Minnesota Events Report as of Tuesday, February 19

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Minnesota Events Report as of Tuesday, February 19

Southern Minnesota

Eagle Spot Weekends will be offered at Colvill Park in Red Wing each Saturday and Sunday 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 Colvill Park. Spotting scopes will also be available. To learn more, dial 1-800-498-3444, or check out www.redwing.org

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 find out more, dial 651/565-4989, or visit www.nationaleaglecenter.org

A Home, Landscape and Garden Show will be held Friday through Sunday, February 22-24 at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, with over 80 home, landscape, and garden vendors offering products and services to help with remodeling, landscaping, and do-it-yourself projects. For further information, dial 320/587-2140, or check out www.explorehutchinson.com

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 visit www.wabashamn.org

An Indoor Flea Market will be offered at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester on Sunday, February 24, with over 100 dealers offering antiques, toys, coins, collectibles and gifts. To learn more, dial 641/832-2700, or check out www.visitrochestermn.com

The town of Houston will be the site of the 6th Annual International Festival of Owls, Friday through Sunday, February 29 through March 2. Visitors will have a chance to get up close and personal with six different species of live owls. In addition, there will be a banquet and auction, a hooting contest, nest box building, children’s activities, owl photo sessions, owl prowls, programs, presentations, speakers, a bus trip, and more! For further information, and for rates and times, dial 507/896-4668, or visit www.festivalofowls.com
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity

The Crown Royal Minnesota Golf Show will be held Friday through Sunday, February 22-24, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, with over 150 exhibitors, as well as the Crown Royal Indoor Driving Range, a $100,000 Putting Contest, tips from top PGA Professionals and local celebrities at the KFAN Golf Academy, the Crown Royal Golf Lounge, a Kid’s Clinic, various speakers, and the Closest to the Pin Contest, with daily prizes. For further information, dial 612/867-2077, or visit www.minnesotagolfshow.com

The Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis will be the site of the 14th Annual Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience, Saturday and Sunday, February 23 & 24, with 300 exhibitors offering samples of fine wines and gourmet foods from around the world, and showcasing the latest in culinary tools and gadgets. For rates and times, dial 612/371-5857, or check out www.foodwineshow.com

The Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield will present A Family Folk Singer, Live Animal Show & More!, featuring contemporary folk singer, Jack Pearson on Sunday, February 24. Highlights include lively music and stories, a slideshow of wildlife seen at Wood Lake, and a chance to meet Wood Lake’s program animals. To find out more, dial 612/861-9365, or visit www.woodlakenaturecenter.org
 
The Spring Home and Garden Show will be held Wednesday through Sunday, February 27-March 2, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis. This is a one-stop venue for new products and ideas for your home and garden. Over 1,000 experts will be on-hand conducting how-to demonstrations on the latest ideas in remodeling, gardening, decorating and more. For further information, dial 952/933-3850, or check out www.homeandgardenshow.com. And on Saturday and Sunday, March 1 & 2, the Minneapolis Convention Center will also be the site of the Body, Mind, Life Expo, offering all kinds of aromatherapy and skin care products, healthy living solutions and unique vacation ideas. To learn more dial, 612/798-7256, or visit www.101expos.com

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
My Fair Lady at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, February 20-March 2
Playhouse Disney Live On Tour at the Target Center in Minneapolis, February 22 & 23
Citizen Cope at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, 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
Katt Williams at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, February 28
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 in Minneapolis, 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
Bob Weir and Ratdog at the O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, March 21
D.L. Hughley at the Pantages Theatre, March 22
Three Days Grace & Breaking Benjamin at the Target Center, March 24
Gary Louris at the Historic State Theatre, March 25
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 Fairgrounds in St. Paul, April 3-6
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
John Prine at the Historic State Theatre, April 12
Red House Records 25th Anniversary Concert with Lucy Kaplansky & Storyhill at the Fitzgerald Theater, April 12
Justin Currie of Del Amitri at the Fine Line Music Cafe, April 17
Orpheus & Euridice at the Pantages Theatre, April 18
The Current’s Fakebook featuring Chuck D & Brother Ali at the Fitzgerald Theater, April 19
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, 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
Minnesota Dance Festival at the Fitzgerald Theater, May 16
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

WinterFish will be held Saturday, February 23 at Big Sandy Lodge in McGregor. Prizes will be awarded for the largest fish. In addition, there will be door prizes from area merchants, and children under 12 will be entered into a special drawing.  For more information, dial 218/426-3333, or visit www.bigsandylodgeandresort.com

Garrison Bay on Lake Mille Lacs, located in Garrison across from the Blue Goose Inn, will be the site of the 4th Annual Ice Fishing Derby on February 23, to raise money for Ducks Unlimited, with $65,000 in prizes awarded, including a Chevy Extended Cab Pickup. For tickets and times, dial 218/678-2605, or check out www.fishingforducks.org

Buena Vista Ski Area, located just north of Bemidji, will be the site of the Paul Bunyan Sled Dog Races on Saturday and Sunday, February 23 & 24. Come see sled dog teams competing in various races, and enjoy skiing, tubing, and a variety of foods at this great spectator event. To learn more, dial 218/243-3477, or visit www.paulbunyan.net/sleddograce

A Winter Tracks Festival will be held northwest of Grand Marais, up the Gunflint Trail, from Thursday, February 28 through Monday, March 3. This festival celebrates winter and the vast array of outdoor recreational opportunities of the area, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sled rides, ice fishing, sledding and snow sculptures. In addition, there will be a Winter Tracks Day, various seminars, history presentations, yurt dinners, craft workshops, art exhibitions, games, and an abundance of food. Please note that lodging is limited–please make reservations early. For more information, dial 1-800-338-6932, or check out www.wintertracks.com

Nine Brainerd area resorts and restaurants, located on or near Gull Lake, will be the site of the Gull Lake Frozen Fore Golf & Snowmobile Event on Saturday and Sunday, March 1 & 2, when participants will tee-off using a tennis ball, and then snowmobile or ride a free-shuttle to the next location. Spectators will enjoy food, refreshments and family-friendly games. In addition, there will be a medallion hunt, and a food fest with samples from area restaurants. Proceeds will be donated to three area charities. To find out more, dial 218/828-2344, or visit www.gulllakefrozenfore.com

The 1st Annual Wolftrack Classic Sled Dog Race will be held Sunday, March 2, when sixty mushers and over 400 sled dogs will gather in Ely and compete in six- and eight- dog races. Visitors can meet the mushers and their dogs on Saturday, March 1, during the mandatory Vet Checks Clinic at the Vermillion Community College. A lasagna dinner will follow. For further information, dial 218/365-6123, or check out www.wolftrackclassic.com

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