Minnesota Events Report for February 5

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 Minnesota Events Report for February 5

Southern Minnesota

The city of Rochester will host Rochester WinterFest VI through Sunday, February 10. Just some of the events taking place this weekend, February 8-10, include the Super Polar Plunge, the Frosty Fun Family Event, the 10th Annual Youth Ice Fishing Contest, a Valentine Concert by the Rochester Concert Band & Choir, and a Birds & Breakfast program at the Quarry Hill Nature Center. For more information, dial 507/288-4331, or check out www.visitrochestermn.com

Eagle Viewing will be offered at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha each Saturday and Sunday through the end of March, when the viewing deck will be staffed with National Eagle Center volunteers to answer all of your questions. The deck is located at the end of Pembroke Avenue near the Mississippi River, adjacent to the new National Eagle Center location. To learn more, dial 651/565-4989, or visit www.nationaleaglecenter.org

The city of Waseca will be the site of the 58th Annual Waseca Sleigh & Cutter Festival, Wednesday through Sunday, February 6-10. Highlights include an old-fashioned ice harvest, snowmobile races on Clear Lake, a Gospel Fest, children's ice fishing, performances by The Cannon Old West Society, a snowball dance, a tribute to Johnny Cash, the Best Dressed Cowboy & Cowgirl contest, a skydiver jump by the Southern Minnesota Skydivers, and the famous Sleigh and Cutter Parade, with 80 horse-drawn and other animal-powered units. To find out more, dial 507/835-7711, or check out www.sleighandcutter.org

Winterfest 2008 will be held Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 17, throughout the city of St. Peter. Just some of the highlights include a medallion hunt, parade and fireworks display, the Festival of Lights home lighting contest, a Kids Against Hunger Soup Supper, a Dough For A Dog Park silent auction, snow sculptures, chili cook-off, a fiddle contest, the All-You-Can-Eat Belgian Waffle Feed, the BlastFest Chili and Deviled Egg contest, a Winter Olympics, bonfire and s’mores, cross country skiing and other winter activities for the kids, a spelling bee, Winter Carnival games and prizes, wine and beer tasting, the Freeze Your Buns Run, a Polar Plunge, and much more! For further information, dial 507/934-3400, or visit www.stpeterwinterfest.org

Northbridge Mall in Albert Lea will be the site of the 16th Annual Big Island Historical Faire, Saturday and Sunday, February 9 & 10, with over 40 early American re-enactors selling their colonial crafts and demonstrating their skills in pottery, painting, woodworking and blacksmithing. Minnesota fur trade history classes will also be offered. This event is free. To find out more, dial 1-800-658-2526, or check out www.albertleatourism.org

Eagle Spot Weekends will be offered at Colvill Park in Red Wing each Saturday and Sunday from February 9 through March 16, when experienced volunteers will be on-hand to answer questions about the many eagles that spend their winter or stop during migration at Colville Park. Spotting scopes will also be available. To learn more, dial 1-800-498-3444, or visit www.redwing.org

The city of Wabasha will be the site of the annual Grumpy Old Men Festival on Saturday, February 23. Just some of the highlights include an ice fishing contest, softball in the snow, a pet pageant, bingo, cribbage tournament, Raghetti's Spaghetti, a stretch raffle, live music, the Frostbite Dog Frisbee contest, a Firemen's Party, and minnow races. For more information, dial 651/565-4158, or check out www.wabashamn.org

Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity

The 10th Annual Minnesota Boat and Marine Products Show will be held Thursday through Sunday, February 7-10, at the St. Paul RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul, with the latest model fishing boats, pontoons, runabouts, speed boats, and personal watercraft. In addition, see the newest innovations in marine electronics and accessories, docks, trailers, riggings, and more, as well as a variety of guest speakers and daily seminars. For rates and times, and for more information, dial 651/265-4800, or check out www.rivercentre.org

The Minneapolis Convention Center will present the 41st Annual Minneapolis/St. Paul RV, Vacation and Camping Show, February 7-10, with everything needed for camping vacations, including pop-up trailers, travel trailers, conversion vans, motorhomes, and more. There will also be live entertainment, seminars, and children's crafts and activities. For further information, dial 763/383-4400, or visit www.agievents.com

A Winter Fest celebration will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 9 & 10, in the city of North Branch. Activities will include ice sculpting, a vintage snowmobile ride and expo, horse-drawn carriage rides, family ice skating and sliding with "Frosty," snow sculpting, the infamous “Chili Show Down," and a medallion hunt. To find out more, dial 651/674-4077, or check out www.northbranchchamber.com

The Home and Patio Show will be held Thursday through Sunday, February 14-17, at the St. Paul RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul, with over 400 local and national manufacturers and retailers offering everything to get inspired for upcoming spring home improvements and gardening projects. In addition, enjoy hands-on and how-to help from home improvement coaches from the Home Depot, as well as informative seminars. For rates and times, and for more information, dial 651/265-4800, or check out www.homeandpatioshow.com

The Science Museum of Minnesota, located in St. Paul, will celebrate the 16th Annual African Americans in Science event on Saturday, February 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Be inspired by the best and brightest scientists, inventors and educators from the community, try your hand at experiments with science educators, and meet the students who were awarded this year's Science/Math Good Job Award. This event is free with museum exhibit admission. To learn more, dial 651/221-9444, or visit www.smm.org

The Twin Cities Pet Expo will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 16 & 17, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis. This is a one-stop venue for pet products and services, and includes top quality demonstrations, presentations and the latest products and services for pet owners and pet enthusiasts. There will also be a variety of live entertainment and attractions. For more information, dial 1-800-946-4611, or check out www.twincitiespetexpo.com

The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul will be the site of Kid's Fest, Saturday through Monday, February 16-18. Come enjoy free special activities throughout the Zoo and Conservatory, with animal enrichments, storytime, a ballot scavenger hunt, interactive stations, and special naming ceremonies for the recent baby giraffe and orangutan arrivals. There will also be opportunities to meet the keepers of the zoo and gardens, and learn what they do each day. Each day's event will have a different theme. To find out more, dial 651/207-0333, or visit www.comozooconservatory.org.

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
Sweeney Todd at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, February 5-10
Dave Attell at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, February 7
Marilyn Manson at The Myth in Maplewood, February 8
The Chamber Ballet Of St. Paul at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, February 14
Frank Caliendo at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, February 16
The Jonas Brothers at the Target Center in Minneapolis, February 20
My Fair Lady at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, February 20-March 2
Playhouse Disney Live On Tour at the Target Center, February 22 & 23
Citizen Cope at the Fitzgerald Theater, February 24
The Smucker's Stars On Ice Tour at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, February 26
The Foo Fighters at the Target Center, February 27
Rain: The Beatles Experience at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, March 3
Rockstar Taste Of Chaos at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at the St. Paul RiverCentre, March 4
Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo at the Target Center, March 6-9
Robin Hood, Esq at the Pantages Theatre, March 7 & 8
Girls' Night: The Musical at The O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, March 8
Steve Earle at the Pantages Theatre, March 9
Jim Norton at the Pantages Theatre, March 15
Bon Jovi at the Xcel Energy Center, March 18
Jersey Boys at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, March 19-April 20
Avril Lavigne at the Target Center, March 20
D.L. Hughley at the Pantages Theatre, March 22
Three Days Grace & Breaking Benjamin at the Target Center, March 24
The Current's Fakebook at the Fitzgerald Theater, March 28
The Blue Man Group: How to be a Megastar Tour 2.1 at the Xcel Energy Center, March 29
The Hotel Cafe Tour featuring Dan Wilson at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis, March 31
Etta James at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, April 1
Disney's High School Musical National Stage Tour at the Historic State Theatre, April 1-6
The St. Paul Osman Temple Shrine Circus at the Warner Coliseum at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, April 3
The Kings College Choir Of Cambridge at the Cathedral of St. Paul, April 8
Bob Saget at the Historic State Theatre, April 11
The Harlem Globetrotters at the Target Center, April 11 & 12
Red House Records 25th Anniversary Concert with Lucy Kaplansky & Storyhill at the Fitzgerald Theater, April 12
Orpheus & Euridice at the Pantages Theatre, April 18
The Current's Fakebook featuring Chuck D & Brother Ali at the Fitzgerald Theater, April 19
Santana at the Xcel Energy Center, April 21
Greg Brown at the Fitzgerald Theater, May 2
Jesus Christ Superstar at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, May 2-4
Dan Zanes at the Fitzgerald Theater, May 4
Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping at the Plymouth Playhouse in Plymouth, May 6
The Honda Civic Tour: Panic at the Disco at the Myth, May 27
Monty Python's Spamalot at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, May 27-June 1
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Target Center, July 23
Celine Dion at the Target Center in Minneapolis, October 30
For further information on any of these performances or events, please contact Ticketmaster at 651/989-5151

Northern Minnesota

The city of Ely will hold their annual Ely Winter Festival daily through Sunday, February 10, to highlight the unique culture, art, history and traditions of the area. Featured will be the Ely Artwalk, when Ely's shops and storefront windows become a city-wide gallery with artwork by over 100 local artisans. In addition, there will be elaborate opening ceremonies, the Wilderness Trek Nordic Ski Race, dog sled rides, a chance to meet sled dogs and their mushers, a snow bear contest, a Mukluk Ball, arts and crafts show, the Veterans On The Lake fish fry, a snowshoe tour, concerts and live entertainment, lots of family activities, a chili feed, a wolf howling contest, and much more! For further information, dial 218/365-6123, or visit www.elywinterfestival.com

The annual Polar Fest celebration will be held throughout the city of Detroit Lakes through February 10. Featured will be a snowmobile run, the Snowflake Scavenger Hunt, Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance, a Freeze Your Buns Run, a Polar Plunge, ice golf, pond hockey, broom ball, bonspiels, concerts, dinners, and a pageant. For more information, dial 1-800-542-3992, or check out www.visitdetroitlakes.com

The city of Crosslake will present the 5th Annual Crosslake Winterfest, Friday through Sunday, February 8-10, with a wide array of activities and entertainment, including a treasure hunt, car races on Trout Lake (weather permitting), horse-drawn carriage rides, a bonfire and s'mores, fireworks display, dog sled races, helicopter rides, a bean bag toss, ice fishing contest, ice bowling, kids' snowmobile rides, and a jalapeno eating contest. To find out more, dial 218/829-2838, or visit www.explorebrainerdlakes.com

The 20th Annual Farm Toy Show & Auction will be held Saturday, February 9, at the Sauk Centre Public School in Sauk Centre, with over 80 tables of vendors offering farm toys and more! For more information, dial 320/352-5201, or check out www.saukcentrechamber.com

The Carlton High School and Chub Lake Park in Carlton will be the site of the Carlton Winterfest, Friday through Sunday, February 15–17. Highlights include a chili cook-off, fishing tournament, dog-sled races, children's activities, and much more! And on Saturday, February 16, enjoy Hook n' Slice on Ice, when friends and family join together for 18 holes of golf on ice, with fairways lined with hundreds of pine trees. To learn more, dial 218/384-3322, or visit www.cloquet.com

The 29th Annual International Eelpout Festival will be held February 15–17 throughout the city of Walker. Featured will be a torch lighting ceremony, Eelpout Encampment Judging, the Eelpout Peelout race and run, International Ice Drilling Championships, the Eelpout On-Ice Auto Race, the Eelpout Idol karaoke contest, a swimwear fashion show, an Ice Fishing Olympics, a Polar Plunge, dog sled rides, and awards ceremony. Please check out www.eelpoutfestival.com for more information, or contact the Walker Visitors Bureau at 1-800-833-1118

The city of Nisswa will hold the 36th Annual Nisswa Winter Jubilee, February 15-17, with activities such as a snow sculpture contest, wood-splitting contest, live music, games, great food, a winter parade, broomball tournament, medallion hunt, ice fishing contest, and the Miss Nisswa pageant. For further information, dial 218/963-2620, or visit www.nisswa.com

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