Minnesota Events Report, 4.17.07

[mudbrook]

Minnesota Events Report, 4.17.07  
=====================
NORTHERN MINNESOTA

The Crossroads Shopping Center in St. Cloud will be the site of the GINGERBREAD ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW, Friday through Sunday, April 20-22, with over 50 exhibitors from around the country participating. To find out more, dial 651/457-8980, or visit www.gingerbreadshows.com

A NATIONAL PARK WEEK OPEN HOUSE & AWARDS CEREMONY will be held Saturday, April 21 at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center within Voyageurs National Park in International Falls. Families will enjoy art contests, games, snacks, and an awards ceremony for the 4th Annual Kids' Art Contest! Admission is free. For more information, dial 218/283-9107, or check out www.nps.gov/voya

St. Cloud State University will hold their 22ND ANNUAL MISSISSIPPI MUSIC FEST on Sunday, April 29, with a full day of musical performances. In addition, enjoy carnival games and rides, arts and crafts vendors, a variety of foods, nine-hole miniature golf, frisbee spin art, caricature artists, and a children's area with crafts, face painting and a bounce house. Admission is free. For further information, dial 320/308-2205, or visit www.stcloudstate.edu/upb/committees/mmf.asp

DULCIMER DAY IN DULUTH will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Skyline Parkway in Duluth on Saturday, May 5. Come hear master dulcimer musicians perform, with various folk music classes also offered. Advanced registration is recommended. To learn more, dial 218/525-5098, or check out www.dulcimersinduluth.com

The Mille Lacs Indian Museum, located 12 miles north of Onamia, will be the site of a DREAMCATCHER DEMONSTRATION on Saturday, May 5. The Dreamcatcher, used to ward off bad spirits from the dream world, will be explained, with weaving demonstrations throughout the day. Visitors can also purchase a kit, and learn to weave their own dreamcatcher. To find out more, dial 320/532-3632, or visit www.mnhs.org/millelacs

A VOYAGEUR MILITIA MUSTER will be offered at the Northwest Company Fur Post in Pine City, Saturday and Sunday, May 12 & 13, when voyageurs will gather to defend the West in an 1812 battle. Visitors will experience camp life, talk with soldiers about military life, and make their own militia hat. For more information, dial 320/629-6356, or check out www.mnhs.org

=========================================
TWIN CITIES GREATER METROPOLITAN VICINITY

The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley will present FARM BABIES each Friday, Saturday and Sunday, through April 22. Come meet the newest members of the Minnesota Zoo family, with baby chicks, piglets, lambs, calves, goat kids, bunnies and ducklings. There will also be children's activities and tractor rides, with volunteers available to answer questions and assist with "hands-on" interaction with the new arrivals. For rates and times, dial 1-800-366-7811, or visit www.mnzoo.org

The ST. PAUL ART CRAWL will be held Friday through Sunday, April 20-22, at roughly 25 artist studios and galleries located in and around St. Paul's Lowertown District. For further information, dial 651/292-4373, or check out www.artcrawl.org

Minnesota Pioneer Park in the city of Annandale will be the site of the 29TH ANNUAL MAPLE SYRUP PANCAKE BREAKFAST on Sunday, April 22. Visitors will enjoy fresh made pancakes with real maple syrup, as well as orange juice, coffee or milk, and locally produced bacon or sausage. Bottled maple syrup will be available for purchase, and there will be free maple syrup recipes to take home. For more information, and for rates and times, dial 320/274-8489, or visit www.pioneerpark.org

The SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT & DESIGN EXPO will be held at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Saturday and Sunday, April 21 & 22. This event includes decorators, builders, remodelers, designers, suppliers and other professionals with expertise in the home and design industry. In addition, there will be local and national celebrities and live entertainment, as well as seminars and demonstrations by experts in the construction and design fields. For rates and times, dial 952/238-1700, or check out www.ExpoGuys.com

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts will be the site of the 24TH ANNUAL ART IN BLOOM from Thursday, April 26 through Sunday, April 29. This spring celebration features more than 100 floral artists, whose designs will be on view next to the works of art that inspired them. In addition, enjoy lectures, demonstrations, free guided tours, Italian treats, the Garden & Gift Shop, Garden Guru Booth, and a complimentary Flowers After Hours party with a scavenger hunt and art-trivia contest. Admission to the museum to view the floral arrangements is free. To learn more, dial 612/870-3131, or visit www.artsmia.org/art-in-bloom-2007

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION with GARRISON KEILLOR at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Fridays and Saturdays, April 13-21
CELTIC WOMEN at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, April 17 & 18
BILL GAITHER AND FRIENDS at the Target Center in Minneapolis, April 20
MODEST MOUSE at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, April 20
WILLIAM BOLCOM at the Fitzgerald Theater, April 21
BILL COSBY at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, April 22
HAIRSPRAY at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, April 24
BRIGHT EYES at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, April 25
ROD STEWART at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, April 25
INSANE CLOWN POSSE & TWIZTID at The Myth in Maplewood, April 29
CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES at the Plymouth Playhouse in Plymouth, May 2
LOREENA MCKENNITT at the Historic State Theatre, May 3
ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS at The Myth, May 8
ALL SHOOK UP at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, May 8-13
BILLY JOEL at the Xcel Energy Center, May 9
CHAMPIONS ON ICE at the Target Center, May 12
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION with GARRISON KEILLOR at the Historic State Theatre, May 12 & 19
KENNY CHESNEY at the Xcel Energy Center, May 13
THE KILLERS at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at the St. Paul RiverCentre, May 15
HONDA CIVIC TOUR 2007 featuring FALL OUT BOY at the Target Center, May 16
THE ROWDY FRYNDS TOUR: HANK JR & SKYNYRD at the Target Center, May 19
PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, May 22
COMEDY CRAZE: MARCUS COMBS, BLT, B. COLE and JAZZ at the Historic State Theatre, May 24
GWEN STEFANI at the Xcel Energy Center, June 5
MAMMA MIA at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, June 5-16
SOUL2SOUL 2007 with TIM MCGRAW & FAITH HILL at the Xcel Energy Center, June 8
THE FRAY at the Target Center, June 11
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, June 11
JOAN ARMATRADING at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, June 17
THE DEFTONES at The Myth, June 17
AN EVENING WITH ROGER WATERS at the Xcel Energy Center, June 30
THE POLICE at the Xcel Energy Center, July 3
CAR CRAFT MAGAZINE SUMMER NATIONALS at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, July 20
RUSH at the Xcel Energy Center, September 9
MOSCOW BALLET'S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, December 1
DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE ICE TOUR at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, December 14
For further information on any of these performances or events, please contact Ticketmaster at 651/989-5151

==================
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

Blue Mounds State Park and the new Touch the Sky Prairie in Luverne will be the site of the SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA PRAIRIE BIRDING FEST on Friday and Saturday, April 20 & 21. Blue Mounds State Park offers birders an excellent opportunity to view a wide array of birds because it is situated along both eastern and western flyways. Participants will enjoy birding trips, presentations, workshops and a release program. For further information, dial 1-888-283-4061

A WORLD FESTIVAL will be offered Friday and Saturday, April 20 & 21, at the Mayo High School in Rochester. Highlights include a cultural diversity show, ethnic food tasting, children's activities, cultural displays and demonstrations. For more information, dial 1-800-634-8277, or visit www.visitrochestermn.com

The Winona State University Science Lab Center in Winona will be the site of an EARTH DAY CELEBRATION on Saturday, April 21. The celebration will open with an ecumenical ceremony, followed by workshops to prepare puppets and costumes for the Procession of the Earth parade. In addition, there will be educational activities for the kids, bio-diesel and solar energy demonstrations, education on the Lakota Indians, and a chance to visit educational booths and a wide array of vendors. To find out more, dial 507/457-8258

An INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL will be offered Sunday, April 22, at the Mankato East High School in Mankato. This event is designed to celebrate and raise awareness of the cultural diversity of the area. Enjoy a variety of ethnic foods, as well as colorful costumes and dance demonstrations from a wide array of countries. To learn more, dial 1-800-657-4733, or check out www.greatermankato.com

Camden State Park in the city of Lynd will offer a BIRDERS' GEM OF BLUE on April 22, to celebrate the return of the Eastern Bluebird. A bluebird expert will share his enthusiasm and knowledge of the life history of bluebirds, and explain how you can attract bluebirds to your backyard by establishing your own bluebird trail. Construction plans to build a bluebird nest box will be available. For more information, dial 507/865-4530

The 30TH ANNUAL PIONEER POWER SWAP MEET will be held Friday through Sunday, April 27-29, at the Pioneer Power Showgrounds, located 6 miles east of Le Sueur. Featured will be over 1,000 antique machinery, farm collectibles, flea market and craft vendors. This is the largest show of its type in the United States! For further information, dial 507/931-2296, or visit www.pioneerpowershow.com

The city of Harmony and the Southeastern Minnesota Historic Bluff Country will be the site of the 7TH ANNUAL STUDIO ART TOUR, Saturday and Sunday, April 28 & 29. Art enthusiasts will find exciting treasures in the hills and valleys of the bluff country. In addition, enjoy the emergence of spring when traveling the scenic back roads to roughly 30 studios of the area's finest artists. The tour encompasses three counties in Minnesota, as well as one county in Wisconsin and two counties in Iowa. To learn more, check out www.bluffcountryarttour.com, or dial 1-800-428-2030

The SALT LAKE BIRDING FESTIVAL will take place April 28 & 29 in Lac Qui Parle and southern Big Stone counties. This area is one of the finest in the state for finding rare birds during springtime. In addition to field trips to Salt Lake and other birding sites, participants will enjoy a Saturday morning breakfast at the Marietta American Legion, and a Saturday evening dinner at the Sons of Norway Hall in Madison. A species tally will be conducted after dinner. Reservations are required for the dinner. To find out more, dial 952/595-9265, or visit http://moumn.org/trips.html


 "The information in this report is provided courtesy of Explore Minnesota Tourism."
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/events.htm