Minnesota Events Report for May 8

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Minnesota Events Report for May 8,
NORTHERN MINNESOTA

A BREAKFAST WITH THE BIRDS will be offered at Lake Bemidji State Park on Saturday, May 12, with a morning of birding, topped off with a camp breakfast. Pre-registration is required. To learn more, dial 218/755-3843, or check out www.dnr.state.mn.us/events/index.html?keywords=&month=5&year=2007

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Zimmerman will offer INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY festivities on Saturday, May 12, to celebrate the return of millions of migratory birds to their breeding areas. Experienced and beginning birders will enjoy guided bird tours, including "Birds In The Wetlands," and a "Songbird Search" to view warblers. Tours are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested. Please call for further details at 763/389-3323, or visit www.fws.gov/midwest/sherburne

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

The Glensheen Mansion in Duluth will be the site of GLENSHEEN'S MOTHER'S DAY DINING on Sunday, May 13, with three options for dining and tours. For rates and times, dial 1-888-454-GLEN, or visit www.glensheen.org

The 10TH ANNUAL DETROIT LAKES FESTIVAL OF BIRDS will be offered at the Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Detroit Lakes from Thursday, May 17 through Sunday, May 20. Come celebrate the spring bird migration in this transition zone of tallgrass prairie, northern hardwood and boreal forest, with over 170 species sighted in 2006. Visitors will enjoy field trips, speakers, book signings, workshops, exhibitors, and socializing with other birders. To learn more, dial 1-800-542-3992, or check out www.visitdetroitlakes.com

The city of Hibbing, Bob Dylan's hometown, will be the site of DYLAN DAYS, Wednesday through Sunday, May 23–27. Highlights include a welcome party, youth talent show, feature film showings of "Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan," a music jam, literary night with guest speaker Barton Sutter, a creative writing workshop, a singer/songwriter contest, a guided Dylan Bus Tour, Dylan Days Spiritual Breakfast, and a concert by folk singer Maria Muldaur--singer of the hit "Midnight at the Oasis." To find more, dial 1-800-4-HIBBING, or visit www.dylandays.com

The 4TH ANNUAL ARTS AT THE LAKE will be held at Larson's Barn in McGregor on Saturday, May 26, with artisans and crafters from around the area displaying and selling photography, jewelry, woodwork, metalwork and more. For further information, dial 218/426-3648, or check out www.larsonsbarn.com

The North West Company Fur Post in Pine City will be the site of HISTORIC FISHING FOR KIDS on May 26. Children can come sit on the banks of the Snake River, learn how to use a cane pole and cork bobber, and wait for the fish to bite. Other methods used during the era will also be discussed. Accompanying adults are required to have a Minnesota Fishing License. For more information, dial 320/629-6356, or visit http://www.mnhs.org

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TWIN CITIES GREATER METROPOLITAN VICINITY

A BIRD WALK will begin at the Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes on Saturday, May 12. Participants will then carpool to the nearby Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area to see and hear from 20-50 species of birds. All ages and birding abilities are welcome. Participants are asked to please register ahead of time, by dialing 651/429-8007. For further information, visit www.anokacountyparks.com

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska will hold their annual SPRING PLANT SALE on Saturday and Sunday, May 12 & 13. The spring plant sale features one of the widest selections of plants, hard-to-find varieties, and University of Minnesota introductions. To learn more, dial 952/443-1400. For the 2007 plant list, check out www.arboretum.umn.edu

The HOME BUILDING AND REMODELING EXPO will be held Friday through Sunday, May 18-20, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis. Visitors will find everything needed to build, remodel and update a home, with hundreds of exhibits, the newest products, and a chance to talk with expert contractors. For rates and times, and to find out more, dial 612/335-6000, or visit www.minneapolisconventioncenter.com

Northeast Minneapolis will be the site of ART-A-WHIRL, May 18-20, with
more than 400 artists participating in this Northeast Minneapolis open-studio and gallery tour. Featured will be works of art by potters, tile makers, painters, sculptors, musicians, photographers, glass blowers, printmakers, and textile designers. Artwork will be showcased in warehouses, homes, storefronts and cafes! For more information, dial 612/788-1679, or check out www.art-a-whirl.org

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS at The Myth in Maplewood, May 8
ALL SHOOK UP at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, May 8-13
BILLY JOEL at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, May 9
CHAMPIONS ON ICE at the Target Center in Minneapolis, May 12
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION with GARRISON KEILLOR at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, 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
THE HONDA CIVIC TOUR 2007 featuring FALL OUT BOY at the Target Center, May 16
JON STEWART at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, May 18
THE ROWDY FRYNDS TOUR: HANK JR & SKYNYRD at the Target Center, May 19
PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, 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
FEIST at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, June 20
TOOL at the Xcel Energy Center, June 26
AN EVENING WITH ROGER WATERS at the Xcel Energy Center, June 30
THE POLICE at the Xcel Energy Center, July 3
THE MOODY BLUES at the Target Center, July 15
CAR CRAFT MAGAZINE SUMMER NATIONALS at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, July 20
THE 104.1 JACKFEST: ZZ TOP, THE PRETENDERS & THE STRAY CATS at the Xcel Energy Center, July 28
PETER HIMMELMAN at the Fitzgerald Theater, August 6
JOHNNY WINTER at the Cabooze in Minneapolis, August 10
JOSH GROBAN at the Xcel Energy Center, August 10
THE WIGGLES at the Target Center, August 17
RUSH at the Xcel Energy Center, September 9
JIM GAFFIGAN at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, October 12
MOSCOW BALLET'S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, 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

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

The GREAT RIVER BIRDING & NATURE FESTIVAL will be held at various Minnesota and Wisconsin birding hot spots located on Lake Pepin and in the surrounding area, Friday through Sunday, May 11-13. Come celebrate spring on the Mississippi Flyway, and enjoy a variety of birding trips, such as birding by boat and kayak, aboard mini-railcars through wetlands, and birding hikes and walks through a variety of habitat. In addition, there will be educational seminars, workshops, and live birds of prey. Further details can be found at www.mississippi-river.org/birding, or by dialing 1-877-525-3248

The annual AUSTIN AREA RUMMAGE SALE & SPAMBURGER DAY will be held Saturday, May 12 throughout the city of Austin. Visitors will enjoy over 100 garage sales, followed by a Spamburger at all participating restaurants! In addition, the Hormel Historic Home will be the site of a BELLES IN BONNETS AFTERNOON TEA. Ladies will don a bonnet from the Mower County Historical Society’s collection, enjoy a program, and then join for a light afternoon tea surrounded by turn-of-the-century elegance. For further information, dial 507/437-4563, or check out www.austincvb.com

The Olmsted County Fairgrounds in Rochester will be the site of the ORIGINAL OLMSTED COUNTY GOLD RUSH, Saturday and Sunday, May 12 & 13, with 1,500 dealers from across the United States displaying their wares. To learn more, dial 507/288-0320, or visit http://iridescenthouse.com/

A BLUFF COUNTRY GATHERING will be offered Friday and Saturday, May 18 & 19 in Lanesboro, to present traditional American music, dance and singing styles. The public is invited to attend a Friday evening concert and a Saturday evening Barn Dance at Lanesboro Community Center. To find out more, dial 507/467-2696, or check out www.lanesboro.com

The city of Red Wing will be the site of a SCULPTURE CRAWL, Friday through Sunday, May 18–20, with a chance to enjoy the incredible 3-D artwork on display throughout the community. The tour will include over 40 pieces of sculpture and public art, with visits to the Sculpture Garden at the Anderson Center, and to the Red Wing Arts Association for a sculpture show. For more information, dial 651/388-7569, or visit www.redwingarts.org

TROUT DAYS will be offered Friday through Sunday, May 18-20, throughout the city of Preston. Highlights include both adult and children's fishing contests, an art show, book sale, city-wide garage sales, a Lions Club pancake and French toast breakfast, grand parade, street dance, a dunk tank, a coin hunt, Kirby train rides, and a firemen's beer tent. In addition, head to the Fillmore County Fairgrounds for the 17TH ANNUAL CAR & STREET ROD SHOW! For further information, dial 1-888-845-2100, or check out www.prestonmn.org

The town of Whalan, located just northeast of Lanesboro, will be the site of the annual STAND-STILL PARADE on Saturday, May 19. Take a stroll, view the parade exhibits, and enjoy food, music, games and entertainment offered by the residents of Whalan. To find out more, dial 507/467-2696, or visit www.lanesboro.com

LARRY OLSEN'S 12TH ANNUAL POLKA FEST will be held at a farmstead just east of Lake Benton, Thursday, May 24 through Sunday, May 27, with a wide array of polka bands, dancing on a wooden dance floor, the daily Parade Of Musicians, great food, and drawings. To learn more, dial 507/368-9627, or check out www.visitlakebenton.com


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