Friday, October 6
Haunting, Duluth Style
What: Duluth Dark History Bus Tours
When: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: DeWitt-Seitz Building, 394 Lake Ave. S., Duluth
Instead of the typical city highlights tour, this bus route shows you the stuff that didn’t make the tourism brochures. Hop on for a storytelling experience of Duluth’s dark history, including murders, riots, and maybe even a haunting or two. As with any good ghost tour, snacks are provided, as well as a beer sample from Blacklist Artisan Ales. Tours continue Thursday and Friday evenings in October, as well as Friday afternoons. Learn more.
Prost!
What: Docktoberfest
When: 4 p.m.–midnight; Saturday, noon–midnight; Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
Where: Excelsior Brewing, 421 3rd St., Excelsior
Come for the beer, stay for the music. This three-day event celebrates German beer, Oktoberfest food, and close-to-home tunes, featuring local bands on two stages, local food vendors offering up brats, strudel, and pretzels, and beer brewed onsite. For those wanting to show off their German spirit, there will also be a liter-holding contest (one guess as to what the prize is) and “hammerschlaggen,” a nail-in-the-log game. Learn more.
Saturday, October 7
Because Everybody Loves Puppets
What: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Family Concert
When: 10 a.m.
Where: Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul
Join the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for this family-oriented concert of childlike whimsy. As the orchestra plays Shubert’s Third Symphony, watch a puppet show that interacts with the music. The puppet show, called Race for the Reef, was created by puppeteer Victor Yerrid, best known for his work with the Muppets and Sesame Street. Learn more.
Don Pasquale, You Got Some Splainin’ To Do
What: Don Pasquale
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul
It’s the first performance of the Minnesota Opera’s take on Don Pasquale—a comic opera here reimagined in the Golden Age of Hollywood, where a stuffy silent-movie star faces the death of his career as Technicolor and talkies take over the entertainment biz. Lucille Ball, Elvis, and John Wayne make appearances, turning Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti’s master work into a unique comedy with punchlines informed by American culture. Learn more.
Sunday, October 8
Bring Your Dog to the…Winery?
What: Wine & Woof
When: noon – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Northern Vineyards Winery, 223 Main St. N., Stillwater
Forget “bring your dog to work” day—how about bringing your dog to the winery? Proceeds from the day’s wine tastings will go to Second Chance Animal Rescue, and the first 150 dogs to show up receive a doggy bag. Don’t let the wine go to your head, though, or you’ll be tempted to take home an adoptable dog from the shelter. (On second thought, maybe do let it go to your head.) Learn more.
Picasso in Your Living Room
What: 24th Annual Print and Drawing Fair
When: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Where: Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis
Whether your living room needs some color or you just enjoy looking at artwork, this print and drawing fair features work for sale by classic artists such as Picasso and Rembrandt, as well as contemporary emerging artists. Saturday and Sunday’s events also include activities (photobooths, screenprinting, and demonstrations) as well as pop-up talks by local artists. Learn more.
