Everyone is welcome to attend the grand opening celebration for the Brookside Park boathouse this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The boathouse is a $300,000 project, constructed entirely from volunteer work and donated money and goods.

Gary Hoffman, an Albert Lea native, will speak at 10 a.m. about his book, titled “Mighty Miss: A Mississippi River Experience,” which chronicles his experience canoeing the Mississippi River with his son.

Free canoeing and kayaking will be offered to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., compliments of all the people who donated to the project.

Here is a list of other events in and around Albert Lea this weekend:

Friday

• Kiwanis Peanut Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Albert Lea Post Office, Shopko, Hy-Vee and Nelson’s County Market. Peanuts can be bought by the bag or case.
• Artwork by Gilbert Johnson Jr. will be on display in the Albert Lea Art Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The show goes through Sept. 25.

• The Pelican Breeze II Pizza Cruise will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Pelican Breeze Boat Landing. Call by 4 p.m. Friday for reservations. Pizza cruises are $20/adult and $5 ages 5 and under.
• “Act on Broadway,” hosted by the Albert Lea Community Theatre, will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Marion Ross Performing Art Center, 147 N. Broadway Ave., Albert Lea.

Saturday

• The Albert Lea Farmers Market will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the North Broadway Parking Lot.
• Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church in Austin will host an auction at 2 p.m. A pig roast and meal begins at 2:30 p.m. until all food is gone and a dance at 7 p.m. Located at 30456 Mower Freeborn Road, Austin.
• Discover the message in the maze at the Prairie River Camp Corn Maze, open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 52792 80th St., Bricelyn. Take I-90 exit 134 and go three miles south on Hwy. 253.

• The Democratic Farmer Labor Party is hosting a spaghetti supper from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Moose Club, 1623 Main St., Albert Lea. Guest speakers are Tim Walz, Dan Sparks, Robin Brown and more.
• Artwork by Gilbert Johnson Jr. will be on display in the Albert Lea Art Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is the final day of the show.
• The Freeborn County Republican Party will hold a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the party’s local headquarters downtown. The headquarters are in the Unique Building at the corner of Clark Street and Broadway Avenue in Albert Lea. People can stop by to get candidate information, yard signs and enjoy a cup of coffee.
• Meet the alpacas of Oak Knoll Farms during National Alpaca Farm Days, located at 1650 Hammer Road, Albert Lea. Open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free refreshments.
• The Wykoff Fall Festival will include an 11 a.m. parade along with a flag dedication, music, bean bag tournament, kids carnival, kickball, Wykoff Class reunions, petting zoo, pony rides, food and much more. Events at Wykoff Community Hall.
• The Riverland Theatre presents “Up ‘til 2,” a capella concert featuring alum Donovan Germain at 7:30 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre located at Riverland Community College, located in the East Building of the Austin campus. Tickets are $15 each.
• It’s Oktoberfest in Northwood. Rock, Bock & BBQ event on Central Avenue from noon until midnight features a barbeque competition with public tasting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and German specials throughout the day including locally made brats, red cabbage and candied almonds. Worth Brewing specialty beers will be on tap and music in the outdoor beer garden will include The Last Minute Jazz Band at 8 p.m. and Bad Monkey at 10 p.m.
• AAUW’s Tour of Homes is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets can be bought on Saturday at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Theatre for $15. More information and a listing of homes can be found in Wednesday’s edition of the Tribune.
• Enjoy the Vintage Pride Snowmobile Event from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Albert Lea Fairgrounds. Admission $5 per person, military free.
• Scouting Centennial Celebration is from 9 a.m. to noon at the fairgrounds. Public is invited to see all the activities scouting offers. Cost is $2 or one canned good per person.
• The Albert Lea Civic Music Series presents the Schoenbrunn Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Admission is by season ticket only.
• Come for the pumpkins, stay for the fun at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch. Farmer John’s opens for the season at 12 p.m. and continues daily through October 31. Located at 90537 273rd Street, 3/4 miles south of Highway 251 off Mower Freeborn Road, Austin.
• The ALMC Foundation Gala will be at Wedgewood Cove from 5:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Enjoy dinner and dancing to “The Modd Squad.”
• The Pelican Breeze II Public Cruise will be from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Pelican Breeze II Boat Landing. Admission is $15 per person, $5 ages 5 and under.

Sunday

• Enjoy a Norwegian Roll Pancakes (Pannekaker) Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sons of Norway Lodge in Albert Lea. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, parsley potatoes and lingonberries. Admission for adults is $6 each, children are $3 each and children age five and under eat free. Proceeds will benefit the Food Shelf at the Salvation Army.
• Wykoff Lions breakfast begins at 8 a.m. at the Wyckoff Community Hall.
• American Legion Post 56 hosts this Sunday morning breakfast from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the American Legion Club, 142 N. Broadway, Albert Lea. Menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, fruit juice and coffee.
• Discover the message in the maze at the Prairie River Camp Corn Maze, open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 52792 80th St., Bricelyn. Take I-90 exit 134 and go three miles south on Hwy. 253.
• The Church of All Saints Fall Festival kicks off with a polka mass at 10 a.m. and turkey dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children, and preschoolers are free. Takeout meals are available. Enjoy family frun from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Club.
• Meet the alpacas of Oak Knoll Farms during National Alpaca Farm Days, located at 1650 Hammer Road, Albert Lea. Open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free refreshments. Enjoy a fiber spinning demonstration and more.
• Pickerel Lake M.E. Church is hosting an open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate recent renovations. A program is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. The church is located at 71117 180th Street (Highway 69 south of Albert Lea, west on County Road 17, road to Conger.)
• Come for the pumpkins, stay for the fun at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch. Open daily from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. through October 31. Located at 90537 273rd Street, 3/4 miles south of Highway 251 off Mower Freeborn Road, Austin.
• Discover the message in the maze at the Prairie River Camp Corn Maze, open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 52792 80th St., Bricelyn. Take I-90 exit 134 and go three miles south on Hwy. 253.
• The Pelican Breeze II Public Cruise will be from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Pelican Breeze II Boat Landing. Admission is $15/adult and $5 ages 5 and under.
• Enjoy the Wild Honey & The Locusts concert