Let’s head to the river this weekend.
Several of the fun cultural events on our radar for the next few days are in the St. Croix River Valley, including performances of “The Hobbit” at an apple orchard and an opera concert. Further south on the Mississippi, the National Eagle Center is hosting kids’ cruises.
No shortage of things to do in St. Paul, either, though: This weekend is the opening of Circus Juventas’s annual summer show, a tattoo convention is heading to RiverCentre and you can trade in unused art materials at a community swap event.
Here’s what you need to know to make your weekend schedules:
Thursday, July 23
Poetry with a pro: The Arrow Broken Poetry Collective, up in Marine on St. Croix, is holding an open mic with a reading by guest artist Su Love, a choreographer, dancer who has also published six books of poetry. Her 2011 book “Buddha, Proof,” published under the name Su Smallen, was a Minnesota Book Award finalist, and Love has won several other poetry awards. The free event begins at 7 p.m. with a reading by Love, followed by a community open mic at 8:15, at Marine Village Hall; 121 Judd Street, Marine on St. Croix.
Also in the St. Croix Valley — er, I mean, the Shire: This weekend is the opening of Zephyr Theatre’s production of “The Hobbit,” outdoors at Aamodt’s Apple Farm. Now under the artistic leadership of Reed Sigmund, who’s directing this show, the Stillwater-based Zephyr is back on the up-and-up, which is great to see. Tickets: If you want to be closest to the performance, grab a “Chair Seat” ticket for $40; you can also bring your own chairs and sit on the lawn with general admission tickets that run $35 for adults and $20 for kids under 10. Showtimes are 7 p.m. this Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; same times next weekend, too. You can find a link to buy tickets online by scrolling down on stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org.
Friday, July 24
Let that ink in: Tattoo Fest Twin Cities, which is set to feature more than 300 tattoo artists from around the world, is returning to RiverCentre this weekend. Besides getting a tattoo, if that’s up your alley, you can also enter your existing tattoos into contests and browse vendor booths with art, merch and “oddities.” Festival hours are 1 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are cash-only and available at the door; $30 per day or $65 for a full weekend pass.
An eagle-sighting cruise for the whole family: Down in Wabasha, during the city’s Riverboat Days Festival this Friday and Saturday, the National Eagle Center is hosting wildlife-viewing cruises tailored to a younger crowd. From noon to 1 p.m. both days, kids and families can hop on board the center’s “floating classroom” to try to catch sight of bald eagles and other fauna, plus other games and activities. Tickets are $30 (or $20 for National Eagle Center members) and are available by scrolling down to the Kids’ Cruise section at nationaleaglecenter.org/cruises. The cruise docks right behind the center; 50 Pembroke Ave., Wabasha.
See some sweet circus acrobatics: Circus Juventas’s skilled young performers don’t need a great glass elevator to reach the sky — that’s what trapeze is for! The Highland Park circus school’s annual summer show, “Whimsy,” is inspired by the world of Willy Wonka and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and features the most advanced students performing seriously impressive acts. Showtimes this weekend include 7 p.m. Friday, noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday; the show runs through Aug. 9. Tickets range from $25 to $55 and are available online at circusjuventas.showare.com or by phone at 651-309-8106. Shows are held at the Circus Juventas big top; 1270 Montreal Ave.
Only read this if your name is Ryan: At 6:30 p.m. at the Mall of America, join a group of other people named Ryan as they try to set a world record for the most people with the same name to ride a roller coaster in succession. There’s an afterparty that runs till 11 p.m. So far, more than 600 Ryans have RSVP’d, and you can add your name — as long as it’s Ryan, of course — at ryanmeetup.com/coaster. Sorry, but Bryans/Brians are strictly prohibited.
Saturday, July 25
Kick-start your next art project: Have art materials you’re looking to pass along to other creative folks? Bring ‘em to the arts and crafts reuse swap, hosted by the city’s public works department and Payne-Phalen Community Council, and find some new creative tools. Items (yarn, fabric, papers, brushes, paints, canvases, beads, etc.) should be unused and in good condition; no electronics or partially completed projects. Swap runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 60 W. Sycamore St.
Full of hot air: The Mall of America does seem like a logical place for the world’s largest bounce house to be set up, right? The 32-foot-tall inflatable (24,000 square feet, if you plan to measure) has several built-in competitions and games and will include a live DJ. There are also five other bounce houses on-site, including a 900-foot-long obstacle course. The bounce houses are set up in the mall’s East Lot (60 E Broadway, Bloomington) until Aug. 2. Tickets are three-hour passes and run $35 for kids and $45 for adults at thebigbounceamerica.com/event/minneapolis.
Enjoy beautiful music along the river: At Lowell Park in Stillwater, the St. Croix Opera’s annual Opera on the River Grand Concert will feature soprano Meghan Kasanders, mezzo-soprano Christina Pezzarosi, tenor Adrian Kramer and bass Colin Ramsey, plus the Opera on the River Vocal Competition winner, Josephine Barstad. The main show begins at 7:30 p.m., but arrive early for a pre-concert performance from local musician Colin Bracewell on guitar. General admission is free, and VIP tickets are available online at scvopera.org/summer-series/ootr.
Bonus: Wednesday July 29
Happy birthday, pool: Before a renovation project begins, come celebrate the 70th anniversary of the West St. Paul Pool, which opened in 1956. The pool’s birthday party is “Golden Girls” themed, with crafts and concessions along with swimming. The event runs 4 to 7 p.m.; you can register by clicking on the birthday graphic on the pool website homepage at wspmn.gov/763/pool.