Friday, September 23
First chance dance
WHAT: Ragamala Dance Theatre’s “Sacred Earth”
WHERE: Cowles Center for Performing Arts, Minneapolis
WHEN: 8 p.m.
The classical Indian dance troupe Ragamala christens the region’s newest performing arts facility, the Cowles, with this poetic performance backed by a South Indian orchestra and featuring mandala-like rice powder images onstage. thecowlescenter.org
Friday, September 23
That’s amore
WHAT: Festa Italiana
WHERE: Harriet Island, St. Paul
WHEN: Friday, 3 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The area’s first Italian festival serves up classic Italian-American food from Cossetta’s and many more local restaurants along with organ grinders, folk-art demonstrations, traditional wares for sale, and more. Learn more at festaitalianamn.com
Saturday, September 24
Great grapes
WHAT: 2nd Annual Stomp for Mental Health
WHERE: Warehouse Winery, St. Louis Park
WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m.
A gala to benefit the Relate Counseling Center features, for $50 a person, offering food, music, grape stomping, and, of course, wine from one of the region’s newest wineries, based in Wayzata. Learn more at warehousewinery.com
Saturday, September 24
Iron men
WHAT: Fraconia Sculpture Park’s 15th Anniversary
WHERE: Franconia Sculpture Park, Franconia
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The most unique arts experience in the area celebrates 15 years of fostering creativity on this prairie-like spread just west of Taylors Falls. Numerous bands, including the Roe Family Singers and Phantom Tails, will perform, with a bonfire later at night. Learn more at franconia.org
Sunday, September 25
Going medieval
WHAT: Medieval Fair
WHERE: Caponi Art Park, Eagan
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Not to be outdone, the Caponi Art Park, lush with trees and sculpture, is staging a kind of Renaissance Fair lite, with weaponry, juggling, cooking, period crafts, sword fights—everything but the plague. Learn more at caponiartpark.org
Sunday, September 25
Get lost
WHAT: Sever’s Corn Maze and Fall Festival
WHERE: Sever’s Farm, Shakopee
WHEN 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You know it’s fall when Sever’s cuts down the corn to create a bewildering, massive maze, which is at least as much fun for adults as kids, though it’s just one part of the fun here, including music, games, pumpkins, and more. Learn more at severscornmaze.com
