East Harriet Rose Fest

This festival, held each year at the Lyndale Farmstead Park, has less to do with competitive rose and flower shows (as the name might imply), and more to do with fun, family activities in a low-key environment (take that, Chuck E. Cheese). Featured activities include those inflatable bouncy room contraptions that kids love and adults are too big to enjoy, pony rides, a dunk tank (last year's tank featured dunk-able MPR personalities), grilled food, and a live music stage featuring local performers. Those looking for a bit of history can take a tour through the Theodore Wirth house, which is fast approaching its 100-year anniversary (the house was built in 1910). Other tours include a self-guided tour of the small community garden in the area, and the Rose Garden, the second-oldest garden of its kind in the United States. The free, public rose garden still impresses after over 100 years by housing over 3,000 plants, and should be reaching peak blooming periods over the next couple of months. Call 612.824.9350 or go to www.eastharriet.org for more information.
Sat., July 19, 12-8 p.m., 2008