Explore Minnesota Events Report: April 2

[mudbrook]

Explore Minnesota Events Report: April 2

The Alltel Center in Mankato will be the site of the 14th Annual Southern Minnesota Home and Builder Show, Friday through Sunday, April 4-6, with a wide array of vendors and exhibitors, as well as demonstrations and seminars offering information on the latest in home remodeling and building. For more information, dial 1-800-697-0652, or visit www.greatermankato.com

The Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester will offer a Birding Field Trip on Saturday, April 5 at 9:00 a.m. Join Joyce and Terry Grier in front of the nature center to look for American robins and other early migratory species. The field trip is open to the public and binoculars are available to use at the Nature Center. Also on April 5, toddlers will enjoy Robins & Rainy Days, with programs at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. This class includes story time, art experience, and outdoor explorations. And on Sunday, April 6 at 1:30 p.m., the Quarry Hill Nature Center will offer Bird Sunday-Gentle Juncos, with bird walks, and possibly a chance to experience trapping, netting and releasing birds. To learn more, dial 507/281-6114, or check out www.qhnc.org

The Minnesota Alpaca Expo will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 5 & 6, at the Four Seasons Center in Owatonna. Visitors will have a chance to interact with roughly 500 Alpacas from across the United States, and enjoy children’s activities, displays, vendor booths, a silent auction, and seminars on topics such as Alpaca care and fiber preparation. To find out more, dial 651/583-2915, or visit www.MinnesotaAlpacaExpo.com

The 8th Annual Rochester Horse Expo will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 12 & 13, at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds & Graham Arenas in Rochester, with pony rides, a petting farm, vendors, and Trailer Alley. A pancake breakfast and Cowboy Church will also be offered on Sunday, April 13. And, the Bull Riding Challenge, followed by live music and dancing, will be offered Friday and Saturday evenings, April 11 & 12. All events are held indoors. For more information, dial 507/273-9880, or check out www.rochesterhorseexpo.com

Heritage Hill, located just east of Montevideo on Highway 7, will be the site of a Spring Swap Meet, Friday and Saturday, April 18 & 19. Come trade, buy and sell antique and modern tractors and equipment parts, as well as other antiques, crafts and artwork. For further information, dial 320/793-6633, or visit www.heritagehill.us

An International Festival will be offered at the East High School in Mankato on Sunday, April 20, to celebrate and raise awareness of cultural diversity in the Mankato vicinity. Enjoy taste-testing a variety of foods from throughout the world, view colorful costumes and dance demonstrations, and check out the flag parade, style show, the silent auction, many cultural displays and vendors, and the children’s area for making crafts. To find out more, dial 507/385-6660
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity

The Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul will hold their giant screen film festival, Omnifest, each day through Sunday, April 6, with six film favorites offered daily. And while at the Science Museum, check out the various special exhibits, including Deadly Medicine, Animation, and Disease Detectives. For more information, and for tickets and times, dial 651/221-9444, or check out www.smm.org/omnifest

The annual Farm Babies exhibit and program will be offered each Friday, Saturday and Sunday, through April 13, at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. Come meet the newest members of the Minnesota Zoo family, and see baby chicks, piglets, lambs, calves, goat kids, bunnies and ducklings. Also enjoy children’s activities, and “hands-on” interaction with the babies. For further information, dial 952/431-9500, or visit www.mnzoo.org

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at the Como Zoo in St. Paul will be the site of the Spring Flower Show in the Sunken Garden, daily through April 27, when the conservatory will be filled with tulips, hydrangeas, peonies, daffodils and lilies. For more information, dial 651/487-8200, or check out www.comozooconservatory.org

The 76th Annual Northwest Sportshow will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis, Wednesday through Sunday, April 2-6, with everything needed for fishing, boating, camping, vacationing, and other outdoor adventures! Highlights include hundreds of boats and RVs, a wide array of outdoor gear and accessories, outfitters and resorts, seminars, casting demos and native fish in the 40-foot Travelin’ Fish Tank, wood duck nest box building for the kids, fishing in the trout pond, laser hunting games, and more! For rates and times, dial 612/335-6000, or visit www.northwestsportshow.com

Studios located within the cities of Anoka, Coon Rapids, Ramsey and the surrounding areas will be the site of the 2008 North Artists Studio Crawl, Saturday and Sunday, April 5 & 6, with a chance to check out the studios and artwork of over 30 artists. To learn more, dial 763/712-1728, or check out www.nascrawl.org

A Spring Open House will be offered at The Raptor Center in St Paul on Sunday, April 6, when visitors can hear real-life clinic stories from expert veterinarians. In addition, meet the resident education eagles, hawks, owls and falcons, enjoy hands-on activities, and watch the education program with live raptors. This event is free and open to the public. To find out more, dial 612/624-4745, or visit www.theraptorcenter.org

The Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul will be the site of the 52nd Annual GSTA Rod & Custom Spectacular, Saturday and Sunday, April 12 & 13, with over 100 of the area’s finest hot rods, customs, street machines & motorcycles on display at Minnesota’s oldest motorized extravaganza. For rates and times, dial 763/323-3383, or check out www.gstarod-custom.com

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
Jersey Boys at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, March 19-April 20
Disney’s High School Musical National Stage Tour at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, April 1-6
The St. Paul Osman Temple Shrine Circus at the Warner Coliseum at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, April 3-6
Doodlebops Live! at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, April 4     
Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis, April 5
The Eels at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, April 7
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 in Minneapolis, April 11 & 12
John Prine at the Historic State Theatre, April 12
Red House Records 25th Anniversary Concert with Lucy Kaplansky & Storyhill at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, April 12
Justin Currie of Del Amitri at the Fine Line Music Cafe, April 17
Orpheus & Euridice at the Pantages Theatre, April 18
The Backyardigans Live! at the Historic State Theatre, April 19 & 20
Santana at the Xcel Energy Center, April 21
The Mars Volta at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, April 21
Casting Crowns at the Xcel Energy Center, April 26
The Minnesota Vikings Draft Party at the Minnesota Vikings Winter Park Facility in Eden Prairie, April 26
Michael and Friends Benefit Concert at the Fine Line Music Cafe, April 27
Alicia Keys at the Target Center, April 30
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
Trampled By Turtles at the Cabooze in Minneapolis, May 9
Engelbert Humperdinck at the Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, May 11
KT Tunstall at the Historic State Theatre, May 14
The Minnesota Dance Festival at the Fitzgerald Theater, May 16
Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, May 17
Rush at the Xcel Energy Center, May 22
Kid Rock at the Target Center, May 24
Eddie Izzard at the Historic State Theatre, May 27
The Honda Civic Tour: Panic at the Disco at the Myth in Maplewood, May 27
Jay Leno at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, May 31
Monty Python’s Spamalot at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, May 27-June 1
True Colors: Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, and Very Special Guests at the Target Center, June 9     
The Kanye West Glow in the Dark Tour at the Target Center, June 11
Return To Forever at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, June 19
The Steve Miller Band at the Target Center, July 3
Merle Haggard at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, July 1
Crosby, Stills and Nash at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, July 11
Mark Knopfler at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, July 12
Ween at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, July 19
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Target Center, July 23
Melissa Etheridge at The O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, August 9
Celine Dion at the Target Center in Minneapolis, October 30
Menopause, the Musical at the Pantages Theatre, November 5-9
For further information on any of these performances or events, please contact Ticketmaster at 651/989-5151
Northern Minnesota

The Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center will be the site of the 42nd Annual Arrowhead Home & Builders Show from Wednesday, April 2 through Sunday, April 6. Highlights will include over 900 individual exhibitors, the Home Show Café & Lounge, live stage shows, seminars, and more! For further information, dial 952/431-9630, or visit www.shamrockprod.com

The Vietnam Memorial Wall That Heals, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington D.C., will be in Bemidji, Thursday through Sunday, April 3-6. This exhibition will feature this dramatic replica, as well as an information center, and traveling museum displaying memorabilia left at The Wall. An Opening Ceremony will be held Saturday, April 5, followed by a welcome to all veterans at the American Legion. And, while in Bemidji, head to Bemidji State University, April 4-6, for the annual Bemidji Jaycees’ Home, Sport & Travel Show, featuring over 100 vendors. For more information, dial 1-800-458-2223, or check out www.visitbemidji.com

The Vergas Community Center will be the site of the 8th Annual Vergas Maple Syrup Fest on Saturday, April 5, when visitors will enjoy sugar house tours, various maple syrup products, merchant sales, craft vendors, maple syrup cotton candy, the annual Flapjack Run & Walk, and of course pancakes topped with pure maple syrup! To find out more, dial 218/342-2091, or visit www.govergas.com

The Lakes Area Women’s Expo will be held Saturday, April 12 at the Brainerd Civic Center. Featured will be regional businesses and service groups catering to women in the lakes area and beyond, with over 100 vendor exhibits, informative speakers, craft demonstrations, personal safety techniques, and fashion parades. To learn more, dial 1-800-450-2838, or check out www.lakesareawomensexpo.com/contact.html

The Mille Lacs Indian Museum in Onamia will offer a Sewing & Beading Circle, Saturday and Sunday, April 12 & 13, with a chance to finish old projects, and share good food, stories and craft techniques. Participants are asked to bring their own supplies. For further information, and for rates and times, dial 320/532-3632, or visit www.mnhs.org/millelacs

The 40th Annual Handmade in America Juried Arts & Craft Festival will be held Saturday, April 19 at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids, with roughly 100 local artisans offering a wide array of handmade items. To find out more, dial 218/326-2697, or check out www.macrostieartcenter.org

Several downtown Duluth galleries, the Duluth Art Institute and the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth will offer an Art for Earth Day Gallery Hop on Saturday, April 19, with free shuttle service by the Port Town Trolley to all event sites. Admission is free. To learn more, dial 218/722-4011, or visit www.vistitduluth.com

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