“Parlay. I invoke the right of parlay. According to the Code of the Brethren, set down by the pirates Morgan and Bartholomew, you have to take me to your Captain.” — Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightly, in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.”

Pirates will take over the Pelican Breeze II this weekend. Twice.

In fact, Capt. Jack Sparrow himself will be on board first for a children’s cruise for pirates and princesses. It sails from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Reservations are required and need to be made by 4 p.m. on the Friday before the cruise. For reservations, call 383-2630. The cost is $8 for each child and $12 for any scurvy adults who wish to chaperone their kids.

Arrgh! Then Sparrow will sail again from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday for a dinner cruise. Tickets for this adventure are $25. Reservations are required and need to be made by 4 p.m. on the Friday before the cruise. For reservations, call 383-2630.

Other events going on this weekend are Morin Lake Days in Alden and Kiester Days in Kiester. You can read about those events on Page 2.

Friday

– The Albert Lea Noon Kiwanis Club will wash cars from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nelson’s Shell gas station at the corner of Bridge Avenue and Fountain Street in Albert Lea.

– U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development will present Conger with a check for the city’s wastewater treatment system at 11:30 a.m. at the Conger Community Center. The public is invited.

– The Minnesota Walking Horse Association presents the Southern Minnesota Classic. Horse will grace the Freeborn County Fairgrounds for three days. The show begins at 2 p.m. Friday and continues through Sunday. The official Web site is at www.mnclassic.s-dstables.com. The horse show features a variety of gaited horses including Tennessee walking horses, Rocky Mountain horses and Kentucky mountain horses. Stalls reserved for several quarter horses, Paso Fino horses, ponies and a Morgan. There will be more than 100 horses. The Sunset Saddle Club will have its concession stand open. The Southern Minnesota Classic is open to the general public.

– Have you ever wondered what goes on at the Elks Lodge? In Albert Lea, it’s not a huge secret because, after all, this city has the largest members of any Elks Lodge in Minnesota and one of the largest in the country. But there are people in Albert Lea who don’t know and might be interested in learning about the distinguished history of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

– From 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, people can meet Exalted Ruler Scott Golbuff, sign up for door prizes and stay for dinner. Whether you are interesting in joining or planning an event, it is an opportunity to see what the Elks have to offer and to tour the lodge. For more information, call 373-7937.

– The Pelican Breeze II sets sail at 6 p.m. for its Friday Night Pizza Cruise. Reservations must be made by 4 p.m. Call 383-2630.

– The band Flashback will play at a dance at 8 p.m. at the Eagles Club.

Saturday

– The Albert Lea Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at the parking lot north of the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

– The Albert Lea Noon Kiwanis Club will wash cars from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nelson’s Shell gas station at the corner of Bridge Avenue and Fountain Street in Albert Lea.

– The “Cooking for Competition Beginner’s Class” will be taught by Ron Meyer, owner of Piggy Blues BBQ, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Northbridge Mall, which is one of the sponsors. People can learn the techniques of cooking on a grill, smoker or pellet grill while using different sauces and rubs. The class uses hands-on teaching using your own equipment and involves all four meat categories. Bring an appetite if you sign up. The cost is $150 per person. Proceeds benefit the Big Island Rendezvous Education Days. To register for the cooking class, call 373-3938 or 402-6371 and ask for Perry Vining.

Senior fishing for St. John’s Lutheran Home takes place from 10 a.m. to noon at Edgewater Park.

The Pelican Breeze II will host a narrated cruise at 4 p.m.

The Freeborn County Historical Museum and Historical Village will hold a swiss steak fundraiser from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The price is $7.50, with children 10 and younger $4.

The band Full House will play at a dance at 8 p.m. at the Eagles Club.

Minnesota Walking Horse Association’s Southern Minnesota Classic at the county fairgrounds start at 8 a.m. and goes all day, but on Saturday night — no specific time but close to 6 p.m. — there will be speed and gaming events with open classes for any breed in the Albert Lea area to participate. They can just show up beforehand.

Sunday

– The American Legion Post 56 will offer a breakfast from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The menu will feature pancakes, eggs, sausage, potatoes, fruit juice and coffee. Adults and teens are $6 per plate and children under 10 are $3. Call 373-7993 for more.

– The Angie Lenort Pancake Breakfast Benefit takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the new Moose Lodge in Skyline Mall in Albert Lea. Angie Lenort is the wife of Dunnell Lenort of Twin Lakes. Advanced tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the Moose Lodge or at Antiques of the Midwest, 218 S. Washington Ave. Tickets at the door are $5. There will be a silent auction, bake sale and music by Dennell Lenort and the Southern Streamline Band.

– The Minnesota Walking Horse Association’s Southern Minnesota Classic at the county fairgrounds start at 9 a.m. and goes until about 1 p.m.

– The Backyard BBQ Contest takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Northbridge Mall. People who were in the “Cooking for Competition Beginner’s Class” will get to practice what they learned. There will prizes for the best cooks.

– A special brunch will be held on the Pelican Breeze II. The boat sets sail at 11 a.m., but reservations are needed by 4 p.m. Saturday. Call 383-2630.

– The Pelican Breeze II will host a narrated cruise at 1:30 p.m.

– Full House will perform at the bandshell at Edgewater Park as part of the city’s Music in the Park series. The performance runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

– The “Guitar Hero” contest continues from noon to 3 p.m. at Northbridge Mall. The competition runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with the finals on July 1.

– Classic Reflections Salon & Spa will hold its third annual Locks of Love Inch-A-Thon from noon to 5 p.m. People can donate their hair to needy children.

Locks of Love is a national nonprofit organization that makes hairpieces for children who have lost their hair because of medical conditions. Every donor gets a free gift. Donors must give 10 inches or more and show up with clean and dry hair.