The first &uot;Giving Your Best&uot; Family Fair will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Northbridge Mall. The fair is designed to create awareness and raise funds for the United Way of Freeborn County. There will be hands-on booths, live entertainment and a climbing wall. Admission is free.

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

Friday, Oct. 10

-The North Star Corn Maze near Northwood, Iowa, is open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Concessions, a gift shop and toilets are available on the grounds. To get to the corn maze, travel south on Highway 65 and watch for the signs.

-Grace Lutheran Church Women and Thrivent Financial Services, Albert Lea Chapter 31179, will sponsor the 25th annual salad luncheon at Grace Lutheran Church, 918 Garfield Ave., Albert Lea. Serving will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featured will be hot barbecued sandwiches and many salads. Cost is $5.

-The Albert Lea Art Center, 224 S. Broadway Ave., features a quilt show. Gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Admission is $1.

-The Pumpkin Patch of Albert Lea is open from 1-6 p.m. The patch features pumpkin games and displays, pumpkin house, farm animals and spook house. To get to the patch, go two miles west of Wal-Mart on County Road 46. Turn left on County Road 71. Go 1/2 mile south, and watch for signs on the right.

Saturday, Oct. 11

– 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 Albert Lea Art Center, 224 S. Broadway Ave., features a quilt show. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is $1.

-The North Star Corn Maze near Northwood, Iowa, is open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Concessions, a gift shop and toilets are available on the grounds. To get to the corn maze, travel south on Highway 65 and watch for the signs.

-The sixth annual Ducks Unlimited Freeborn County Ladies’ Chapter Harvest Moon Luncheon will be held at the Albert Lea American Legion, 142 N. Broadway Ave. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and lunch will be served at 11:30. Proceeds from the luncheon will help support wetlands projects. Tickets for the luncheon are $35, and can be purchased in advance at Ben’s Floral and Frame Design and Andersen Hallmark stores. They are also available at the door. All women are welcome.

-The Pumpkin Patch of Albert Lea is open from noon-6 p.m.

-The Austin Singles & Solos will hold a dance from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at the New Richland Legion. The Buck Hollow Band will play.

Sunday, Oct. 12

-The Emmons Commercial Club and the Freeborn County Chapter of Thrivent for Lutherans will hold a pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, juice, milk and coffee. A freewill donation will be received. Proceeds will go to the Emmons Community Library.

– The North Star Corn Maze near Northwood, Iowa, is open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Concessions, a gift shop and toilets are available on the grounds. To get to the corn maze, travel south on Highway 65 and watch for the signs.

– St. John’s Auxiliary will hold its annual soup and sandwich luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Home Chapel. A free-will donation will be received. Some proceeds will be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

-The Pumpkin Patch of Albert Lea is open from noon-6 p.m.

(Contact Geri McShane at lifestyles @albertleatribune.com or 379-3436.)