Explore Minnesota Events Report Tuesday, March 4

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Explore Minnesota Events Report Tuesday, March 4
 
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 visit www.redwing.org

The Four Seasons Centre at the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna will be the site of the Minnesota Deer & Turkey Expo, Friday through Sunday, March 7-9. Highlights include over 200 exhibitors offering the latest in hunting equipment, accessories and services. In addition, there will be contests, seminars, special educational displays, demonstrations, and shooting and archery ranges. To find out more, dial 1-800-324-3337, or check out www.deerinfo.com

Soar With The Eagles will be held March 7-9, at various locations throughout the city of Wabasha, with a wide array of fun and educational activities, stage shows, educational programs, guided motorcoach and paddleboat tours, a Taste Of The Valley, seminars, special guests, visits with live eagles, and a fish fry. And while in Wabasha, March 8 & 9, head to the Wabasha-Kellogg School for the Home, Garden & Vacation Show, for lots of home improvement, decorating, gardening and vacation ideas. For more information, dial 1-800-565-4158, or visit www.wabashamn.org

The 25th Annual Farm & Home Show will be held Saturday, March 8, at the Windom Area High School, with over 70 indoor and outdoor exhibitors, as well as live entertainment, educational presentations and seminars, a petting zoo for the kids, a quilt show, lunch specials, and door prizes. To learn more, dial 507/831-2752, or visit www.winwacc.com

Turner Hall in New Ulm will be the site of 27th Annual New Ulm Trade Fair and Living History Event on Saturday and Sunday, March 8 & 9. Visitors will enjoy over 100 tables of quality American Fur Trade Era trade goods, as well as living history demonstrations, period crafts, historic firearms, and collectors’ medallions and mugs. And, while in New Ulm on Saturday, March 8, head to the Wanda Gag House for the annual Wanda Gag Birthday Party, with stories, art projects and birthday refreshments. For more information, dial 1-888-463-9856, or check out www.newulm.com

The 45th Annual Home, Vacation & RV Show will be held Friday through Sunday, March 14–16, at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds & Graham Arenas in Rochester, with a variety of exhibits and displays. For further information, dial 507/286-1010, or visit www.kroc.com/common_files/home_show/home_show_08.htm

The Ortonville High School Gym and Auditorium will be the site of the 15th Annual Ortonville Sports & Leisure Show on Saturday and Sunday, March 15 & 16, with a wide array of displays featuring boats, gardening equipment, household and hobby items, sporting goods, and arts and crafts. Visitors will also enjoy live entertainment, and various food vendors. To find out more, dial 320/839-3284, or check out www.bigstonelake.com
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan Vicinity

The Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul will hold their giant screen film festival, Omnifest, beginning Friday, March 7, with six film favorites played daily in rotation through Sunday, April 6. And while at the Science Museum, check out the Deadly Medicine, Animation, and Disease Detectives special exhibits. For further information, dial 651/221-9444, or check out www.smm.org/omnifest

The Minnesota Deer Classic will be held Friday through Sunday, March 7-9, at the Warner Coliseum located at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. This show is the second oldest deer hunting show in the nation, and one of the largest hunting shows in the upper Midwest, featuring over 250 commercial vendors, guides, outfitters and resorts that cater to big game hunters. In addition, check out the various competitions, seminars, and taxidermy displays. For more information, and for rates and times, visit www.amdeerclassics.com, or dial 763/746-2656

Buck Hill Ski Area in Burnsville will be the site of the annual Subway Bedrace for Bridging on Saturday, March 8, when teams of four will race down Buck Hill’s tubing hill on specially covered queen-sized mattresses to raise money for Bridging, Inc., a non-profit organization that distributes household goods to individuals and families in transition. In addition, visitors and participants will enjoy a Cities 97 Concert and Costume Contest, and the Medtronic Fireworks Display. To learn more, dial 952/278-3142, or check out www.subwaybedrace.org

The 35th Annual Auto Show will be held Saturday, March 8 through Sunday, March 16, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis. Highlights include an estimated $30,000,000 in new vehicles. This is the 7th largest Auto Show in the nation, with vehicles from almost every manufacturer in the world! There will also be a chance to win $5,000 each night of the show! For rates and times, dial 952/831-8019, or visit www.twincitiesautoshow.com

The Grand Opening of Nickelodeon Universe, the nation’s first Nick theme park, will be held Saturday, March 15 at the Mall of America in Bloomington. Visitors will enjoy five new rides, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a Virtual Slime Zone, SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge inaugural ride with Nickelodeon celebrities, Nickelodeon Character Meet & Greets, a live performance by Ashlee Simpson followed by an autograph signing session, free Nickelodeon Universe spray-on tattoos, a Kids’Dance Party, and much more! For further information, dial 952/883-8800, or check out www.mallofamerica.com

The 42nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held at noon on Saturday, March 15, and run along Fourth Street, beginning at Sibley Street and ending at Rice Park. Beforehand, head to the Cathedral of Saint Paul for Mass At The Cathedral at 9:00 a.m. For more information, dial 651/256-2155, or visit www.stpatsassoc.org

The Landmark Center in St. Paul will be the site of a St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, March 15 & 16, with lively Celtic music and dance, and authentic wares from Irish vendors. On Saturday, visitors will also enjoy children’s stage performances and craft projects. To learn more, dial 651/292-3225, or check out www.landmarkcenter.org

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo at the Target Center in Minneapolis, 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 in St. Paul, March 18 
Jersey Boys at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, 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 in Minneapolis, March 25
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
Doodlebops Live! at the Xcel Energy Center, April 4     
Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers at the Fine Line Music Cafe, 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, 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, April 21
Casting Crowns at the Xcel Energy Center, April 26
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
Engelbert Humperdinck at the Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, May 11
The Minnesota Dance Festival at the Fitzgerald Theater, May 16
Rush at the Xcel Energy Center, May 22
The Honda Civic Tour: Panic at the Disco at the Myth in Maplewood, May 27
Monty Python’s Spamalot at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, May 27-June 1
The Kanye West Glow in the Dark Tour at the Target Center, June 11
The Steve Miller Band at the Target Center, July 3
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

The Forest History Center in Grand Rapids will be the site of a Winter Horse Logging and Firewood Gathering Program on Saturday, March 8. Come view and touch various breeds of powerful draft horses, and watch as they are used to harvest firewood for a 1900s-era logging camp. Warm clothes and winter boots are recommended. For rates and times, dial 218/327-4482, or visit www.mnhs.org/foresthistory

Habitat Day will be held March 8 at the Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Little Falls, when visitors will learn what they can do on their property to benefit wildlife. Come build your own wood duck or bluebird house, enjoy other family activities, and talk with representatives from various natural resource agencies and groups. To learn more, dial 320/632-1575, or check out www.fws.gov/midwest/cranemeadows

The Aitkin High School will be the site of the Aitkin Area Commerce & Sport Show, Saturday and Sunday, March 8 & 9. Featured will be over 120 displays and exhibits by area businesses specializing in boats, ATV’s, lawn and garden equipment, landscaping, flooring, roofing, windows, siding, computers, real estate, travel, flowers and gifts. In addition, enjoy artwork and crafts, historical displays, a Health Fair, children’s games, and the DNR Reality Shooting Gallery. Admission is free. To find out more, dial 1-800-526-8342, or visit www.aitkin.com

The BIR National WPSA Snocross Race will be held March 8 & 9 at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, with a chance to see some of the top professional snocross racers in the country. For more information, dial 1-866-444-4455, or check out www.brainerdraceway.com

The Hjemkomst Center in the city of Moorhead will hold the 5th Annual Celtic Festival on Saturday, March 15, to celebrate the rich culture of the seven Celtic Nations of Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Galicia, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Featured will be the intriguing history, arts, and traditions of the Celtic Nations, with Celtic music, traditional Celtic dancing, various presentations and authentic food! And while in the city of Moorhead, check out the the annual Moorhead Ice Show, held Friday through Sunday, March 14-16 at the Moorhead Sports Center, when local and nationally-ranked guest skaters will perform. For further information, dial 218/299-5296, or visit www.cityofmoorhead.com/parks

The 34th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Celebration will be held Saturday, March 15, throughout the city of Crosslake. In addition to the noon parade, enjoy the Firefighter’s Pancake Breakfast, free games and prizes for the kids, live entertainment by “Elvis” at the Crosslake Town Square, a “Blinkie Button” raffle drawing, and an Irish bonfire and live music at Manhattan Beach Lodge. To learn more, dial 218/829-2838, or check out www.explorebrainerdlakes.com

Giants Ridge in the city of Biwabik will hold their annual Spring Carnival on Saturday and Sunday, March 15 & 16. Highlights include skiing and snowboarding competitions, live music, costume contests, an outdoor BBQ, games, bagpipers, great prizes and specials. For further information, dial 1-800-688-7669, or visit www.giantsridge.com

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