Weekend Planner

If you’re looking for a laugh Friday evening you can find one at Albert Lea’s American Legion where Scott Hansen and The Stagebenders will host an April Fools comedy benefit for the Freeborn County Red Cross.

The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $20. Hansen is a five-time winner of the Minnesota Comedian of the Year award. A portion of the ticket sales will go to the Red Cross.

Also don’t miss the second annual “A Taste of Heritage” event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Northbridge Mall. There will be free entertainment, food samples, displays of heritage and children’s activities to celebrate Albert Lea’s diverse heritage.

Entertainment at “A Taste of Heritage” will include the Ellis Middle School mariachi ensemble, Jack Hockenberry and his band, St. Theodore’s Aztec Dancers, the Halverson Elementary School Early Morning Singers, Grapevine Twist square dancers and Vivianna Pintado.

Friday

• Enjoy student art at the Elementary/Secondary Art Show, on exhibit at the Albert Lea Art Center through April 2. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

• From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a bake sale at Nelson’s Market Place in Albert Lea. All proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross in support of Japanese earthquake victims.

• Join the Myrtle Fire Department for a fundraiser for equipment at the American Legion in Glenville. The cost is $12 with all proceeds going toward updating equipment for the fire department. The event goes from 5 to 8 p.m. The menu includes barbeque chicken and ribs served with salad, beans and bread.

• An April Fools comedy benefit is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the American Legion in Albert Lea. Tickets are $20.

• See “The Ransom of Miss Elverna Dower” presented at Southwest Middle School in the little theater at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults or $4 for seniors and students.

Saturday

• Enjoy student art at the Elementary/Secondary Art Show, on exhibit at the Albert Lea Art Center through April 2. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

• Learn more about autism at the Autism Awareness Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northbridge Mall. The event is free. Learn more about the autism spectrum disorders, where to find support and what services are available in the school district and community. A parent and professional panel discussion will begin at 11:30 a.m. The movie “Temple Grandin” will play at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

• “A Taste of Heritage” event comes to Northbridge Mall from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free and will celebrate Albert Lea’s diverse heritage.

• Come enjoy fellowship at the What Not To Wear event. The event highlights what feelings not to wear like having a bad temper, irritability or meanness and how in Christ you can be dressed in a new wardrobe of love. Dessert and coffee will be served, and the cost is $5. The event is at Albert Lea’s First Presbyterian Church from 2 to 4 p.m.

Sunday

• The Alden Lions will host a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the school in Alden. Donations will go to improving the Morin Lake recreation area. Menu will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, juice, milk and coffee.