1. Parents night out

Why wait for Valentine’s Day? From 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, parents can drop off children at the Edgewater Bay Pavilion, where they can be supervised through the Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Department while you have an evening out (or a pizza in).

2. Historical faire

For those who didn’t quite get enough this fall, select portions of the Big Island Rendezvous are coming to Northbridge Mall on Saturday and Sunday. The historical faire features pottery, woodwork, ironwork, art, jewelry and colonial crafts to peruse.

3. Strom family benefit

Community members are invited to Wedgewood Cove to support the family of Kelli Strom, who recently died after four years of battling cancer. The event will include a silent auction, bake sale, a DJ, sloppy joes and hot dogs. The benefit runs from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Donations go toward medical bills and living expenses.

4. Met Opera

At 11 a.m. Saturday, the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center will take theater-goers on a theatrical trip to rural Italy for a performance of “L’Elisir d’Amore” (“The Elixir of Love”). In Donizetti’s opera, a peasant falls in love with an upper-class girl and ends rom-com style. The rural village featured in the opera is known for public entertainment via traveling salesman and features a range of songs in the show.

The opera runs about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Tickets are $20 for adults, with a five-opera flex ticket for $90. Tickets are $20 for adults, with a five-opera flex ticket for $90.

5. Lecture series

The Freeborn County Historical Museum will continue its lecture series with a presentation on the history of St. John’s Lutheran Community.

The lecture is slated to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, led by a museum employee with a history degree and some experience volunteering at St. John’s.