Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Friday is Halloween, and with that come plenty of related activities.

Northbridge Mall will host Mall-0-Week. There will be trick-or-treating for the kids from 5 to 7 p.m. and photos from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Albert Lea Thunder faces Owatonna at 7 p.m. at the Albert Lea City Arena. There will be a candy scramble on the ice for kids between the first and second periods. People are urged to come in costume and enjoy the game.

The Albert Lea Police and Fire Explorers will have their haunted house open at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds from 6 to 9 p.m. Cost is $6 per person. There is a $1 discount for those bringing a canned food item.

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

Friday, Oct. 31

– The Angela Burch and Ryan Heath art exhibit will be open at the Albert Lea Art Center from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help defray Art Center expenses.

– The North Star Corn Maze, one miles north and one mile west of Northwood, Iowa, will be open from noon to midnight. Admission is $5 per person; children under 5 will be admitted free.

– The Prairie River Camp Corn Maze, located three miles south of Interstate 90 on Highway 253, will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $5 for those 12 years and older and $3 for ages 5 to 11. There is a family rate of $18.

– Youth for Christ Mini Golf will be open at Northbridge Mall from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $5 per person.

Saturday, Nov. 1

– Ascension Lutheran Church, 1101 Highway 69 S., will hold its time and talent bazaar. Morning coffee will be served from 8 to 10:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Crafts and lefse will also be sold.

– The Albert Lea Farmers Market will be open in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon.

– The North Star Corn Maze will be open from noon to midnight.

– Youth for Christ Mini Golf will be open at Northbridge Mall from noon to 5 p.m. Cost is $5 per person.

– The Albert Lea Art Center will host the kickoff to its 50th anniversary celebration from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Northbridge Mall. Jeshua Erickson will sing his original tribute to Albert Lea at 12:30 p.m. Peter Bloedel will perform at 12:45 p.m. The area artists featured in the 2009 commemorative calendar will be introduced at 1:30 p.m. There will be Dixieland jazz music from 2 to 4 p.m. In addition, area individuals and organizations will be showcasing their art and creative activities for the children will be featured. Admission is free.

– The Prairie River Camp Corn Maze will be open from 2 to 9 p.m.

– The Austin Area Solos and Singles will hold a dance from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the New Richland American Legion Club. Big Ben and Brian will provide music. Cost is $7 and $8 for non-members.

Sunday, Nov. 2

– The North Star Corn Maze will be open from noon to 10 p.m.

– The Prairie River Camp Corn Maze will be open from 2 to 8 p.m.

– Soprano Rebecca Skaar, a 1998 graduate af Albert Lea High School, and her husband, Benjamin Hilgert, a tenor, will present a concert at 3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 702 Highway 69 S., Albert Lea. They will be accompanied by Eileen Ness on the piano. They will be singing arias and duets from operas, as well as musical theater. The couple lives in Kansas City, Mo., where they are pusuing their artist certificates in opera performance. There will be no admission charge for the recital but an offering will be taken. Refreshments will be served following the recital.