Summer festivals under way across Minnesota

Following is a listing of tourism events around Minnesota, as provided by the Minnesota Office of Tourism. For more information, visit http://www.exploreminnesota.com or call (800) 657-3700 or (651) 296-5029 in the Twin Cities area.

A Festival Of The Bands will be offered in ALBERT LEA on Sunday, June 17, with approximately 20 marching bands from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Albert Lea will also host The Eddie Cochran Weekend from Friday, June 15, through Sunday, June 17. Highlights will include musical entertainment by Cochran, as well as a medallion hunt, window decorating contest, a car show, craft show & flea market, a drive-in social, city-wide rummage sale and more. For further information, contact the city of Albert Lea at 1-800-345-8414.

The Ole Oppe Festival will be held in ALEXANDRIA on Sunday with children's activities, stage entertainment, a street dance, fireworks and a variety of family events. For further information, dial 1-800-235-9441.

A Spunktacular Days Celebration will be held in AVON on Friday and Saturday, June 15 & 16, with a Little Crow water ski show, as well as a parade, fireworks, a variety show and food booths. To learn more, dial 320/356-9259.

BACKUS will be the site of An Old Timer's Weekend from Saturday through Monday. Highlights will include an ice cream social, a variety of entertainment, a potluck dinner, reunion, memorial service and horseshoe tournaments. To find out more, dial 218/947-3569.

BAUDETTE will be the site of Willie Walleye Day on Saturday, June 2. Featured will be crafts and handiwork, children's events, drawings and a variety of community activities. To learn more, dial 218/634-1351.

Good Time Days will be held in BOYD from June 8-10. Featured at this street celebration will be a carnival, stage shows, food, a parade and more. This is the oldest, continuous annual celebration in the United States. For more information, dial 320/855-2399.

BUFFALO will be the site of a Buffalo Days Celebration from Sunday, June 10, through Sunday, June 17. Highlights will include a parade, fireworks, a carnival and more. For further information, dial 763/682-4902.

COOK will be the site of Timber Days from Friday, June 8, through Sunday, June 10. Featured will be a Lumberjack show, parade, arts & crafts, music, food, fireworks and more. For further information, dial 1-800-648-5897.

Schooner Days will be held in Friday, June 1, through Sunday, June 3, with bingo, a beer garden, a carnival, softball games and more. For further information, dial 952/937-8972.

There will be an Open House, Wine Tastings & Tours Of the Alexis Bailly Vineyard in HASTINGS from Friday through Sunday, June 1-3, as well as June 8-10. To find out more, dial 651/437-1413.

A Shifters Blast From The Past will be offered in HIBBING on Sunday, June 3, with a car show including cars from 1915 to the 1980s. In addition, there will be music, food and prizes. To find out more, dial 218/262-4818.

A Memorial Day Pie & Ice Cream Social will be offered Monday at the 1885 G.A.R. Hall, Civil War and Pioneer Museum in LITCHFIELD. For more information, dial 320/693-8911.

Straight River Days will be held in MEDFORD from June 1-3, with dances, tractor pulls, mud races, games, rides and food booths. For further information, dial 507/451-2122.

Rib Fest & More will be held at the Fargodome in FARGO, N.D., from Thursday, June 6, through Saturday, June 9, with award-winning BBQ ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, a petting zoo, carnival rides and musical entertainment. For more information, dial 1-800-235-7654.

MORRISTOWN will be the site of Dam Days from Friday, June 1, through Sunday, June 3. Highlights will include a twilight parade, a fishing contest, car show, carnival, kiddie tractor pull, bands, sports tournaments and a variety of concessions. To find out more, dial 507/685-4155.

The Harkin Store in NEW ULM will be the site of Bluegrass At The Harkin Store on Sunday with bluegrass and gospel music performed by local musicians. For further information, dial 507/354-2160.

The city of PINE ISLAND will be the site of A Cheese Festival from Friday, June 8, through Sunday, June 10, with rides, games, concerts, a golf tournament, parade and fireworks. To find out more, dial 507/356-4531.

A Family Fun Weekend will be offered at Historic Fort Snelling in ST. PAUL from Saturday through Monday. Featured will be hands-on frontier era activities and crafts. For further information, dial 612/726-1171.

Grand Avenue in ST. PAUL will be the site of Grand Old Day on Saturday, June 3. Highlights will include musical entertainment on 14 stages, a parade, rides, food and merchandise vendors. To learn more, dial 651/699-0029.

Take A Kid Fishing will be offered at Fort Snelling State Park in ST. PAUL on Saturday, June 9, with a fishing clinic, as well as give-aways at the end of the day, and fun and educational activities. To find out more, dial 612/725-2724.

Meet Me Under The Bridge 2001 will take place at The Heritage Square Park on Main Street in WABASHA each Friday from June 1 through Aug. 31, with live music, plays, skits and demonstrations by local talent. To learn more, dial 1-800-565-4158.

Wild West Days will be held in ZIMMERMAN from Friday through Monday. Included will be a rodeo, a parade, carnival, a variety of foods, a craft fair, softball tournaments, soap-box derby and dances. For further information, dial 763/856-4277 or 763/856-3612. In addition, the Camp in the Woods Resort in Zimmerman will be the site of A MINNESOTA HOMEGROWN KICKOFF from Friday, June 1, through Sunday, June 3, with bluegrass and old-time music during this camping festival. To find out more, dial 1-800-635-3037.

Upcoming concerts & performances include: GARRISON KEILLOR & A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, each Saturday through June 9; PIPPI LONGSTOCKING at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, through June 9; SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE at the Hey City Theatre in Minneapolis, through June 17; TANYA TUCKER & THE BULL RIDING CHAMPIONSHIP at the State Fairgrounds, June 2; WWF RAW at the Target Center in Minneapolis, June 4; THE WEEKENDER POPS AND BERNADETTE PETERS at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, June 8 & 9; SOUTH PACIFIC at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, June 12-July 1; DEPECHE MODE at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, June 19; 'N SYNC at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, June 24; JOAN OSBORNE at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, June 28; BON JOVI at the Target Center, July 9; JANET JACKSON at the Target Center, July 17; JOURNEY & PETER FRAMPTON at the Target Center, July 22; ROXY MUSIC at the Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis, July 31; YES at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, Aug. 7; JAMES TAYLOR at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Aug. 11; RIVERDANCE at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Sept. 12-23.

For further information on any of these performances, contact TICKETMASTER at 612/989-5151.