Minnesota Events Report for October 2

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Minnesota Events Report for October 2
NORTHERN MINNESOTA

The 11TH ANNUAL CROSSING BORDERS STUDIO TOUR will be held at 17 studios located in communities along the North Shore of Lake Superior, including Two Harbors, Lutsen, Grand Marais and Thunder Bay, through Sunday, October 7. This much anticipated tour offers the public a chance to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork, talk with the artists, and learn about the processes used to create a piece of art. To learn more, dial 1-800-388-8698, or visit www.crossingbordersstudiotour.com

The William A. Irvin Ore Carrier in Duluth will be transformed into THE SHIP OF GHOULS, daily, from Friday, October 5 through Saturday, October 13. The haunting of the Irvin is put on by professional actors with the accompaniment of special effects. The Ship of Ghouls will also be open for tours on select days through the end of October. For rates, times and further information, dial 218/727-0022, or check out www.williamairvin.com

MOLITOR'S HAUNTED ACRES will be offered each Friday through Sunday, October 5–28, in Sauk Rapids. Highlights include The Wagon of Doom hayride, The dark and musty Mine Shaft, The Corn Trail, The Maze of Misery, a 100-year-old Haunted House, and The House of Spirits! Afterwards, enjoy a bonfire with all your friends. Molitor's Haunted Acres will also be open on Wednesday, October 31. To find out more, dial 320/253-1672, or visit www.molitors.net

The Brainerd Civic Center will be the site of the LAKES AREA WOMENS EXPO on Saturday, October 6, with a wealth of information on business opportunities, finance, investments, education, health care, fashion, home decorating and more--all designed to pamper bodies and enhance minds. In addition to over 80 vendor exhibits, there will be informative speakers, demonstrations, personal safety techniques and fashion parades. Afterwards, travel north of Brainerd to Pequot Lakes for the a SMOKETOBER FEST at the Timberjack Smokehouse & Saloon, also held October 6, with a harvest dance, live music by numerous acts, a fall festival, door prizes and giveaways. For more information, dial 218/829-2838, or check out www.explorebrainerdlakes.com

A WILDLIFE FESTIVAL will be offered by the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Zimmerman on October 6. Visitors will enjoy exhibits, archery and air rifle workshops, hay rides, a guided nature walk, bonfire, nature crafts, wildlife presentations, and plenty of food. In addition, the refuge service roads will be open to vehicle traffic to provide visitors an opportunity to see areas of the refuge not normally open to vehicle travel. All activities will begin at the Old School House, located 5.5 miles west of Highway 169 on Sherburne County Road 9. For further information, dial 763/389-3323, or visit www.fws.gov/midwest/sherburne

The Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site in Little Falls will be the site of the a LIVING HISTORY DAY on October 6. Visitors will meet farmers and workers employed by the Lindbergh family from the year 1917 and 1937, and hear stories about the Lindbergh family and life in Little Falls at those times. To find out more, dial 320/616-5421, or check out www.mnhs.org/lindbergh

COLORED LEAF DAYS will be offered Saturday and Sunday, October 6 & 7, at Maplewood State Park in Pelican Rapids, with colored leaf tours by covered wagon, and a variety of hardy foods. To learn more information, dial 218/863-1221, or visit www.pelicanrapidschamber.com

The Frazee Area Community Club will host the 11TH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION on Sunday, October 7 at the Frazee Event Center. Highlights include polka bands, German food and drink, and of course lots of dancing! For more information, dial 1-800-334-2401, or check out www.frazeeforum.com

An OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION will be offered Thursday through Sunday, October 11–14, in Pelican Rapids. Featured will be dinners and dances, a wine tasting & silent auction, a store front decorating contest, fire department open house, the crowning of Mr. & Ms. Oktoberfest, a pancake brunch, children's activities, store sales and specials, open mike jam sessions, a "Best of the Wurst" sausage contest, beer tasting, and an Old-Fashioned Sunday Afternoon Polka Party. For further information, dial 218/863-1221, or visit www.pelicanrapidschamber.com

The city of Williams will present the 54TH ANNUAL POTATO DAY celebration on Saturday, October 13. Festivities include a parade, a wonderful dinner featuring many delicious potato recipes, a potato cook-off, live entertainment program, games, a queen coronation and dance. Williams is a nationally-recognized seed potato quarantine area. To learn more, dial 218/783-4801

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TWIN CITIES GREATER METROPOLITAN VICINITY

The city of Taylors Falls will offer its annual LEAF SPECTACULAR through October 14. Festivities include tours the 1855 Folsom House Museum, boat cruises and canoeing on the beautiful St. Croix River, walks through the village and hikes through Interstate State Park, store specials, lots of scarecrows and pumpkins, and of course, beautiful fall color! And on Saturday, October 6, enjoy a HARVEST FESTIVAL at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taylors Falls, with hands-on demonstrations of early tools and crafts. For further details, dial 651/465-6315, or visit www.taylorsfallschamber.org

SCREAMTOWN, located in Shakopee, will be open to the public each Friday and Saturday through October 27, as well as October 17, 18 and 28, with three haunted houses and a huge haunted corn maze. For more information, check out www.screamtown.com

On Friday evening, October 5, the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities will offer the CAGC FALL ART TOUR, a free annual "neighborhood" gallery crawl including exhibition receptions, refreshments, music, and free shuttle buses to and from Augsburg College, Bethel University, the College of St. Catherine, the College of Visual Arts, Concordia University, Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas. To learn more, dial 651/224-3416, or visit www.stkate.edu/artattack

FALL COLOR CHAIRLIFT RIDES will be offered Friday and Saturday, October 5 & 6, at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, with chairlift rides to the top of one of Hennepin Counties highest points. At the top of the hill, warm up by a campfire, look through a telescope or spotting scope, meet a live raptor, and walk down an illuminated trail. Be sure to bring your camera for views and photos only available from the top of a ski hill. To find out more, dial 763/694-7676, or check out www.threeriversparkdistrict.org

Zywiecs Landscape and Garden Center in Cottage Grove will be the site of a HAUNTING EXPERIENCE, October 5 & 6, with a horrific journey through the “Mind Shaft,” the “Garden of Evil,” and the 15-room living-nightmare mansion! Then, board the “Hayride of Horror” that creeps through miles of graveyards, swamps and haunted forests. Afterwards, enjoy treats, a bonfire, and live entertainment by Mr. Freaky D.J. For more information, dial 651/459-3001, or visit www.hauntingexperience.com

A HARVEST HOWL will be offered at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake on Saturday, October 6. Everyone will enjoy a full day of Native American demonstrations, artwork by local artisans, children's games, archery, pumpkin-painting contests, campfires, and live animal demonstrations with resident wolves and raptors! For further information, dial 651/464-3993, or check out www.wildlifesciencecenter.org

ON THE ROAD AGAIN & THE "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP" BOOYA CONTEST will be held October 6 along Southview Boulevard in South St. Paul, with a variety of children's events and rides, a car show, arts & crafts, local community booths, and the "World Championship" Booya Cook-Off. To learn more, dial 651/451-6441, or visit www.southstpaul.org

Various apple orchards surrounding the city of Hastings will open their doors for the ST. CROIX VALLEY APPLE FESTIVAL, Saturday and Sunday, October 6 & 7, with apple- and pumpkin-picking, crafts, music, apple cider-pressing demonstrations, face painting, a corn maze, hayrides, farm animals and more. The Apple Festival will also be held October 13 & 14. To find out more, dial 651/436-8385, or check out www.aftonapple.com

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION with GARRISON KEILLOR at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, October 5 & 6
The MINNEAPOLIS SHRINE CIRCUS at the Target Center in Minneapolis, October 5-7
INTERPOL at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, October 12
JIM GAFFIGAN at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, October 12
CMT ON TOUR 2007, with SUGARLAND at the Target Center, October 13
ANDRE RIEU at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul, October 17
KIDZ BOP WORLD TOUR at the Target Center, October 20
HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS TOUR at the Target Center, October 21
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
MARC COHN at the Fitzgerald Theater, October 30
GOV'T MULE at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, October 31
OZZY OSBOURNE & ROB ZOMBIE at the Target Center, October 31
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND at the Excel Energy Center, November 2
JEFF DUNHAM at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, November 2
KELLY CLARKSON at the Historic State Theatre, November 2
KID ROCK at The Myth in Maplewood, November 8
STEPHEN LYNCH at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, November 10
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION with GARRISON KEILLOR at the Historic State Theatre, November 10
CELTIC WOMAN at the Excel Energy Center, November 16
KEITH URBAN at the Excel Energy Center, November 17
LEO KOTTKE at the Historic State Theatre, November 24
CHICAGO at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, November 30
MOSCOW BALLET'S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, December 1
MODEST MOUSE at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, December 3
THE BLENDERS at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, December 7
DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE ICE TOUR at the Xcel Energy Center, December 14-16
LOYCE HOULTON'S "NUTCRACKER FANTASY at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, December 20-24
Peter Ostroushko at the Fitzgerald Theater, December 22
For further information on any of these performances or events, please contact Ticketmaster at 651/989-5151

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

PUMPKIN PATCH FESTIVAL 2007 will be offered at the Nelson Family Farm in Litchfield, each Saturday and Sunday, through October 28. Just some of the highlights include tractor-drawn wagon rides, pony rides, a corn maze, straw maze, a gift shoppe, the Wooden Nickel Scramble, Ag Olympics, swinging in the hay loft, panning for marbles, a tree fort with slides and tubes, Make-And-Take Scarecrows, farm animals, miniature golf, corn cob golf, Pumpkin Village, the Big Woods Trail by the lake, and lots of homegrown pumpkins, squash, decorative corn and fall decorations! For further information, dial 320/693-7750, or visit www.nelsonfarm.com

The Holiday Inn and downtown New Ulm will be the site of 26TH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST celebration on Friday and Saturday, October 5 & 6, featuring local, regional and European entertainment, as well as wonderful German food and drink. This event will be repeated October 12 & 13. For more information, dial 507/233-4300, or check out www.newulmoktoberfest.com

Studios located in Big Stone, Swift, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine counties will be the site of the UPPER MINNESOTA RIVER ART CRAWL & 2007 MEANDER, Friday through Sunday, October 5-7. This award-winning regional festival is a self-guided tour of artist studios located in the prairies of western Minnesota, and offers art-lovers a chance to meet many talented homegrown artists and see an impressive collection of artwork. To find out more, dial 1-866-866-5432, or visit www.artsmeander.com

A FALL FOLIAGE FEST will be offered October 5–7 throughout the town of Harmony to celebrate fall colors and a bountiful harvest. Highlights include decorations all along Main Street, wagon rides, fall color drives, Amish tours, cave tours, art demonstrations and classes at Clover Gallery, chainsaw carving at Slim's Woodshed, pumpkin decorating, games, garage sales, and a farmer's market. To learn more, dial 1-800-445-6481, or check out www.harmony.mn.us

The city of Lanesboro will host the LANESBORO FALL FESTIVAL on Saturday, October 6. Festivities will include horse and wagon rides, treat bags for the kids, Molley the Trolley rides, a used book sale, cookie walk, farmers' market, scarecrow displays throughout downtown, a theater performance at the Commonwheel Theatre, and a Friends of Rushford Fundraiser with wine and beer tasting, live entertainment, silent auction and more! In addition, head to Historic Forestville, located in nearby Preston, on October 6 for HARVEST DAY, and enjoy demonstrations of corn harvesting, quilting bees, seed threshing, cider pressing, and other harvest techniques of the late 1800's. For more information, dial 1-800-944-2670, or visit www.lanesboro.com

The annual JOHNNY APPLESEED DAYS FESTIVAL will be held Saturday and Sunday, October 6 & 7 in Lake City, with horse and wagon rides, an arts & crafts fair, book sale, farmer's market, children's games, apple pie & bake sale, silent auction, and many other fun family activities. Also on October 6 & 7, head to Wild Wings for their annual FALL FESTIVAL, when over fifty artists from across the United Sates will greet the public and unveil their original paintings, sculpture and carvings. There will also be a variety of artist demonstrations, regional food vendors and activities. For further information, dial 651/345-4123, or check out www.lakecitymn.org

The Freeborn County Fairgrounds in city of Albert Lea will be the site of the 21ST ANNUAL BIG ISLAND RENDEZVOUS & FESTIVAL on Saturday and Sunday, October 6 & 7. This award-winning early America and fur-trade living history reenactment features over 1000 costumed participants, 250 tents, demonstrations, arts and crafts, children's games, live entertainment, and colonial cuisine such as funnel cakes, buffalo, pork, baked potatoes, smoked turkey legs, BBQ ribs, kettle korn and homemade root beer! For more information, dial 1-800-658-2526, or visit www.bigislandfestival.org

A HAUNTED CORN MAZE & FEED MILL--LOST IN THE DARK returns to Farmamerica in Waseca on Friday and Saturday, October 12 & 13, when visitors will enjoy thrills and chills as they wander the haunted corn maze and mill. Lost In The Dark will also be offered October 19 & 20. For rates and times, dial 507/835-2052, or check out www.farmamerica.org

McGowan's Farm in Mankato will be the site of HISTORY FEST on Saturday, October 13th. Children will have fun learning about history, and enjoy re-enactors from 17th-Century Scotland and the Old West, belly dancers, fire-eaters, catapult-launching, cider-making, cannon shooting, and much more! For further information, dial 507/469-1499, or visit www.historyfest.com

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