Weekend Planner

Celebrate Valentine’s Day just a few days early with dancing and romancing at the second annual Sons of Norway Sweetheart Dance this Friday.

The event is a fundraiser to support the Sons of Norway Lodge and to fund scholarships for local high school graduates.

Enjoy music by MegaForce, a silent auction, door prizes, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

The event is from 8 p.m. to midnight at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club.

Tickets are available in advance at Leuthold’s and KATE Radio for $30 per couple or $15 per person. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Several other events slated around Albert Lea this weekend are sure to pique a variety of local interests, as follows:

Friday

• The 67th annual Minnesota State Spring Barrow Show will be at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. Registration for the judging contest and the judging of the junior pen of three kick off the event at 8 a.m. The final event, the selection of the sweepstakes winner, will take place at 4 p.m. An annual donor rib banquet will be at 7 p.m. at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club.

• Enjoy the creative works of local artists at the Albert Lea Art Center’s All Member Show. The exhibit goes through Feb. 19 at the Albert Lea Art Center, 224 S. Broadway Ave. The Art Center is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

• “My Fair Lady” debuts at the Lighthouse Event Center at 7:30 p.m. Additional performances are slated for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18. Tickets are $13 in advance at Hy-Vee, Stadheim Jewelers, Marshall Street Music in Albert Lea and the Coffee House on Main in Austin, or $15 at the door.

• The Albert Lea Moose Lodge presents live music from the All BS Band starting at 7:30 p.m.

• Geneva Bar & Grill is hosting its ninth annual three-person pool tournament Friday and Saturday. Pre-registration is required, and there will be 100 percent payback.

• The Austin Big Band will be performing a Valentine’s dance from 7 until 10 p.m. in Grafton, Iowa. Admission is $10 for individuals and $15 for couples.

Saturday

• Senior Resources Ride Services of Freeborn County will host a pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s. The cost is $6, with children 3 and under eating free. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Senior Resources or one of the drivers, or at the door the day of the event.

• The Big Island Rendezvous presents its 18th annual Historical Faire from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday throughout Northbridge Mall. Enjoy live demonstrations and presentations, which will include New Ulm Battery, Voyageur Lifestyles, Native American lifestyles, tintype photography, Glann Tartan exhibit and Scottish history. Kettle corn by the Knights of Columbus will be available.

• Grace Christian Church presents a concert with Juan Robert and the Bubblegum Bakery Orchestra from 7 to 9 p.m. with a special guest appearance by 4th Man in the Fire’s Pastor G and Lauryn. This is a fundraiser concert to support a mission to the Balkans.

• Community Lutheran Church of Geneva is hosting a Valentine Dinner at 6 p.m. and a Servant Heart Youth Auction at 7:30 p.m.

• Enjoy the live entertainment of KB Karaoke at 7:30 p.m. at the Albert Lea Moose Lodge.

Sunday

• An Amaranth pancake breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge. The menu will include pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee. The high school music department will wait tables. The lodge is located above the community theater in Albert Lea.

• Ellendale United Methodist Church will host the Sweetwater Revival Concert from 4 until 5:30 p.m. Admission for adults is $10 each and kids 5 and younger get in free.