On Friday, the United Methodist Church of Albert Lea, 702 Highway 69 S., will host screenwriter and humorist Jonathan Richard Cring, and musician and conductor, Janet Clazzy, for a performance at 7 p.m. It will be an evening of music and monologue, including readings from Cring’s book, “Digging for Gold,” with original musical tunes performed by Clazzy on the oboe and a WX-5 wind machine, and insights on the growing market for movies and art with purpose and spirit.

Cring is the author of 11 books, including “I’m … The Legend of the Son of Man,” “20 Other Reasons to Kiss a Frog” and “Jesonian.” “Digging for Gold” is a winner of a Billboard Music Award and recent recipient of the Best Screenplay Award at the Top Ten Films in America Festival.

“Forty-nine minutes is all we have to bring you music, humor, dialogue and some fresh insights about bringing creativity into our practical lives,” Cring, of Hendersonville, Tenn., said. “The presentation is a delicate and delicious blending of spirit and humor that produces the wonderful by-product of good cheer.”

Clazzy has played oboe in orchestras for 30 years from coast to coast, including San Jose, Chicago, Shreveport and Houston. “I have this fabulous instrument called the WX-5 wind machine, which gives me 250 sounds,” she said. “When you add some of the beautiful music and inspiring melodies, it just lends itself to an occasion to enrich the heart and exalt the spirit.”

Also this weekend are Hayward Days (including the April Sorensen Memorial Half Marathon at 8 a.m. Saturday), Lake Mills July Jubilee (the schedule appeared Wednesday) and New Richland Farm & City Days (events are listed to the left).

Hayward Days includes: A softball tournament starting Friday night at City Park, resuming at 8 a.m. Saturday and then again Sunday morning. Citywide garage sales begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Coffee and rolls will be offered at a bake sale that goes from 8 a.m. to around 11 a.m. at the Hayward Lutheran Church Saturday.

Around 10 a.m., the church will open a lunch stand outside and one inside until around 1 p.m. Saturday. There will be another food booth open on the street near town hall.

The Hayward Fire Department puts on a mud bog that begins in a field west of the old school with registration at 11 a.m. and a noon start time. Julio’s Bar is the main event site for Saturday evening. A band will play there before the street dance begins around 8 p.m. The Hayward Booster Club will have a food stand on the corner of Front Street and Main Street near Julio’s serving pork patties, brats, potato salad and beverages starting around 5 p.m. The Hayward 4-H will also have a food stand.

The Hayward Lutheran Church will be the focal point of  Sunday’s events. Aside from the continuation of the softball tournament, there will be 9 a.m. coffee hour, and then a worship service on the west lawn of the church at 10 a.m. featuring The Happiness Emporium, a gospel quartet. If it rains, the service will be held in the church.

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

Friday, July 10

 The Pelican Breeze will hold a pizza cruise from 6 to 7:30 pm. Reservations are needed by 4 p.m.; call 383-2630.

 The Bonnie Wedge, Heidi Thompson and Sara Aeikens exhibits will be open at the Albert Lea Art Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 11

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

 The Bonnie Wedge, Heidi Thompson and Sara Aeikens exhibits will be open at the Albert Lea Art Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 The Pelican Breeze will hold a public cruise from 4 to 5:30 p.m. No reservations are needed.

Sunday, July 12

 The Pelican Breeze will hold a public cruise from 1:30 to 3 p.m. No reservations are needed.

 The Full House Band of Glenville will present a free concert at the Edgewater Park band shell at 1:30 p.m. The band plays country music, old-time waltzes and polkas and a variety of other pop music. The band includes Kevin Walton, Terri Jo Walton, Renae Herr and Jim Berg. The Albert Lea American Federation of Musicians Local 567 has each year since 1952 provided free summer programs of live music at Edgewater Park, as well as additional programs in some years at Fountain Lake Park.