Cathedral of St. Paul open house

PUPPET SHOW / PUNCH AND JUDY FOR KIDS

March 6: Fifth of November Puppeteers presents a twist on the traditional English slapstick comedy "Punch and Judy" as part of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre's Saturday puppet series for kids, which continues through the end of this month. 10 a.m. and noon shows, 11 a.m. puppet making workshops ($4); In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, 1500 E. Lake St., Mpls; $4 donation ($2 for neighborhood residents); 612-721-2535 or hobt.org.

OPEN HOUSE/ CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL

March 7: The Cathedral of St. Paul's third annual open house aims to build appreciation for the local treasure with an afternoon of art, music and history. Explore the interior, listen to costumed history actors and hear pipe organ demonstrations in the choir loft. Lego builder Roy Cook will also be on hand to answer questions about his 5-foot model of the Cathedral built out of Lego bricks. And children are invited to make their own clay Michelangelo sculptures and oxidize copper in an experiment that mimics the aging of the church's copper dome. 1:30-4:30 p.m.; Cathedral of Saint Paul, 239 Selby Avenue, St. Paul; free; 651-228-1766 or cathedralsaintpaul.org.

EVENT / THE P.T. BARNUM ANNIVERSARY

Through March

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13: Known as a master of self-promotion, P.T. Barnum was also the founder of what became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. To mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the man with "the greatest show on earth," the St. Paul Library is offering a one-man show at a library near you. Character actor Jake Esau will portray Barnum and talk about the Fiji Mermaid and other 19th century hoaxes and hypes. Check Web site for locations and times; free; sppl.org.

NATURE / WINTER FLOWER SHOW

Through March 21: Breathe in the humidity and soak up the vibrant color at the winter flower show in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory's formal sunken garden. The display features hundreds of freesia, camellia, foxglove, cyclamen, lily and azalea. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Como Zoo and Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Drive, St. Paul; Free; comozooconservatory.org or 651-487-8201.

EXHIBIT / DINOSAURS: LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

Through May: Staff at the Minnesota Children's Museum used up-to-date research to design an interactive exhibit where kids can explore two distinct climates — the land of fire and the land of ice. Kids can walk through a bog, meet the animatronic T-Rex, climb icy steps and pretend to be a paleontologist by uncovering fossils with brushes. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Minnesota Children's Museum, 10 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; $7.95; 651-225-6000 or mcm.org.

HISTORY EXHIBIT / MINNESOTA'S GREATEST GENERATION

Ongoing: The Minnesota History Center exhibit uses recorded interviews, photographs, film footage and hundreds of artifacts to document the experiences of an entire generation, from childhood in the 1920s through World War II and into the present. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday; Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $10 adults, $8 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17, free for children ages 5 and younger. 651-259-3000 or mnhs.org.

FILM / FREE FAMILY FLICKS

Ongoing: The Theatres at Mall of America shows free family flicks every Saturday at 10 a.m. Arrive early to get a seat. See theatresmoa.com to find out what's showing.

NATURE / BIRDING

Ongoing: See songbirds up close and watch experts band birds as part of an ongoing effort to help scientists learn more about bird migrations and habits. All ages welcome. Carpenter Nature Center has been capturing, banding and releasing birds for 26 years. 9 a.m.-noon every fourth Friday of the month, Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail, Hastings; free; please call ahead to let them know you're coming; 651-437-4359 or CarpenterNatureCenter.org.