&uot;Over the Rainbow&uot; is the theme for Alden’s Morin Lake Days celebration this weekend.

The activities actually begin today, as the medallion hunt begins. Clues will be posted on the front door of city hall beginning at noon. From 6-8 p.m., an ice cream social will be held in Morin Lake Park, with music by the Alden Community Band. A kiddie parade starts at 6:30 p.m. and a sandcastle contest takes place at the beach beginning at 7 p.m.

Friday’s activities include the Teddy Bear House, 285 Euclid St., being open for tours from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; the Lions Club fishing contest from 1:30-3 p.m. at Morin Lake (meet at the shelter at 1 p.m.); a 4-H barbecue at Morin Lake Park from 5-7:30 p.m.; the play, &uot;The Wizard of Oz&uot; at the Alden-Conger School at 7:30 p.m.; and an exhibition softball game, the Alden-Conger-Freeborn team of 1991 versus the current Alden-Conger team at North Park.

Saturday’s events include the Chrome Classics car show from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Chrome Classics; a fun run starting in the Hemmingsen’s Transfer parking lot with registration at 8 a.m. and the run starting at 9; a Krispy Kreme Doughnut sale in the bank parking lot beginning at 9 a.m.; a cheerleaders’ car wash in the bank parking lot from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; the Alden Museum open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for self-guided tours; the Teddy Bear House, 285 Euclid St., open for tours; the play, &uot;The Wizard of Oz&uot; at the Alden-Conger School at 1 p.m.; Fugelskudning, &uot;The Great Dane Shoot,&uot; beginning at 1 p.m. on North Star Road; the Morin Lake Days parade at 7 p.m.; ice cream sundaes and the Freedom Concert at Redeemer Lutheran Church following the parade; and a street dance with music by Circuit Breakers in the evening. There will softball and volleyball tournaments all day at North Park.

On Sunday, softball and volleyball tournaments continue all day. The Alden Lions Club will hold a pancake breakfast 8 a.m.-noon at Morin Lake Park. There will be worship by the water at the Morin Lake Boat Landing at 10 a.m. People should bring their own lawn chairs.

Following is a roundup of other events happening in the area this weekend:

Friday, July 18

-The original illustrations of Joni Oeltjenbruns, a children’s author and illustrator, are being exhibited at the Albert Lea Art Center, 224 S. Broadway Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

-Northbridge Mall hosts crazy days from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

-The Pelican Breeze will hold a pizza cruise at 6 p.m. Reservations are required before 4 p.m. Friday. Call 383-2630.

-Ellendale Days activities get under way with the Lions Club dunk tank from 6-9 p.m.; the Ellendale Firemen’s pedal tractor pull at the community center beginning at 6 p.m. with the commercial club serving root beer floats; a street dance from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. with music by Storm Brothers with a food stand by the Ellendale-Geneva Sportsmen.

Saturday, July 19

-Ellendale Days continue with a T-ball tournament at the school ball fields; Memories car show from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on the bus garage lawn; Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for sale from 8 a.m. until gone; the commercial club pork chop supper at the community center from 5-7 p.m.; the Lions Club dunk tank from 6-9 p.m.; a street dance from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. with music by Storm Brothers with a food stand by the Ellendale-Geneva Sportsmen; a youth dance from 9 p.m.-midnight at the community center.

-The Minnesota Miniature Horse Club will present a miniature horse show at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds starting at 8 a.m. It is the first miniature horse competition in Freeborn County. The public is invited and admission is free.

-The Albert Lea Farmers’ Market is open in the parking lot at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Water Street from 9 a.m.-noon.

-The original illustrations of Joni Oeltjenbruns, a children’s author and illustrator, are being exhibited at the Albert Lea Art Center, 224 S. Broadway Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

-Northbridge Mall hosts crazy days from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

-The Pelican Breeze will hold a public cruise at 2 p.m.

-The Pelican Breeze will hold a Germanfest Cruise at 4 p.m. with special guest accordionist Jack Koppa. Reservations are required; call 383-2630.

-The Wells Area Junior Miss scholarship program will be held at 7 p.m. in the Gordon Hansen Auditorium in Wells. Cost is $7 per person.

Sunday, July 20

-Ellendale Days festivities continue with a Lions Club pancake breakfast from 8 a.m.-noon at the community center, and a parade at 1 p.m.

-Northbridge Mall hosts crazy days from noon-5 p.m.

-The Minnesota Miniature Horse Club will present a second miniature horse show at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds starting at 8 a.m. This, the second of two shows, is being sponsored by American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR). The public is invited and admission is free.

-The Blue Banners Orchestra of Albert Lea will present the weekly free program of live music in Edgewater Park at 1:30 p.m. The Blue Banners are a well-known area &uot;polka&uot; band, but also play a variety of country music and memory tunes.

-The Pelican Breeze will hold a public cruise at 2 p.m.

-The Albert Lea Audubon Society will hold a nature walk near Glenville. Those interested will meet in the parking lot behind ShopKo at 2 p.m. People should bring a picnic lunch for their family.