Summer festivals in full swing across state

Tourism events around the state of 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.

The Freeborn County Fair will be held at the fairgrounds in ALBERT LEA through Sunday. To learn more, contact the city of Albert Lea at 1-800-345-8414.

Freedom Park in BRAHAM will be the site of Braham Pie Day on Friday with a wide array of pies on sale, as well as live entertainment, contests, crafters and costumes, all held in the city designated as the Homemade Pie Capital of Minnesota. To find out more, dial 320/396-4956.

Cruisin' Days will be offered by the city of CANNON FALLS Friday-Sunday, with a classic car show, back-to-the-'50s events, a dance and other activities. For more information, dial 507/263-22891.

Leif Erikson Park in DULUTH will be the site of an International Folk Festival on Saturday with a variety of musical entertainment, dancing, foods and artist activity tents. All will take place along the shore of Lake Superior. To find out more, dial 1-800-438-5884.

Flekkefest will take place in ELBOW LAKE along Main Street from Friday-Sunday with Scandinavian foods and music, a parade and fireworks. For further information, dial 218/685-5380.

The annual Fisherman's Picnic will be held in GRAND MARAIS today through Sunday. Highlights will include various sports tournaments, musical entertainment, a parade, fireworks and food vendors. In addition, there will be a Fisherman's Picnic Trail Run & Walk on Saturday along the Pincusion Mountain Trail. To learn more, contact the Grand Marais Area Visitor's Bureau at 1-888-922-5000.

A Tall Timber Days Festival will be held in GRAND RAPIDS on Saturday and Sunday featuring lumberjack shows, chainsaw carving, arts & crafts, races, food, storytelling and a parade. In addition, the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids will offer a program on Metalsmithing, with contemporary metalsmiths working in iron, gold, silver and brass.

And nearby, The White Oak Rendezvous will be held at the White Oak Fur Post in Deer River on Saturday and Sunday. Highlights will include a re-creation of the Voyageur era, with authentic Voyageur skills, crafts and games. Browse through Traders Row for a wide array of gifts and goods, such as artwork, crafts, supplies and northwoods items. To learn more about any of these events, contact the Grand Rapids Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-472-6366.

The St. Louis County Fair will be held in HIBBING through Sunday, featuring challenging games, carnival rides, prizes, exhibits, entertainment, the True Value Country Showdown and a variety of foods. You may also visit livestock and a petting zoo with exotic animals from around the world. To learn more, contact the Hibbing Area Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-444-2246.

Summer Turtle Races will be offered by LONGVILLE each Wednesday through Aug. 29. For more information, dial 1-800-756-7583.

The Rock County Fair will take place in LUVERNE through Saturday. Also Saturday in Luverne, The Sights And Senses Prairie Walk will be offered at Blue Mounds State Park, with a chance to learn about the prairie during a two-mile trail walk on top of the Blue Mounds. For more information, contact the city of Luverne at 1-888-283-4061

The intersection of Lake Street & Hennepin Avenue in MINNEAPOLIS will be the site of the annual Uptown Art Fair from Friday through Sunday. Nearly a half million people attend each year, with 400 of the finest artists in the United States participating in the Midwest's largest art fair. In addition, there will be more than 20 food vendors, a children's art activity tent, evening entertainment and more. For further information, dial 612/823-4581.

The Pipestone National Monument in PIPESTONE will be the site of the 53rd annual Song Of Hiawatha Pageant Friday through Sunday featuring an elaborate pageant based on Longfellow's poem, with a cast of more than 200. The pageant includes beautiful lighting displays and costumes, and is held in a large outdoor amphitheater seating 35,000 people. For more information, dial 1-800-336-6125.

Bay Point & Levee Parks in RED WING will be the site of River City Days from Friday through Sunday with musical entertainment, crafts, dragon boat races, a parade, fireworks, a car show, tractor pull and lumberjack show. For further information, dial 1-800-762-9516.

The fairgrounds in ROCHESTER will be the site of the Olmsted County Fair through Sunday. For further information, contact the city of Rochester 1-800-634-8277.

And, just some of the upcoming concerts & performances in the TWIN CITIES vicinity will include: SADE at the Target Center in Minneapolis , Saturday; YES at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, Tuesday; JAMES TAYLOR at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Aug. 11; TAJ MAHAL at the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre, Aug. 12; THE BARENAKED LADIES at the Xcel Energy Center, Aug. 21; RINGO STARR at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Aug. 23; THE VILLAGE PEOPLE at the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre, Aug. 26; HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Aug. 28; CHEAP TRICK at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Aug. 29; STEVIE NICKS at the Target Center, Aug. 31; ALABAMA at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Sept. 1; RIVERDANCE at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Sept. 12-23; THE BACKSTREET BOYS at the Target Center, Sept. 23.

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