1. Shinefest Tractor Ride

The ninth annual Shinefest Tractor Ride is Saturday and will raise money for the Shinefest week of service.

The day begins with breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

A caravan of approximately 100 tractors will leave the fairgrounds at 9 a.m. The caravan will travel to Oak Park Place, then Thorne Crest Senior Living Community and Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea before traveling to both and St. John’s Lutheran Community and St. John’s on Fountain Lake. The caravan will head to First Lutheran Church for its first coffee break.

The group then travels to Concordia Lutheran Church for a light lunch and to Mansfield Lutheran Church for a coffee break, before arriving back at the fairgrounds for supper between 5 and 5:30 p.m.

Tractor rides are $40 — the cost covers both participation in the ride and dinner. Participants must provide their own tractor.

The event runs two classes of tractors — one that drives 14 mph and another 10 mph.

Anyone interested in participating is advised to contact organizers Dale Grotsun at 507-383-2766 or Mark Light at 507-402-0794.

2. Albert Lea Art & Garden Tour

This year’s Art and Garden Tour will span from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The cost of the event is $10, which covers both days.

Tickets will be taken at all seven garden locations identified by The Albert Lea Art Center. Tickets are available for purchase at locations throughout town including The Art Center, Addie’s Floral and Gifts, Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hy-Vee, Sterling Drug and all garden sites during the event.

“(The gardens) are all totally different,” said Joyce Purdy, co-chairwoman of The Art Center’s tour, last week.

Purdy called the Art and Garden Tour an important fundraiser for The Albert Lea Art Center, as well as a way for people to connect in the community.

The tour was made possible with a grant through the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, as well as donations from Thrivent Financial in Albert Lea.

For this year’s lineup for the Art and Garden Tour, stop by The Albert Lea Art Center to pick up a list.

3. 2nd Annual Sophie Stultz Motorcycle Run

The second annual Sophie Stultz Motorcycle Run will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Registration for the event will run from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at Bergdale Harley-Davidson. Kickstands will go up at 11:30 a.m. sharp for the 110-mile ride in honor of Sophie. The event will end at the American Legion in Albert Lea around 4 p.m. The event was organized to remember Sophie, an 8-year-old girl who died last summer in a crash while riding her bicycle, to raise funds for The Blue Zones project bicycle education and for safety programming in schools. The cost to participate in the run is $20 for the first entry and $10 for additional entries.

Refreshments will be provided throughout the day with donations.

Bergdale Harley-Davidson is at 905 E. Plaza St. in Albert Lea.

For more information about the motorcycle run, call 507-460-9435.

4. “Mary Poppins”

Albert Lea Community Theatre will complete its 52nd season with nine performances of the musical “Mary Poppins” at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

One of the most popular Disney movies of all time is capturing hearts in a whole new way — as a practically perfect musical. “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Jolly Holiday” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” will be classic musical features in the performance.

“Mary Poppins,” co-directed by Diane Heaney and Glen Parsons with music direction by Barb Lang and choreography by Joyce Matthies, will be performed at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center in downtown Albert Lea Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Shows will also be performed next weekend on July 19, 20, 21 and 22. All shows start at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of 2 p.m. matinees on Sunday and July 22.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for students, although tickets are selling quickly. Tickets may be purchased over the phone by calling 1-877-730-3144, online at actonbroadway.com or at the box office, which is open Monday through Thursday. Tickets are also available at the Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau.

5. Geneva Mud Bog

A mud bog will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday in Geneva. The Stump Jumpers of Austin will host the event. The event is free and open to the public as spectators. All proceeds from the event will go to the Geneva Fire Department. Registration for those who wish to participate in the event will begin at 9 a.m. and close at noon. The cost for registration is $20 per truck, which includes a team of one driver and a pit crew. There will be an additional $5 fee for every extra driver included in the team.

Racers must have a helmet, a fire extinguisher, tow hooks or receiver and clevis. They must also pass inspection prior to the event.

The mud bog will take place on the west side of Geneva. For questions and more information about the event, contact Erik Haugland at 507-440-3107.