultairfest.com
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity

CivicFest, A Very Minnesota Celebration, will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis through Thursday, September 4, in a celebration of Minnesota and American History, democracy, and the U.S. presidency. This once-in-a-lifetime non-partisan, interactive and multimedia experience features more than 30 educational and entertaining exhibits, historic memorabilia and artifacts, photos in a replica of the Oval Office, a full-scale Air Force One replica, performances, simulcasts of convention sessions, a 300-vendor Marketplace, and more than 35 exhibits, including a scale model of the White House. For more information, dial 1-866-792-4842, or visit www.civicfest.org

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival will be held at a recreated 16th-century European village, located just south of Shakopee off Hwy 169, each Saturday and Sunday, through September 28, including Friday, September 26. This is the largest Renaissance Festival in the United States, with more than 500 entertainers on 15 stages, 275 crafters, 120 food booths, and old-time games and competitions, as well as belly dancing lessons, an Arabian horse show, yoga lessons, the World Amateur Highland Heavy Games, and much more! Each weekend will feature a different theme, including the Silk Road, Irish Heritage, Italian Carnival, and Chocolate and Romance! To find out more, dial 1-800-966-8215, or check out www.renaissancefest.com

Civic Center Park in the city of Burnsville will be the site of the Burnsville Fire Muster, Wednesday through Sunday, September 3-7. Highlights include the World’s Longest Fire Truck Parade, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004, as well as traditional fire fighter games and competitions, bands, fireworks, a community parade, games, rides, dancing, lots of good food, and more. For further information, dial 952/895-6714, or visit www.burnsvillefiremuster.com

The Concrete and Grass Lowertown Music Festival will be held in Mears Park in downtown St. Paul, Friday through Sunday, September 5-7, with local ensembles of a wide variety of music genres. Food and beer will also be available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. To find out more, dial 651/224-4222, or check out www.concreteandgrass.com

Downtown Excelsior will be the site of Excelsior Apple Day on Saturday, September 6, with a wide array of antiques, collectibles, handmade crafts, local foods and produce. In addition, there will be walking tours, a Red Wagon parade, live entertainment and boat rides on Lake Minnetonka. To learn more, dial 952/474-5880

An Apple Orchard Opener will be offered at Minnetonka Orchards in Minnetrista on Saturday and Sunday, September 6 & 7. In addition to great apples, enjoy free apple s’mores, hayrides, a bonfire, and live music. For more information, dial 763/479-6530, or visit www.minnetonkaorchards.com

City Square Park and downtown Waconia will be the site of the 47th Annual Nickle Dickle Day on Saturday, September 13, featuring a car and truck show with over 20 classes of antique and collector cars and trucks, a large craft fair with nearly 120 vendors, live music and entertainment, and lots of in-store specials. To find out more, dial 952/442-5812, or check out www.destinationwaconia.org

The 5th Annual Wild Rice Festival will be offered September 13 at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville in a celebration of wild rice, Native American culture, and the great outdoors! Highlights include a fund-raising wild rice pancake breakfast, wild rice sausages, wild rice soup and fry bread, traditional wild rice harvesting demonstrations, lots of activities and games, hands-on apple cider pressing, Native American music, dancing and story-telling, a silent auction, children’s games and activities, a performance by the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater, and much more! For further information, dial 651/792-7012, or visit www.cityofroseville.com/HANC

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
Lewis Black at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, September 4
Chicago at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, September 9
Wayne Brady at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, September 10
Great Big Sea at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, September 12
Motorhead at The Myth in Maplewood, September 12
Journey at the Target Center in Minneapolis, September 16
Anita Baker at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, September 19
Everlast at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis, September 22
Cirque Du Soleil-Saltimbanco at the Target Center, September 24
The Robert Cray Band at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, September 26
WWE Monday Night Raw at the Target Center, September 29
Beck with MGMT at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, September 30
The Eagles at the Target Center, September 30
Defending the Caveman at the Hennepin Stages in Minneapolis, October 1
My Morning Jacket at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 2
Ani DiFranco at the Historic State Theatre, October 3
Kathy Griffin at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 3
Kenny Rogers at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, October 3
Weezer with Angels, the Airwaves, & Tokyo Police Club at the Xcel Energy Center, October 3
Alanis Morissette at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 4
A Prairie Home Companion at the Fitzgerald Theater, October 4
Kathy Griffin at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 6
Joe Satriani at the Historic State Theatre, October 7
David Wilcox at the Fitzgerald Theater, October 9
Magnetic Fields at the Historic State Theatre, October 10
The Music Builds Tour with Third Day & Switchfoot at the Target Center, October 10
Rascal Flatts at the Xcel Energy Center, October 10
Tegan & Sara at the Historic State Theatre, October 11
Playhouse Disney Live! at the Xcel Energy Center, October 12
Taj Mahal at the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul, October 12
David Byrne at the Historic State Theatre, October 14
Jackson Browne at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 16
Rufus Wainwright at the Historic State Theatre, October 16
Ben Folds at The Myth, October 17
K.D. Lang at the O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, October 19
So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour 2008 at the Xcel Energy Center, October 19
The Loft Literary Center presents David Sedaris at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, October 19
Rock Band Live with Panic at the Disco & Dashboard Confessional at the Target Center, October 21
New Kids On the Block at the Xcel Energy Center, October 21
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 22
Matthew Sweet at First Avenue in Minneapolis, October 22
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 23
Cinematic Titanic: Live! at the Historic State Theatre, October 25
Loretta Lynn at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, October 25
Celine Dion at the Target Center in Minneapolis, October 30
Wicked-A New Musical at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, November 5
Menopause, the Musical at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, November 5-9
Martin Sexton at the Fitzgerald Theater, November 6
The 2008 World Tour of Gymnastics Superstars at the Xcel Energy Center, November 9
Joan Baez at the Historic State Theatre, November 13
Leo Kottke at the Historic State Theatre, November 29
Lorie Line at the Historic State Theatre, December 6-13
The Moscow Ballet at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, December 12 & 13
Celtic Thunder at the Target Center, December 15
The Nutcracker Fantasy at the Historic State Theatre, December 19
For further information on any of these performances or events, please contact Ticketmaster at 651/989-5151
Northern Minnesota

The 15th Annual Fall Harvest Moon Festival will be held Friday through Sunday, September 5-7, at Whiteside Park in Ely, with over 120 arts and craft exhibitors, as well as demonstrations, great food and live entertainment. Admission is free. To learn more, dial 1-800-777-7281, or check out www.ely.org

Welles Memorial Park in Breckenridge will be the site of the 9th Annual Headwaters Day celebration on Saturday, September 6. Just some of the highlights include a parade, noon BBQ, games for the kids, craft vendors, canoe rides, boom truck rides, live music, a coin hunt, and open houses at the Wilkin County Historical Museum and the restored Great Northern Railroad Caboose. A Headwaters Day button is required to attend some events. To find out more, dial 1-800-892-6673, or visit www.wahpetonbreckenridgechamber.com

The 2nd Annual Hinckley Smokin’ Rib Fest will be held September 6 at West Side Park in Hinckley, with a chance to judge some of the best BBQ in the state! Live blues music and arts and crafts will also be offered. Admission is free! For more information, dial 320/384-7837, or check out www.hinckleychamber.com

Downtown Little Falls will be the site of the 36th Annual Little Falls Arts & Crafts Fair, Saturday and Sunday, September 6 & 7, featuring over 700 juried exhibitors from throughout the nation. In addition, there will be special food vendors and free shuttle bus service. For further information, dial 320/632-5155, or visit www.littlefallsmnchamber.com

The 16th Annual Ethnic Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, September 12 & 13, in downtown Walker, with live entertainment from around the world! Highlights include live music and dance performances on three stages, as well as food and craft vendors, family entertainment, interactive activities, and a street dance. To find out more, dial 1-800-833-1118, or check out www.leech-lake.com

The city of Chisholm will present Chisholm Fire Days on Saturday, September 13, to celebrate the redevelopment of Chisholm after the historic 1908 fire. Festivities include a parade, the Firefighters Challenge, and various children’s activities. To learn more, dial 1-800-422-0806, or visit www.chisholmchamber.com

An Arts & Crafts Fair and A Taste of Pequot Lakes will be held September 13 at Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes, with quality handmade arts and crafts, as well as specialties offered by area restaurants. Arrive early and enjoy the abundance of fresh, local produce at the Pequot Lakes farmers’ market. For more information, dial 1-800-450-2838, or check out www.pequotlakes.com

Downtown Thief River Falls will be the site of a Great American Block Party on September 13, with a street dance, beer gardens, food stands, and more! For further information, dial 218/681-3720, or visit www.visitthiefriverfalls.com

Hawk Weekend will take place Friday and Saturday, September 19 & 20, at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth. Just some of the many activities include hawk watching, guided hikes and field trips, and evening presentations by local and national experts. Most raptors are reluctant to cross large bodies of water, therefore birds migrating south towards Lake Superior will naturally veer southwest along the lakeshore. Hawk Ridge offers incredible opportunities to view a variety of birds due to its location on the bluffs overlooking East Duluth where impressive numbers of birds can easily be seen. To find out more, dial 218/722-4011, or check out www.hawkridge.org

 “The information in this report is provided courtesy of Explore Minnesota Tourism.”