Minnesota Events Report for August 28

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Minnesota Events Report for August 28

Please note that some areas of southern Minnesota recently received record amounts of rainfall, resulting in the closure of some trails, parks and campsites, as well as unsafe river levels. For the most current conditions, please visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/flooding.html

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

RIVER-BLAST will be held throughout the city of New Ulm, Friday and Saturday, August 31 and September 1. Featured will be musical entertainment, exhibits, demonstrations, crafts, contests, fishing on the Minnesota River, and the hilarious water parade and flotilla. For more information, dial 507/233-4300, or visit www.riverblast.org

The Rice County Steam and Gas Engines Showgrounds in the city of Dundas will be the site of the RICE COUNTY STEAM & GAS ENGINES SHOW, Friday through Sunday, August 31 through September 2, with a tractor pull and parade, a flea market, raffle, musical entertainment and exhibits. And while in Dundas, head downtown for DUNDAS DETOUR DAYS, September 1 & 2, for family events, children's games, evening entertainment, and a street dance. For further information, dial 507/645-4336, or visit www.ricecountysteamandgas.com

FROKOST-A NORWEGIAN BREAKFAST will be offered by the Sons of Norway in Lanesboro on Saturday, September 1, with homemade breads and jams, hard tack, cold meats, herring, tomatoes, cucumbers, sliced and deviled eggs, cheese and fruit, desert pancakes and waffles! To find out more, dial 507/467-2696, or check out www.lanesboro.com

The Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester will offer a free BIRDING FIELD TRIP on Saturday, September 1 at 9:00 am. Afterwards, enjoy A FAMILY CELEBRATION featuring the Teddy Bear Band at Apache Mall in Rochester, with free Cold Stone Creamery ice cream samples, and special children's character appearances. And on Sunday, September 2, head to the Olmsted County Fairgrounds & Graham Arena in Rochester for an ALL AMERICAN FLEA MARKET. To learn more, dial 1-800-634-8277, or visit www.VisitRochesterMN.com

The DEFEAT OF JESSE JAMES DAYS will take place Wednesday, September 5 through Sunday, September 9, throughout the city of Northfield. Highlights include James-Younger Gang's bank raid re-enactments, as well as a midway, parade, art festivals, live entertainment, an old-time tractor pull, and a variety of other activities. For more information, dial 507/645-5604, or check out www.defeatofjessejamesdays.org

The town of Mabel will be the site of the 55TH ANNUAL HESPER-MABEL STEAM ENGINE DAYS, Friday, September 7 through Sunday, September 9. Festivities include old-time threshing, log sawing, corn shredding, plowing and blacksmithing, as well as parades, stage shows, tractor pulls, craft and antique shows, carnival rides, classic tractor displays, ecumenical church service, and more! For further information, dial 507/493-5350, or visit www.steamenginedays.com

A CELEBRATION OF MINNESOTA CHILDREN'S AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS will be held Saturday, September 8 at the Anderson Center in Red Wing. Many of Minnesota's finest children's book authors and illustrators will attend this event, with book sales, signings, readings, talks and presentations. In addition, enjoy puppeteers and and puppet-making, marble-shooting, musical entertainment, museum displays, magic shows, face painting, ice cream, cookies, and balloons. To find out more, dial 651/388-2009, or check out www.andersoncenter.org

Communities along Highway 75, from the Canadian border to Iowa, will paricipate in the 5TH ANNUAL KING OF TRAILS MARKETPLACE on September 8. Highlights include all types of vendors selling a variety of goods, such as antiques, produce, collectibles, baked goods and flowers. Just some of the participating communities in southern Minnesota include Breckinridge, Ortonville, Canby, Lake Benton, Pipestone and Luverne! To learn more, dial 507/825-3316, or visit www.highway75.com

FORT BELMONT RENDEZVOUS DAYS will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 8 & 9, in Jackson. Activities include old-time kids' and women's games, an axe-throwing competition, black powder rifle shoots, buckskin traders, pioneer demonstrations and crafts, wagon rides, and guided tours of Fort Belmount. Primitive camping is available on site. For more information, dial 507/847-3867, or check out www.jacksonmn.com

The town of Mantorville will hold the 42ND ANNUAL MARIGOLD DAYS celebration, September 8 & 9, with a huge antique and flea market, arts and crafts, a quilt and flower show, live music on stage, children's events, a firemen's dance, grand parade, and fireworks! For further information, dial 507/527-2275, or visit www.mantorvilletourism.com/marigolddays.htm

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TWIN CITIES GREATER METROPOLITAN VICINITY

The Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights will be the site of the MINNESOTA STATE FAIR through Monday, September 3. The "Great Minnesota Get-Together" features more than 350 choices in foods, 50 entertainers on five free entertainment stages, 11 nights of big-name Grandstand entertainment, 60 carnival rides, and 3,000 creative, livestock and agricultural competitions. To learn more, dial 651/288-4400, or check out www.mnstatefair.org

THE 37TH ANNUAL MINNESOTA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL will be held just south of Shakopee off Highway 169, each Saturday and Sunday through September 30. This festival will also be offered Labor Day Monday, September 3, and Friday, September 28. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is one of the largest attended themed events in the country, and features more than 275 merchants, live entertainment, games, food and fun in a 22-acre, 16th-century village. Additions to this year's festival include belly dancing, an Arabian horse show, and yoga lessons. To find out more, dial 952/445-7361, or visit www.renaissancefest.com

Valleyfair in Shakopee will hold the 31ST ANNUAL GREEN GIANT CORN FEAST, Saturday through Monday, September 1–3, with an unlimited supply of free corn on the cob from 11am - 4pm daily, while supplies last. For more information, dial 952/445-7600, or check out www.valleyfair.com

FAMILY LIFE ON THE FRONTIER will be offered September 1–3 at Fort Snelling in St. Paul. Visitors will learn about family life at a frontier military post, with hands-on activities including preserving food, period crafts, and cooking. In addition, there will be historical skits portraying family life and discussions about universal issues such as birth, marriage and death. For further information, dial 612/726-1171, or visit www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in the city of Mound will be the site of THE INCREDIBLE FESTIVAL, Friday through Sunday, September 7–9. Highlights include carnival rides and games, a raffle with cash prizes, silent auction, bingo, live entertainment, a performance by "Elvis," kiddie parade with prizes, a beer tent, and great food. To find out more, dial 952/472-1284, or check out www.ourladyofthelake.com

EXCELSIOR APPLE DAY will be held Saturday, September 8 in downtown Excelsior, with antiques, collectibles, handmade crafts, freshly harvested apples and produce, walking tours, the Doll Buggy & Red Wagon Parade, a used book sale, live entertainment, and boat rides on Lake Minnetonka. To learn more, dial 952/474-5880, or visit www.southlake-excelsiorchamber.com

Pioneer Creek Community Park in the city of Independence will be the site of HERITAGE FEST on September 8. Highlights include local vendors, games and rides, black powder shoots, canine search and rescue demonstrations, live music, a car show, live auction, pony rides, a giant slide, moon walk, and lots of food. For more information, dial 763/479-0527, or check out http://independence.govoffice.com

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
THE COUNTING CROWS, LIVE, AND COLLECTIVE SOUL at Midway Stadium in St. Paul, September 1
DAMIEN RICE at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, September 4
CROWDED HOUSE at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, September 9
RUSH at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, September 9
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION with GARRISON KEILLOR at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, September 14 & 15
STEVE VAI at the Historic State Theatre, September 19
ANI DIFRANCO at the Historic State Theatre, September 21
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION with GARRISON KEILLOR at the Fitzgerald Theatre, September 21 & 22
MY LITTLE PONY-THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TEA PARTY at the Target Center in Minneapolis, September 21-23
GORDON LIGHTFOOT at the Historic State Theatre, September 22
MAROON 5 at the Excel Energy Center, October 1
INTERPOL at the Historic State Theatre, October 12
JIM GAFFIGAN at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 12
CMT ON TOUR 2007, with SUGARLAND at the Target Center, October 13
ANDRE RIEU at the Excel Energy Center, October 17
KIDZ BOP WORLD TOUR at the Target Center, October 20
VAN HALEN at the Target Center, October 24
DISNEY PRESENTS THE LION KING at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 25-November 25
RASCAL FLATTS at the Excel Energy Center, October 27
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE LIVE TOUR 2007 at the Target Center, October 28
CELTIC WOMAN at the Excel Energy Center, November 16
MOSCOW BALLET'S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, December 1
DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE ICE TOUR at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, December 14-16
LOYCE HOULTON'S "NUTCRACKER FANTASY at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, December 20-24
For further information on any of these performances or events, please contact Ticketmaster at 651/989-5151

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NORTHERN MINNESOTA

The city of Grand Portage will be the site of the GRAND PORTAGE BAYOU BOOGIE, Friday through Sunday, August 31 through September 2, with three days of Cajun food, storytelling, Mardi Gras parades, crafts and delicious Louisiana cuisine like jambalaya, gumbo and shrimp creole under two tents! Admission is free. For more information, dial 1-800-543-1384, or check out www.grandportage.com

WILD RICE DAYS will be held in the city of McGregor, August 31 through September 2. Highlights include children's activities, face painting & kiddie carnival games, prize drawings, a car show, library book sale, silent auction, Wild Rice Education Tent, steak fry, arts and craft vendors, food vendors, parades, and live entertainment at Larson's Barn. For further information, dial 218/768-3692, or visit www.mcgregormn.com

The Pennington County Fairgrounds in Thief River Falls will be the site of the KICK'N UP COUNTRY MUSIC FEST, August 31 through September 2, with performances by Neal McCoy, Phil Vassar, Connie Smith, Blackhawk, Blue Country and many other popular country music artists. Camping is available on site. To find out more, dial 218/754-2861, or check out www.kicknupkountry.com

The WESTERN MINNESOTA STEAM THRESHERS REUNION will be held Friday, August 31 through Monday, September 3 in Rollag. Featured will be scale model antique equipment, Minnesota-made Stickney gas engines, 1/2- and 1/4-scale equipment, and a chance to see up to fourteen threshing rigs threshing at the same time. This year's show will have a youth focus, with fun activities such as a carnival, horse demonstration area with pony rides, a pedal tractor pull, and free rides on a steam powered carousel, and full-size and mini steam trains. Youth ages 14 and under are admitted free. To learn more, dial 701/212-2034, or visit www.rollag.com

The city of McGrath will be the site of the WHITE PINE LOGGING & THRESHING SHOW, Saturday through Monday, September 1-3, with antique farming demonstrations, over 250 old tractors, 17 steam engines, grain threshing, shingle-making, wooden barrel-making, a sawmill, working blacksmith shop, antique print shop, live music, dancing and parades. To find out more, dial 651/433-5067, or email: whitepinewoodman@aol.com

The 17TH ANNUAL LAKE VERMILION ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC BOAT SHOW will be held Sunday, September 2 on Lake Vermilion at the city of Cook. The public is invited to come see beautifully restored and replicated boats, visit with boat captains, and vote for the best boat. Boats date back as far as 1920. For more information, dial 218/666-5850, or check out www.lakevermilionresorts.com

The city of Walker will hold the 15TH ANNUAL ETHNIC FESTIVAL, Friday and Saturday, September 7 & 8, with three stages of multi-cultural music and entertainment from around the world. Ethnic food and craft vendors will line the streets of Walker, and there will be family entertainment, interactive activities, a street dance, and a parade. For further information, dial 1-800-833-1118, or visit www.leech-lake.com

Ely's 14TH ANNUAL FALL HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL will be held Friday through Sunday, September 7-9, with over 120 art and craft exhibitors, as well as food, entertainment and craft demonstrations such as spinning, weaving, snowshoe-making, pottery, basketry and leatherwork. To find out more, dial 1-800-777-7281, or check out www.ely.org

The AUTUMN WINDS STUDIO TOUR will be offered September 7–16 at thirteen studios in Moose Lake and the surrounding area. Visitors will see the work of sixteen artists and fine craftspeople, enjoy live craft demonstrations, and have a chance to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork. To obtain a map, and for further details, visit www.autumnwindstour.com, or dial 1-888-485-0478


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

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