The Northbridge Mall parking lot takes on a life of its own this weekend, as the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Jam comes to town.

Registration is Friday night, and the action begins at 8 a.m. Saturday and runs through Sunday evening, with divisions for every age and ability.

Age divisions are from 10 and up, with separate divisions for male and female, and abilities range from novice to very skilled. The Top Men’s court usually includes current or former college players and is extremely competitive.

There’s also a weekend-long free throw contest, a three-point shooting contest and the always-popular slam dunk competition.

The Albert Lea Family Y is again hosting the Mini-Macker in conjunction with the Gus Macker. It’s for 7, 8 and 9-year-olds. There will also be a court set up for kids even younger than that to shoot baskets.

Following is a roundup of other events happening in the area this weekend.

Friday, June 20

-The works of Jaclyn Garlock of Clear Lake, Iowa, are being exhibited at the Albert Lea Art Center, 224 S. Broadway Ave. Gallery hours are from noon-4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help defray art center expenses.

-Kiester Days events get started with cow chip bingo at 5 p.m., as well as the Lions’ steak fry from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Kiester Legion. From 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., a street dance will take place at Forever Bermas.

-The Pelican Breeze holds its regular Friday night pizza cruise beginning at 6 p.m. Reservations are required before 4 p.m. Friday. Call 383-2630.

-The Austin Singles and Solos will hold a dance at the Albert Lea Moose Club from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. The Roy Sands Band will play. Alumni are welcome.

Saturday, June 21

-Freeborn Days will be celebrated beginning with a free pancake breakfast sponsored by the Business Boosters at the Freeborn Legion from 7-10 a.m. The auxiliary will host a bake sale. Citywide garage sales begin at 8 a.m. There will be a golf tournament beginning at 10 a.m. at Oakview Golf Course. The Freeborn 4-H Club will host a food stand beginning at 11:30 a.m. There will be an antique tractor show, kids’ games from 2-4 p.m. ($3 wristband required) and a children’s scavenger hunt from 4-6 p.m. The Freeborn Fire and Ambulance Squad will hold a pork chop feed at city hall from 5-8 p.m. Dunnell Lenort will entertain from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Al Batt will entertain beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a sanctioned pedal tractor pull for ages 4-11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

-The Albert Lea Farmers’ Market is open in the parking lot at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Water Street from 9 a.m.-noon.

-The works of Jaclyn Garlock are being exhibited at the Albert Lea Art Center, 224 S. Broadway Ave. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is free.

-The second annual U.S. Marine Corps toy run gets under way. Signup is at Hy-Vee from 10-11:30 a.m. The ride leaves at noon. Your ticket to ride is a toy to be donated to needy kids. All bikes are welcome. There will be a poker run, prize drawings and food at the Moose Lodge in Albert Lea.

-Kiester Days events include a car show that lasts from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Other events are: a fun run for all ages at 9 a.m. at the city park; the toddler trot at 9:30 a.m. at the city park; a craft show that begins at 9 a.m. at the park; a softball tournament at 9 a.m. at the Kiester athletic field; food and kids’ games starting at 10 a.m. at the park and bingo from 10 a.m.-noon at the Legion. The Penny family performance starts at 2 p.m at the Kee Theater. The family has made their concert an annual tradition to raise money for muscular dystrophy research. A kiddie parade starts a 4 p.m., followed by the adult version at 4:30 and the Kiester Legion cookout at 7 p.m. The second street dance of the festival then gets under way at 9 p.m. and goes until midnight.

-The Pelican Breeze will hold a cruise with special guest, humorist Al Batt, at 2 p.m. For more information, call 383-2630. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

-The Pelican Breeze will hold a family fishing fun event at 4 p.m. Worms will be provided, but people should bring their own equipment. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, call 383-2630.

Sunday, June 22

-Kiester Days events continue with a community church service in the park at 9 a.m. The Kee Women will also hold their Belgian waffle breakfast at Kiester Middle School from 8-11:30 a.m. All through the festival, a handmade replica of Kiester Village of 1960, created by LeRoy and Joyce Larson, will be on display, sponsored by the Courier-Sentinel. It will be available for viewing in the Kiester Retail Center.

-The Blue Banners Orchestra of Albert Lea will present the weekly free program of music in the park in the Edgewater Park bandshell at 1:30 p.m. The Blue Banners play old-time waltzes and polkas as well as country music. The band is composed of Don Johnson, Gene Salisbury, Ralph Wangen, Bob Miller, Lyndon Johnson, Ben Stuart and Lowell Thompson.

-The Pelican Breeze holds a public cruise at 2 p.m.

-Albert Lea Audubon Society and friends are going for a &uot;walk on the wild side&uot; at Roger and Nadine Olson’s near Glenville. The group will drive or walk along the Shell Rock River and enjoy the birds and wild flowers along the natural spring lake. Those interested in going should meet in the parking lot behind ShopKo at 2 p.m. Bring a picnic lunch for your family. All friends of Audubon are welcome.