WEEKEND PLANNER

Join Marshall Street Music for a grand opening celebration. On Friday guitarist Billy McLaughlin will perform at the Lighthouse Event Center in Albert Lea. He will also be holding a guitar workshop on Saturday morning.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For the workshop and concert tickets are $25 if purchased in advance. To attend just the workshop tickets are $15. Tickets are available at Marshall Street Music, Hy-Vee and Stadheim Jewelers in Albert Lea and Coffee House on Main in Austin.

Friday’s concert starts at 7:30 p.m. where McLaughlin will perform his own compositions in his unique style. The Saturday workshop starts at 10 a.m. at Marshall Street Music.

Friday

• Enjoy the 15th annual spring Bluegrass music festival at the Knights Inn in Albert Lea. Performers include Copper Creek, Timbre Junction, The Bluegrass Blondies, String Fever and more. All shows will be held in the Heritage Hall Ballroom. Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 for Friday’s shows. Tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday combined are $25. Children under 12 are half price. For more information contact the Knights Inn at 369-5210.

• Billy McLaughlin performs at the Lighthouse Event Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For the Saturday guitar workshop and concert, tickets are $25 if purchased in advance. To attend just the workshop tickets are $15.

• Enjoy a fast-paced comedy, “Leading Ladies,” at Albert Lea High School. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults and can be purchased at the door.

• The Austin Singles Club will hold a dance at Albert Lea’s American Legion from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Saturday

• Join in the sewing fun at the Community Sew Day at 9 a.m. at the Senior Center in Albert Lea.

• Help raise funds for Southwest Middle School at the Tiger Trot. Start time is 9 a.m. at Brookside Education Center. If you’re not already registered, registration is from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. for $20. Eighth-graders and younger are $5. The 5-kilometer walk or run is for students and community members. The Tiger Trot is in conjunction with the Fountain Lake 5, which is sponsored by the Albert Lea Family Y. The Fountain Lake 5 also starts at 9 a.m. and is a 5-mile run or walk. The half-mile fun run starts at 10 a.m., and at 10:15 a.m. there’s a Toddler Trot.

• Head over to the Northbridge Mall for a Family Fun Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Meet Albert Lea psychologist David Larson at a book signing for his book “Stepping Stones to Success: Experts Share Strategies for Mastering Business, Life & Relationships.” The signing will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Book World in the Northbridge Mall.

• Enjoy the 15th annual spring Bluegrass music festival at the Knights Inn in Albert Lea. Performers include Copper Creek, Timbre Junction, The Bluegrass Blondies, String Fever and more. All shows will be held in the Heritage Hall Ballroom. Concerts are at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the whole day are $15, tickets for Saturday night are $12. Tickets for the weekend are $25.

• Enjoy a fast-paced comedy, “Leading Ladies,” at Albert Lea High School. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults and can be purchased at the door.

Sunday

• The Conger volunteer fire department will hold a pancake breakfast at the Conger Community Center from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The menu includes eggs, pancakes, French toast, little smokies, milk and juice and is all you can eat. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 6 to 12.

• Help support the Albert Lea Grizzlies team at a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Albert Lea Eagles Club. Tickets are $6.

• The Area Community Choir will perform at 2 p.m. at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Wells. Donations will be accepted.

• Enjoy the 15th annual spring Bluegrass music festival at the Knights Inn in Albert Lea. Performers include Copper Creek, The Bluegrass Blondies, String Fever and more. All shows will be held in the Heritage Hall Ballroom. The Sunday gospel show will be at 10 a.m., and tickets are $6.