There will be events for all ages this weekend in Freeborn County with the Big Island Bar-B-Que, a horse show and benefits, among others.

On Friday, more than 60 cooks from across the country will begin competing for more than $13,000 and other prizes at the third annual Big Island Bar-B-Que.

Admission is free to the public.

On Friday evening, the public is invited to sample chicken wings and chili and vote for their favorite. The voting for chili starts at 5 p.m., with a $3 fee, and the voting for chicken starts at 7 p.m., with a $10 fee.

Moe Cason, winner of the first episode of the second season “BBQ Pitmasters” on the cable channel TLC, will be in attendance. Cason is the proprietor of Ponderosa BBQ in Des Moines, Iowa.

The competition will continue Saturday with official judging of cooks from nine states. The event opens to the public at 10 a.m.

Performing both days will be Kat Blu and Flashback. John Goodsall will be showcased on Saturday prior to the awards ceremony at 5 p.m.

Kids games will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with over a dozen stations of activities, arts and crafts.

Money raised goes to support the Big Island Rendezvous Education Days.

The following is a schedule of other events taking place this weekend:

Friday

• Horses begin arriving for the Minnesota-Iowa Arabian Horse Show at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. The show itself takes place Saturday and Sunday.

• A Pelican Breeze II pizza cruise will begin at 6 p.m., departing from the Pelican Breeze boat landing. Call 383-2630 by 4 p.m. Friday for reservations. Pizza cruises are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 and younger.

Saturday

• The Minnesota-Iowa Arabian Horse Show runs all day at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

• The Albert Lea Farmers Market will be in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon.

• Yoga Instructor Amber McCornack will lead Yoga in the Park beginning at 10 a.m. at the Edgewater Park Bandshell.

Yoga in the Park is hosted by the National Vitality Center’s faith initiative.

This is the center’s second Yoga in the Park event. More than 40 community members participated in the first event in July.

• A fundraising golf tournament for tornado survivor Ron Woodside will begin at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start at the Clarks Grove Golf Course.

Food and door prizes will be available.

Cost is $25 per person. Carts are not included in the cost but are available.

Woodside is recovering in the transitional care unit at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea from injuries he sustained June 17, after an EF4 tornado destroyed his home near Armstrong.

He broke 27 bones, and his wife, Kathy, 67, ultimately died.

• Dr. Eric Shoars, author of the book “Women Under Glass: The Secret Nature of Glass Ceilings and the Steps to Overcome Them,” will be at Book World in the Northbridge Mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a book signing.

“Women Under Glass” reached No. 36 on Amazon.com’s Women in Business list six weeks after its release in January.

Shoars, who lives in Austin, is donating a dollar for every book sold to Mentoring and Inspiring Women programs.

• The Albert Lea boys’ soccer third annual alumni game will be at 2 p.m. at Hammer Stadium.

The event is a fundraiser for Albert Lea High School boys’ soccer. There will be a concession stand and prize drawings.

There is a $10 entry fee for participants, which includes being rostered, a T-shirt and food.

• The Albert Lea Assembly of God Church will have its 2010 Soda Wars beginning at 3 p.m. at the church, 1540 S. Shore Dr. During the event, there will be two teams that will face off in various races and then there will be prizes at the end.

There will be games, food, races and prizes.

• A Pelican Breeze II public cruise will begin at 4 p.m. at the Pelican Breeze boat landing. Call 383-2630 for more information. Cost is $5 per person.

• A hog roast benefit for Matt Ertman of Blue Earth will be at the Faribault County Fairgrounds in Blue Earth starting at 4 p.m.

Ertman, 26, was badly burned June 27 when his demolition derby car exploded at the Worth County Fair.

There will be live and silent auctions at 7 p.m. and a raffle drawing at 8 p.m.

All proceeds go toward Ertman’s medical expenses.

Sunday

• The Albert Lea Assembly of God Church will have a church picnic open to the community after the church service at about 11:30 a.m. or noon.

• A Pelican Breeze II public cruise will go from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Pelican Breeze boat landing. Call 383-2630 for more information. Cost is $5 per person.

• The fourth annual Albert Lea Doggie Dip will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Albert Lea Aquatic Center. Fee is $4 (including two human companions) and $1 for each additional human companion. For information contact the Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Office at 377-4370.

Dogs must have proof of current vaccination.