1. Art & Garden Tour

The annual showcase of local gardeners and artists returns for another year this weekend. The tour, where artists and gardeners are paired based on room and personality, is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Tour stops are at 1605 Crystal Drive, 1606 Keystone Drive, 303 Ridge Road, 105 Lee Place, 101 Ridge Road and 2512 W. Main St. in Albert Lea. Tickets are $10 and are available ahead of time at the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, Addie’s Floral & Gifts, Hill’s Gardens and The Albert Lea Art Center, and can be purchased at each of the garden locations during the tour as well.

 

2. Shinefest Tractor Ride

The 11th annual Shinefest Tractor Ride will take off this weekend. The fundraiser for the Shinefest week of service will start and end Saturday at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. Tractors will leave out of the north exit of the fairgrounds onto Richway Drive at 9 a.m. and will drive past all of the nursing homes and care facilities in Albert Lea before leaving the city. The ride will then stop at

Round Prairie Lutheran Church for lunch before heading to Myrtle and Hayward, before coming back to Albert Lea. The day will wrap up at 5:30 p.m. with a supper in the Fairlane Building of the fairgrounds for participants.

 

3. Fun and sober summer picnic

There will be a picnic from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Edgewater Bay Pavilion in Albert Lea. An afternoon of fishing, volleyball, bean bags, horseshoes, a silent auction and fellowship will be on the agenda for the sober event. Those attending are asked to bring a dish to pass to accompany the pulled pork and hot dogs that will be provided. RSVP by calling 507-377-6711.

 

4. Alzheimer’s fundraiser

The family of Jesse Jimenez will host a fundraiser for the second annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Moose Club in Albert Lea. An authentic enchilada dinner — including two beef enchiladas, rice, beans and fixings — will be served for $8. A bake sale will also take place. Tickets are available at the door or at Expressions Salon & Spa.

 

5. ‘State Fair’

Albert Lea Community Theatre’s annual musical finishes its run this week. This year’s selection, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “State Fair,” follows a family headed to the Iowa State Fair in 1946. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Marion Ross Performing Arts Center in downtown Albert Lea. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, and can be purchased by calling 1-877-730-3144, at actonbroadway.com or at the center’s box office.