Eddie Cochran Weekend is about cars and music. And everyone is hoping it won’t be about rain.

Events for Eddie Cochran Weekend run from Friday to Sunday, though most of the events this year will be on Friday and Saturday. The Low Bucks Car Club organizes the event and decided to move many of the Sunday events to Saturday so they wouldn’t conflict with the Albert Lea Festival of Bands, a competition of high school marching bands in downtown Albert Lea. But since the schedule was formed, Festival of Bands was canceled — a victim of high fuel prices.

Two of those Sunday events now on Saturday are the car show and swap meet. If you don’t show up for Eddie Cochran events, you should at least sit along Broadway Avenue or Fountain Street on Saturday evening and watch the classic cars go by.

Here is a calendar for Eddie Cochran Weekend:

Friday

– The Eddie Cochran and Marion Ross exhibits at the Freeborn County Historical Society from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

– Cruise-in social, 6 p.m. at Country Inn & Suites

– Free drive-in theater at dusk at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds

Saturday

– Hospice walk/run starting at the fairgrounds, 7:30 a.m.

– Eddie Cochran and Marion Ross Exhibit at the Freeborn County Historical Society from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

– Cruise lineup and social at the fairgrounds from 4 to 6 p.m.

– Cruise starts at the fairgrounds and ends at the North Broadway Avenue parking lot, 6:30 p.m.

– Free street dance featuring Bob & The Beachcombers, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Sunday

– In correspondence with Eddie Cochran weekend, United Methodist Church will celebrate its 130th birthday at their building on 702 Highway 69 with Rock ’n’ Roll from the ’50s. Events begin at 10:45 a.m. with a Rock ’n’ Roll worship service, followed by lunch served indoors and outdoors, with entertainment on the front lawn, a sock hop and outdoor games. (Eddie Cochran was confirmed a Methodist in the Albert Lea congregation.)

Eddie Cochran was born Oct. 3, 1938, in Albert Lea. In 1956 he went from country musician to rock ’n’ roller with the song “Sitting on the Balcony,” that became his first smash hit in 1957, with more than one million copies sold.

Some of his other hits included “Summertime Blues,” “C’mon Everybody,” “Somethin’ Else,” and “Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie.”

He died in 1960 when the cab taking him to Heathrow Airport crashed.

The following are other events happening this weekend:

Friday

– It’s Freeborn Days. There will be root beer floats at 8 p.m. at Little School District 15, furnished by BevComm. At 10 p.m., enjoy a free outdoor movie in Freeborn, sponsored by sports boosters. People are supposed to bring their own chairs and blankets.

The Squires, a band that plays music from classic rock to polka, will perform at an 8 p.m. dance at the Fraternal Order of Eagles club in Albert Lea. The club is at 205 W. William St.

– The “Guitar Hero” competition continues at Northbridge Mall from 5 to 8 p.m.

– Members of the Albert Lea Thunder hockey team will be at Hy-Vee from 4 to 6 p.m. People can register for a chance to skate with the Thunder and have lunch with the coach.

– The Pelican Breeze II sets sail at 6 p.m. for its Friday Night Pizza Cruise. Reservations must be made by 4 p.m. Call 383-2630.

Saturday

– This is Flag Day. Bergdale Harley-Davidson will sponsor an event called the Flag Day Bar-B-Que. The grill gets going around 11 a.m. and its annual Dyno Shoot Out runs nearly all day. The Dyno Shoot Out is a competition limited to Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycles only. There will be prizes given in four classes.

– Also, as part of Flag Day, the American Legion in Albert Lea will dispose of unserviceable U.S. flags. The burning of the flags will take place at 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the National Guard Armory in Albert Lea. The disposal ceremony has been part of the American Legion since 1937, with the most appropriate day for the ceremony being Flag Day. The public is invited to the ceremony, which should last about a half hour.

– The Del Rays will perform at an 8 p.m. dance at the Eagles club in Albert Lea.

– Freeborn Days resumes at 7 a.m. with a free pancake breakfast at the American Legion Hall. It ends at 10 a.m. Other Freeborn Days events are citywide rummage sales from 8 a.m. to noon, arts and crafts show at 8 a.m. to noon, golf tournament at Oak View Golf Course from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the 4-H food stand opens at noon, kids’ games run from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ($5 wristband required) and the drawing for kids’ games registration is at 2:45 p.m. The kids’ pedal pull is free, with registration at 3:30 p.m. A pork chop supper runs from 5 to 8 a.m., sponsored by the Freeborn Ambulance and Fire Department.

The 73 Paces Band will play at the street dance for Freeborn Days. It goes from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Fireworks will shoot starting at 10 p.m. behind the Freeborn School.

– The Pelican Breeze II will host a narrated cruise at 4 p.m.

– There will be a fireman/policeman/sheriff’s bowling fundraiser for autistic children in Freeborn County. The cost is $8 per bowler.

Sunday

– A special motorcycle ride for Jake Varner, who died unexpectedly March 11 at age 20, will begin at 10 a.m. at Bancroft Bay Park in Albert Lea. Varner loved to ride motorcycles and shared his passion with many others. Jake’s step-dad, Pete DeVries, was a big part of his life and will lead the ride. All donations will go to Varner’s family. The ride will stop in Lanesboro for lunch to continue to LaCrosse, Wis., and Winona before coming home.

– No reservations will be needed for Taste of the Pelican Breeze II. The free event lasts from 1 to 4 p.m. The food-filled boat will sail several times for short trips and there will be food at Frank Hall Park, too.

– Freeborn Days will feature a 10 a.m. community church service at the Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ. There will be a lunch at noon.

– The “Guitar Hero” competition continues at Northbridge Mall from noon to 3 p.m.

– Big Ben and the Brians will perform in the bandshell at Edgewater Park in Albert Lea as part of the city’s Music in the Park series. This starts at 1:30 p.m. and goes until 3:30 p.m.

– As a reminder, there will not be a Festival of the Bands today. The annual downtown event was canceled.