The Albert Lea Fire Department will hold its annual open house in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week Saturday.

People can visit the fire station from 1-3 p.m. There will be station tours and

demonstrations of some of the equipment, including the infrared thermal imager.

The public is invited to stop by, see the trucks, the fire and rescue equipment, have some cookies and juice and meet with the firefighters of the Albert Lea Fire Department, the Fire Explorers, and &uot;Sparky the Fire Dog.&uot; Several door prizes will be given away.

Following is a roundup of other events happening in the area this weekend:

Friday, Oct. 11

– The North Star of Iowa Corn Maze and Secret Garden will be open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission is $5, with children 5 and under admitted free. It’s Oktoberfest Weekend. To get to the maze from Albert Lea, go south on Highway 65. Just north of Northwood, turn west on 490th Street, then go west on the blacktop for a sixteenth of a mile.

– Grace Lutheran Church Women and Lutheran Brotherhood Branch #8482 will sponsor a salad luncheon at Grace Lutheran Church, 918 Garfield Ave. Serving will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featured will be hot barbecued sandwiches and many salads. Cost is $4. Everyone is welcome.

– The Pumpkin Patch of Albert Lea is open from 1-6 p.m. Go west on County Road 46 for two miles to County Road 71. Turn left and go south for 1/2 mile. The patch is on the right side of the road. There is no entrance fee. There are games for the kids, and pumpkins for sale. The patch is closed if it’s raining.

– Albert Lea Youth for Christ will hold a garage sale from 5-7 p.m. at The Rock, 116 W. Clark St.

– Family and friends of the Brad and Christine Benner family of Albert Lea are organizing a benefit to help the family meet expenses. Brad and his 2-year-old son suffer from Gardner’s Syndrome. The benefit will be at the Austin Holiday Inn ballroom. A silent auction begins at 5 p.m. and a spaghetti supper at 6 p.m. There will also be entertainment. Anyone interested in making donations for the auction can contact Joan Van Riper at 448-3647. Donations may also be sent to the Brad Benner Benefit Fund in care of Wells Fargo Bank, 112 E. Main St., Albert Lea.

Saturday, Oct. 12

– Albert Lea Youth for Christ will hold a garage sale from 8-11 a.m. at The Rock, 116 W. Clark St.

– The Albert Lea Farmers’ Market will be held in the parking lot at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Water Street beginning at 9 a.m.

– The North Star of Iowa Corn Maze and Secret Garden will be open from 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. It’s Oktoberfest Weekend. Admission is $5, with children 5 and under admitted free.

– The fifth annual Ducks Unlimited Freeborn County Ladies Chapter Harvest Moon Luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Albert Lea American Legion. Tickets are $35. In addition to lunch, there will be giveaways, door prizes, games, a live auction, a silent auction, and more. Proceeds go to Ducks Unlimited to preserve wetlands for all wildlife. Contact Kristen Nelson, 27053 800th Ave., Hollandale, for tickets.

– The Pumpkin Patch of Albert Lea is open from noon-6 p.m. Go west on County Road 46 for two miles to County Road 71. Turn left and go south for 1/2 mile. The patch is on the right side.

Sunday, Oct. 13

– The North Star of Iowa Corn Maze and Secret Garden is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. It’s Oktoberfest Weekend. Admission is $5, with children 5 and under admitted free. To get to the maze from Albert Lea, go south on Highway 65. Just north of Northwood, turn west on 490th Street, then go west on the blacktop for a sixteenth of a mile.

– St. John’s Auxiliary’s annual soup and sandwich luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Home Chapel. Free will donations will be accepted. Some proceeds will be matched by Lutheran Brotherhood, Freeborn Branch 8482. Proceeds will be used for a new entertainment center in the Sheltering Arms Alzheimer’s Unit.

– The Pumpkin Patch of Albert Lea is open from noon-6 p.m. Go west on County Road 46 for two miles to County Road 71. Turn left and go south for 1/2 mile. The patch is on the right side of the road.

– An open house retirement party for Joyce Langerud will be held from 1-4 p.m. at the Albert Lea Senior Center. Langerud has served as director of the senior center for the last 12 years.

– An open house for the exhibits of Betty Winga and Bill Mateer will be held from 2-4 p.m. at the Albert Lea Art Center. The artists will be present to meet visitors and answer questions. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help defray art center expenses.

– Zion Lutheran Church, 924 Bridge Ave., will host a German family-style dinner from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The menu includes bratwurst, meatballs, sauerkraut, hot German potato salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, glazed carrots, cole slaw, rolls, rye bread, German chocolate cake and beverage. Cost is $7 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-10, and kids under 3 eat free. Tickets may be purchased from the church office, or from John Leininger, 373-2814, or Fern Vietze, 373-8154. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.