1. Land Between the Lakes Paddle, Pedal, Run

The Land Between the Lakes Paddle, Pedal, Run triathlon will take place from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Brookside Boathouse on Fountain Lake Trail.

The race will start at the boat landing and the transition between activities will also start at the boat landing.

The three-part race will begin with a 1.5 mile paddle on the channel and Bancroft Bay. Racers will transition to a 9-mile leg of biking through the countryside of Albert Lea. The race will finish with a 2.1-mile run around part of Fountain Lake.

The event will be locally timed. Registration will be accepted in person at packet pickup from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Country Inn and Suites. Race packets can also be picked up the morning of the race from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the Brookside boat landing.

The cost of the event is $30 for an individual and $20 per person for a relay — relays must consist of a minimum of two people and a maximum of four people.

The registration fee includes a T-shirt, meal ticket and a canoe or kayak rental.

All proceeds from the event benefit area youth scholarships.

Participants under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult at the event.

A $250 prize will be awarded to the first place youth group organization, such as a high school team, club team or association.

2. Elvis tribute artist

Artist Art Kistler and the EP Boulevard Show Band will present “Forever Elvis… the Spirit Lives!” Saturday at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

The show is expected to be a fun, classy, high-energy show featuring tasteful yet dazzling costumes and well-preserved classic Elvis Presley music — with a possible modern twist.

Those in attendance Saturday in Albert Lea can expect a very professional show with plenty of crowd interaction.

Kistler said the show starts out just like the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll did in concert — with the “2001: A Space Odyssey” theme. Kistler said the theme has a tendency to build anticipation throughout the show.

Kistler and the EP Boulevard Show Band try to fit as much music into the show as possible.

There is generally a veterans tribute and multiple costume changes at Kistler’s shows.

Tickets for the show are $20 and can be purchased at the box office, which is located in the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center lobby. Tickets are also available from a 24/7 call center at 1-877-730-3144. The box office opens two hours before the performance on show day.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and seating will begin at 7 p.m.

3. Wells Kernel Days

Wells will host its annual Kernel Days celebration starting Thursday and lasting until Sunday this weekend.

The Wells Library Foundation will host its annual salad luncheon from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion in Wells. Also Thursday, the Little Miss Kernel program will take place at 7 p.m.

A free lunch including root beer floats will be provided by Wells Federal Bank and Bevcomm on Friday. The event will be at 11 a.m. in the bank parking lot. Horse and wagon rides will also be available at that time.

As in years past, most of the weekend’s events will take place at Half Moon Park. Starting at 5 p.m. Friday, there will be food stands, giant inflatables, entertainment and a beer garden at the park. Fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m.

Events at the park will continue Saturday and will expand to include volleyball and softball tournaments, a kids activity tent and a petting zoo, among other activities.

The annual Maple Valley Classic Car Show will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday in downtown Wells.

The Grand Marshal and newly crowned Little Miss Kernel will then lead the Kernel Days Parade at 5 p.m..

Following the parade, the Jaycees will host its annual street dance with Junk FM at 9 p.m. on the stage at Half Moon Park.

Throughout the weekend, the Wells Historical Museum will be open for tours.

The weekend will conclude on Sunday with the VFW breakfast and the Wells Lions Club golf tournament at Wells Golf Course.

4. Open stage night at the Arts Initiative

The Freeborn County Arts Initiative will host its last open stage night of the summer from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

The Open Stage Summer Series calls for all musicians, actors, dancers, poets, comedians and writers to display their craft in spoken form.

The event will be hosted at the Freeborn County Arts Initiative building, located at 224 S. Broadway Ave. Those interested in participating in the event are able to sign up online at www.freeborncountyartsinitiative.com.

5. Wellington Estates fire relief fundraiser

As part of Kernel Days in Wells, there will be a rummage sale from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday  in the basement of St. Casimir’s Catholic Church in Wells.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the victims of the Wellington Estates fire.

Furniture, household goods, clothing, home decor, toys and miscellaneous items will be accepted for donations to the sale. Victims of the fire will have the opportunity to take donated items that they need first, and the rest of the items will be sold and the money used for disaster relief.

There is also a fund set up to accept financial donations. Make checks payable to The Better Way Inc. with “Wellington Fire Relief” in the memo. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 203, Wells, MN 56097; or dropped off at Wells Federal Bank.

For more information about the event or to make a donation, contact 507-380-3365.

St. Casimir’s is located at 300 2nd Ave. SW in Wells.