1. Rock ’n’ Roll the Lakes

After a promising first year, Rock ’n’ Roll the Lakes returns to Albert Lea. This year, there will be an additional ride before the official event. On Friday, bicyclists can meet at dusk in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot downtown to participate in a moonlight ride around Fountain Lake.

Otherwise, Saturday’s event will have three routes: 10-, 25- to 30- and 50-mile rides. The kickoff with a ribbon cutting starts at 8 a.m., and riders can start any time between 8 and 10 a.m. Rider support will run through 3 p.m. Registration for the ride, which is a fundraiser for trail development, can be done online. A band will perform until 3 p.m. in Fountain Lake Park to celebrate cyclists finishing their rides.

 

2. ‘State Fair’

Albert Lea Community Theatre is preparing for its annual musical, which opens this week. This year’s selection, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “State Fair,” follows a family headed to the Iowa State Fair in 1946. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and July 17-20 at Marion Ross Performing Arts Center in downtown Albert Lea. There will be a 2 p.m. performance Sunday. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, and can be purchased by calling 1-877-730-3144, at actonbroadway.com or at the center’s box office.

 

3. Farm & City Days

New Richland will host its annual Farm & City Days from Friday through Saturday this year. Festivities include bean bag tournaments, an outdoor movie, a parade, street dance and the New Richland Fire Department Water Wars, among other events. Find a detailed schedule at albertleatribune.com or in the July 5 Tribune.

 

4. Hayward Days

After a one-year hiatus, Hayward will host a city-wide celebration this year on Saturday. City-wide rummage sales, an ice cream social and a dueling pianos fundraiser are just a few of the events planned in conjunction with the festival. For more information, look to albertleatribune.com or Wednesday’s Tribune.

 

5. July Jubilee

Lake Mills’ annual celebration — which will also celebrate the town’s sesquicentennial this year — will run Thursday through Sunday. July Jubilee events include a bridal show, 5k, fireworks and street dances, to name a few. A more in-depth schedule can be found at albertleatribune.com or on Page 3 of today’s Tribune.