Font ResizeDANCE / INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL
Oct. 31: Kick up your heels and head to Midtown Global Market, which is hosting its first international dance festival. Local groups will perform dances in a variety of styles and from a range of cultures, including Brazilian, Irish, Somalian, Swedish and Latin American. And there will be workshops for people wanting to learn the moves themselves. Noon to 4 p.m.; Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake Street, Minneapolis; free (three hours of parking free with validation); 612-872-4041 or midtownglobalmarket.org.
OPERA / GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
Nov. 1: Skylark Opera presents the musical revue "Gilbert and Sullivan a la Carte." The free all-ages program features Gary Briggle, Vicki Fingalson and Jeffrey Madison performing from such favorites as "The Pirates of Penzance," "The Mikado" and "H.M.S. Pinafore." 2 p.m.; Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth St., St. Paul; free; 651-292-3225 or landmarkcenter.org.
EXHIBIT / DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Oct. 23-Nov. 15: In Mexico, Nov. 1-2 is known as Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Students at the Minneapolis charter school El Colegio brought the traditions surrounding the holiday to Minnesota by creating ofrendas, or altars, for their ancestors, family and friends who have died. The ofrendas will be on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in a temporary exhibit, "Young People's Ofrenda: Expressions of Life and Remembrance," along
EVENT / TEEN FANTASY AND COMICS WEEKEND
Oct. 24-25: Teens are invited to St. Paul's Central Library for a weekend of fantasy and comics. Oct. 24 events include a screening of "Coraline" and workshops on cosplay (short for "costume roleplay"), monster origami and robotics. Oct. 25 events include a screening of the One Piece animation "The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta," along with manga drawing workshops and a panel of comic book artists. Parents are invited, too. 11:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Oct. 24 and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 25; Central Library, 90 W. Fourth St., St. Paul; free; 651- 266-7034 or stpaul.lib.mn.us.
THEATER / I LIKE ME
Through Oct. 25: Stages Theatre is serving up a season of page to stage plays based on well-known children's books. In this production, Louanne the pig trots on stage with her message of self-esteem in an adaptation of Nancy Carlson's picture book "I Like Me." Carlson, who lives in Bloomington, will be on hand after the 1 p.m. performance on Oct. 17 to greet fans and sign her book. Stages Theatre, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins; $5 to $15; 952-979-1111 or stagestheatre.org.
AMUSEMENT RIDES / CAFESJIAN'S CAROUSEL
Through Oct. 31: Mount one of the 68 horses on the antique Cafesjian's Carousel. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and Oct. 15-16 (note: carousel does not operate if temperature is below 45 degrees); Como Park, Midway Parkway and Kaufman Drive, St. Paul; $1.50; ourfaircarousel.org.
HISTORY EXHIBIT / MINNESOTA'S GREATEST GENERATION
Ongoing: The latest 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. 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 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 (except December, when program is on Dec. 18), 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.
