Blooming Butterflies at Como Zoo

THEATER / THE WIZARD OF OZ

June 26-Aug. 2: The yellow brick road leads to Stages Theatre Company as it opens its production of 'The Wizard of Oz.' The hour-long show is appropriate for all ages. Various times, Wednesday-Sunday; Stages Theatre Company, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins; $5-$15 (free lap passes for kids younger than 2); 952-979-1111 or stagestheatre.org.

HISTORY / JANE & THE DAKOTAH INDIANS

June 28: Every year, a band of Dakotah who lived near Lake Calhoun would camp at the farmstead of pioneer Jane Gibbs on their way north for the wild rice harvest. Now the site of a living history museum, the farmstead is hosting a day focusing on the Dakotah. Sample native foods, make crafts, learn traditional games, visit the bark lodge and tipi and learn about maple sugar and wild rice camps. Noon to 4 p.m.; Gibbs Museum of Pioneer & Dakotah Life, 2097 West Larpenteur Ave., Falcon Heights; $7.50 adults, $6.50 seniors, $4.50 children; 651-646-8629 or rchs.com.

MUSIC / NINE NIGHTS OF MUSIC

June 30: The Nine Nights of Music series kicks off with the spicy sounds of Salsa del Soul. Pack a picnic dinner and spread your blanket on the plaza and lawns of the Minnesota History Center while the nine-piece Afro Caribbean band plays music from Puerto Rico and Cuba. The series continues with local dance bands every Tuesday through August. 6:30

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to 8 p.m. Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; free (free admission to museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m.); 651-259-3000 or www.mnhs.org/9nights.

COMO ZOO / BLOOMING BUTTERFLIES

Through Sept. 7: The butterfly exhibit is back at Como for a second summer. Hundreds of butterflies will flutter in an outdoor screened greenhouse, including a few Minnesota species and up to 100 exotic butterflies and moths from around the world. More than 6,000 chrysalides will be shipped to Como throughout the summer to emerge and flit around a garden showcasing flowering nectar plants. For $1, you can release your own butterfly into the tent. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Como Zoo and Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Drive, St. Paul; free; 651-487-8201 or comozooconservatory.org.

MINNESOTA ZOO / AFRICA!

Through Sept. 7: The Minnesota Zoo is letting African animals — zebras, gemsbok, ostriches, giraffes and wildebeest — loose on six acres along the Northern Trail this summer. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Minnesota Zoo, 12000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley; $14 ages 13 and older, $8 children ages 3 to 12; parking $5; 952-431-9500 or mnzoo.com.

EXHIBIT / WOLVES AT THE BELL MUSEUM

Through Oct. 4: The fate of wolves, recently taken off the federal list of endangered species in Minnesota, is considered in the exhibit 'Wolves and Wild Lands in the 21st Century' opening at the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum of Natural History. The exhibit includes mounted animals, photographs and paintings from the museum collection. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; 10 Church Street S.E., Minneapolis; $5 adults, $3 students, children ages 3-16 and seniors, free for children younger than 3. 612-624-7083 or www.bellmuseum.org.

AMUSEMENT RIDES / COMO TOWN, CAFESJIAN'S CAROUSEL

Through October: Two attractions, Como Town and Cafesjian's Carousel, are open at Como Park, Midway Parkway and Kaufman Drive, St. Paul.

  • Como Town offers outdoor amusement rides, including the new Tornado! that sweeps riders off their feet and lets them control the spin. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, open until 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 75 cents per ticket (rides cost one to four tickets), unlimited ride wristband $16.95; 651-487-2121 or comotown.com.

  • If you favor a slower pace, mount one of the 68 horses on the antique Cafesjian's Carousel. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed most Mondays; $1.50; ourfaircarousel.org..

    HISTORY EXHIBIT / MINNESOTA'S GREATEST GENERATION

    Ongoing: The new exhibit at the Minnesota History Center, "Minnesota's Greatest Generation," 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. Opening weekend activities include swing dance workshops, retro bingo games, cooking demonstrations, films, short dramas, children's activities and more. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 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 age 5 and younger. 651-259-3000 or www.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 www.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. to 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.