The April Sorensen Memorial Half Marathon will have its eighth race this year.

The race begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday near Country Inn & Suites in Albert Lea and finishes in Hayward.

The 13.1-mile race is in memory of April Sorensen, an Albert Lea High School graduate who was found dead in her Rochester home in 2007 in an apparent homicide. The case is still unsolved.

At 10 a.m., awards will be presented in Hayward at the finish line. Half marathon individual awards are $500 for first-place male and female, $250 for second-place male and female and $100 for third-place male and female.

Relay team awards are $100 for first-place male team, $100 for first-place female team and $100 for first-place coed team.

Sorensen’s father Jon Larson, said Rochester Police Department Investigator Sherry Bush calls his family every year on the anniversary of Sorensen’s death. There is still a full-time investigator working on the case. The investigator follows up on leads whenever she can.

Sorensen enjoyed exercise and being outside. She occasionally ran with Larson and her sister Holly Beenken.

Larson and Sorensen’s husband, Josh, are both the vice presidents of the race committee.

Larson encouraged those who enjoy the same things Sorensen did to come out and run the race.

“It gets everyone together,” he said. ‘It celebrates April.”

If you would like to register, you can pick up the packet from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday or from 6 to 6:45 a.m. Saturday at Country Inn & Suites.

Proceeds of the event benefit the April Sorensen Memorial Foundation, which donates funds toward scholarships for area students and to help maintain the Blazing Star Trail.

 

Friday 

• On a Summer Day gallery exhibit will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Albert Lea Art Center.

• Heart of the Heartland art show will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Freeborn County Arts Initiative.

• The 2015 Art & Garden Tour will be from 4 to 7 p.m. The tour will feature six different gardens and art shows. Cost is $10 and tickets are for sale at the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The gardens featured are the following: Diane and Douglas Hill, 2426 W. Main St.; Marilyn and David Stadheim, 1710 Sunset St.; Colleen and Mal Prinzing, 715 Lakeview Boulevard; Saundra and Jim Finseth, 303 Ridge Road; Linda and Greg Larson, 1406 Lakewood Ave.; and Roxanne and Dennis Brue, 1203 E. Hawthorne St.

For more information about the tour, contact the Albert Lea Art Center at 373-5665.

• The Alden American Legion will have a burger feed from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Legion in Alden. Cost is $5 for a burger or pork burger with all the fixings and chips.

• A Pelican Breeze II pizza cruise will sail at 6 p.m. Ten reservations are needed ahead of time. Cost is $20. Call 507-383-7273 to reserve your spot.

• The American Legion baseball team will play Waterville at 7 p.m. at Hayek Field Park.

 

Saturday 

• On a Summer Day gallery exhibit will be open from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Albert Lea Art Center.

• The artists’ reception for the Heart of the Heartland art show will be from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Freeborn County Arts Initiative.

• The 2015 Art & Garden Tour will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. The tour features six different local gardens and artists. Cost is $10. Tickets are for sale at the CVB.

• The Albert Lea Farmers Market will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the Northbridge Mall parking lot. Homemade breads, baked goods, jams and jellies will be for sale.

• The Assemblies of God Church will host Ruby’s Pantry from 10 a.m. to noon. A $20 cash donation is accepted. No income or residency required. An abundance of food will be there. For more information call 507-373-7689.

• The Albert Lea Girls Hockey Team will hold a car wash from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. at the Shell gas station.

• Hy-Vee will have a demonstration and sampling session with Rachel Breneman from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hy-Vee Gas. Sample and learn how to use fresh herbs. For more information call 507-377-2257.

• Clarks Grove Area Heritage Society will have a grand opening from 2 to 4 p.m. of a new museum in Clarks Grove.

• Read information about Hayward Days on Page 3.

 

Sunday 

• Habitat for Humanity’s 500 bike ride starts in Owatonna. Registration is $250 and each rider must raise a minimum of $1,000 for their Habitat for Humanity affiliate of choice.

• The American Legion has their Sunday breakfast from 8 am. to 12:30 p.m. Pancakes, sausages, diced potatoes, scrambled eggs and juice milk and coffee will be served. Cost is $7.

• The Pelican Breeze II cruise will leave Frank Hall Park at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Reserve your spot by calling 507-383-7273.

 

Movies 

• Friday, Saturday and Sunday: “Inside Out,” “Magic Mike XXL,” “Minions,” “Minions 3D,” “Self/less,” “Terminator Genisys,” “Terminator Genisys 3D” and “The Gallows.”