The North Central Regional Aerobatic Contest takes to the skies over Albert Lea this weekend.

People can see precision flying all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Albert Lea Airport. Admission is free, and parking, which is also free, is available at the airport.

According to Jim Hanson, airport manager, between 30 and 60 airplanes are expected for the event. &uot;To compete at the national level, pilots need to compete in a certain number of regional contests. Some of the others were weathered out.&uot;

Most of those competing are airline pilots or professionals. &uot;They stay at about 800 feet,&uot; he said. &uot;Some of them, at the expert level, fly at about 200 feet.&uot;

Following is a list of other area events scheduled for this weekend:

Friday, Sept. 6

– The North Star of Iowa Corn Maze and Secret Garden will be open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission is $5, with children 5 and under admitted free. To get to the maze from Albert Lea, go south on Highway 65. Just north of Northwood, turn west on 490th Street, then go west on the blacktop for a sixteenth of a mile.

– The Pelican Breeze will hold a Friday night pizza cruise at 6 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (507) 383-2630.

– Harmony Park Music Garden near Geneva hosts the JamGrass Festival Tour 2002 from 6-10 p.m. Featured performers are the John Cowan Band, David Grisman Quintet, Yonder Mountain String Band and Sam Bush Band. Tickets are on sale at: Ticketmaster by phone at (651) 989-5151. Cost is $25 per concert ticket and $10 for camping.

Saturday, Sept. 7

– There will be a benefit for Tom Zuehl of the Hollandale city water, sewer and street department from 8-10 a.m. at the Hollandale Fire Station. Pancakes, sausage and coffee will be served, and a freewill offering will be received.

– The Albert Lea Farmers’ Market will be held in the parking lot at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Water Street beginning at 9 a.m.

– The 19th annual Farming of Yesteryear celebration will be held near Kiester. Gates open at 9 a.m. Bingo will be played from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. A parade is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Dunnell Lenort will perform at 2 p.m. Stub Highway 253 will perform at 3:30 p.m. A free soup supper will be served at 5 p.m., and Roger Passer will perform at 5:30 p.m.

– It’s Kids’ Day at the North Star of Iowa Corn Maze and Secret Garden from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission is $5, with children 5 and under admitted free. To get to the maze from Albert Lea, go south on Highway 65. Just north of Northwood, turn west on 490th Street, then go west on the blacktop for a sixteenth of a mile.

– Harmony Park Music Garden near Geneva hosts Harvest Festival 2002, a two-day event. Music begins at about noon and runs until about 1 a.m. Performing will be the Big Wu, Garaj Mahal and the Almighty Senators. Tickets are $75 for Saturday and Sunday and include camping for two nights. They are available by calling Ticketmaster at (651) 989-5151.

– The Pelican Breeze will hold a public cruise at 2 p.m.

– The Pelican Breeze offers Father/Son/Grandfather Fishing off the Breeze beginning at 3:30 p.m. Cost is $10. Reservations are required. Call (507) 383-2630.

Sunday, Sept. 8

– The 19th annual Farming of Yesteryear festival continues near Kiester. Gates open at 6:30 a.m. and an ecumenical church service starts at 7 a.m. Breakfast will be served from 8-10 a.m. A kids’ pedal pull starts at noon, a parade at 1:30 p.m., and Goskeson & Co. will perform at 2:30 p.m.

– It’s Grandparents’ Day at the North Star of Iowa Corn Maze and Secret Garden from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission is $5, with children 5 and under admitted free. To get to the maze from Albert Lea, go south on Highway 65. Just north of Northwood, turn west on 490th Street, then go west on the blacktop for a sixteenth of a mile.

– The Pelican Breeze will hold a public cruise at 2 p.m.

– Harmony Park Music Garden near Geneva hosts Harvest Festival 2002, a two-day event. Music begins at about 3:30 p.m. and country singer Willie Nelson will perform about 8 p.m. Tickets are $75 for Saturday and Sunday and include camping for two nights. Tickets for Sunday’s Willie Nelson concert are $40 and include camping for one night. They are available by calling Ticketmaster at (651) 989-5151.