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Semi-Annual Poppy Days, May 16-18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., various locations in Woodbury, sponsored by Woodbury American Legion Post 501. Poppies available from Post veterans at Woodbury businesses including Sam’s Club, Walmart, Total Wine, Jerry’s, Hy-Vee (Oakdale). Poppy Days is the primary revenue generator for the Posts. Donations fund support to veterans, provide High School scholarships, American Legion Boys State, Legion Baseball, and Woodbury charities that promote veterans’ care.
Rain Garden Clean-up & Maintenance Workshop, Friday, May 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Menomini Park, 255 Meadow Ln, Woodbury. This clean-up event helps ensure the rain garden continues to thrive—filtering stormwater, supporting pollinators, and beautifying our community. The workshop includes practical guidance on rain garden maintenance, with hands-on instruction in weed identification and management. Long pants & long sleeves, close-toed shoes, work/garden gloves, water bottle recommended. Bring a trowel, spade, or pruner if possible. All are welcome to this free clean-up.
Acoustic Loop Artist Glen Everhart, Friday, May 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., 3rd Act Craft Brewery, Woodbury. Everhart will perform acoustic rock, country, blues, and original music.
Master Gardeners Host Annual Plant Sale, Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Building A, Washington County Fairgrounds, located at Highway 5 and Manning Avenue in Lake Elmo. Hosted by the University of Minnesota Extension Washington County Master Gardener Volunteer program. Home gardeners can buy a wide selection of plants, including varieties featured in ready-made garden exhibits, and get their gardening questions answered at a free Diagnostic Clinic.
Spring Fling at Primrose School of Woodbury, Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 10350 City Walk Drive, Woodbury. This fun-filled, family-focused event brings together local families and community members for a day of games, activities and giving back. Spring Fling is both a celebration and a fundraiser benefiting the Primrose Schools Children’s Foundation supporting children and families in need through education, health and safety-focused nonprofit partnerships and the Woodbury Police K9 Fund that provides vital equipment and resources for K-9 dogs and their handlers. All-Inclusive Ticket Pricing: (Tickets include unlimited access to all activities, lunch, and dessert.) $25 per child (ages 2–12) children 0-2 f.ree, $20 per adult. Event highlights include: Inflatable obstacle course, musical wall made of recycled instruments, plant a Flower in a Primrose Cup gardening station, games, prizes and a silent auction.
Cultural and Historical Significance of Water and Water Stewardship, Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, R.H. Stafford Library, Woodbury. Join artist Julie Boada of the Fond du Lac people and artist/naturalist Sophia Crosby, who together inspire new ways of knowing the history and ecology of our most precious freshwater resource, Lake Superior. Through storytelling and collage, Julie and Judy help participants unlock memories, relationships, and hidden histories that have shaped their personal experiences in and near the Minnesota waters. Open to ages 12 and up. Children under age 12 are also welcome to attend with an adult caregiver. Please register everyone in your group, including children, as space is limited. This program is funded with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Belwin Bison Festival, Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lucy Winton Bell Athletic Fields, 15601 Hudson Rd. N, Lakeland. This annual event features the release of the 2025 Northstar Bison herd onto Belwin’s Bison Prairie for their summer stay of grazing on the prairie. In addition to the release, visitors can also enjoy fun activities for all ages, such as live music, eco-arts, and food trucks. Prior to the release, Belwin will host a 5K “Run with the Bison” Fun Run at 9:00 a.m. so visitors can run through the Prairie before the bison arrive. Cost: sliding scale of $10 – $35 per car (cash or check). Separate advance entrance fee for 5K “Run with the Bison” Fun Run at 9 a.m. No dogs are allowed at this event.
Free Kids Event: The Magic of Science, Saturday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Lakeshore Learning, 1721 Beam Ave., Maplewood. This is an interactive science event for children.
Bonfire, Bike, Bows, and Bait, Saturday, May 17, Carver Lake Park. Spring is here, and it’s time to enjoy the beautiful weather and get outside with your family! Join in for a day of fun and adventure in the park! Whether you’re an archery enthusiast, a biking pro, or a fishing fan, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Recommended ages 4-12.Sessions beginning at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. $20 (only children need to register).
Battle of the Badges, Saturday, May 17, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Park High School, 80th St, Cottage Grove. Local police officers and firefighters will join forces with the Varsity Boys & Girls basketball teams to battle it out on the court for the ultimate title of basketball legends! All funds raised will go towards Basic Needs & SoWashCo Cares programs.
Escape Room, Historic Washington County Courthouse Jail, Saturday, May 17 at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., Stillwater. As the sheriff sleeps, break out of your cell, raid the courthouse for a hefty stash of cash, and vanish into the night across the Mississippi River! The clock is ticking, the stakes are high, and the law is hot on your tail! Admission: $15 per person. Five people per session limit.
The Buttercream Show, Saturday, May 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Quarry, 106 2nd Street E, Hastings. A one queen drag cabaret and fundraiser for Hastings Pride. Entertainment for patrons over 18.
50th Anniversary Gala Event — Valley Chamber Chorale, Saturday, May 17, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lake Elmo Event Center, 3712 Layton Ave. N., Lake Elmo. This is a formal event featuring a performance by the Valley Chamber Chorale. Tickets: $75 per person.
Rivers in a Dry Land, Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1583 Radio Drive, Woodbury. A concert by the Spirit Song Choir. Join Spirit Song Choir, Youth Choir and instrumentalists for their spring concert. Works by Ysaye’ Barnwell, Maurice Durufle’, Kyle Pederson, Laura Farnell, Dan Forrest, Karisha Longacre, and more. This is a free concert, and everyone is welcome! A free-will offering will be taken to support the work of Wild Rivers Conservancy.
Beethoven’s Sixth, the Pastoral Symphony, Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 2499 North Helen Street, North St. Paul. An East Metro Symphony Orchestra production. A follow-up to last season’s final concert Pastoral, which featured the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No.6, this concert will feature the complete five movements of the Pastoral Symphony. The concert will also include performances of Gioachino Rossini’s Overture to L’italianan in Algeri; Alexander Borodin’s In the Steppes of Central Asia; and Giovanni Bottesini’s Concerto 2 for Double Bass and Orchestra with a solo performance by EMSO bassist Travis Bruns. Admission to this concert is free. Donations in support of the orchestra’s work in the community are always appreciated.
2025 Stillwater Historic House Tour, Sunday, May 18, hosted by the Washington County Historical Society in Stillwater. This tour allows attendees to view historic homes in Stillwater.
Frog Walk, Monday, May 19, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., Belwin Conservancy, 1553 Stagecoach Trail, Afton. Enjoy an evening stroll around Belwin’s Bulrush Slough while listening for the spring calls of our native frogs. (Grey Tree Frog, Spring Peers, Green Frogs). After a brief introduction, follow a paved trail to listen and look for signs of spring. The total length of the walk is about one mile, walking at a moderate pace with several stops along the way. This program is appropriate for anyone 8 years and older. Please dress for the weather. Pre-registration required and sliding scale cost of $10 – $25 / person.
Let’s Make Stuff: Beginner Watercolor Embroidery Art, Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to noon, and Tuesday, May 27, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m, R.H. Stafford Public Library, Woodbury. Participants will create their own Watercolor Embroidery Art by learning how to use watercolor on an embroidery project. We will share information on some basic embroidery stitches. Let’s Make Stuff is a creative class for adults. Register online or call your local branch. If you can’t make it, please cancel your registration as soon as possible to give someone on the waiting list the chance to attend the class.
Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed: Squirrels Campfire Nature Program, Saturday, May 24, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park Outdoor Amphitheater. Presented by Dodge Nature Center. Will include a bonfire when conditions allow. Bench seating and grassy areas are available. Visitors are more than welcome to bring camp chairs and blankets for comfort. All campfire programs are free to campers and visitors with a vehicle permit ($7/day or $30/annual). Camping reservations are available, but not required to attend campfire programs.
Memorial Day Observance, Monday, May 26, at 11 a.m., Woodbury Lions Veterans Memorial on the Woodbury City Hall Campus, Service honors those who gave their lives in service to our country. Hosted by Woodbury VFW Post 9024, Woodbury American Legion Post 501, and the Patriotic Heritage Honor Guard. Opening remarks by Mayor Anne Burt followed by Memorial Day address by Major Tyler Kistner, of the U.S. Marine Corps., In addition there will be displays and veteran’s help groups on site. Valley Creek Road will be closed for construction so participants will need to enter from City Centre Drive.
Expanding Black History in St. Paul Beyond Rondo with Frank White and Michael Corey, Thursday, May 29, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 Greeley St. S., Stillwater. White is an author, St. Paul/Rondo historian and elder, exhibit curator, and researcher. Corey is a St. Paul resident and historian. Free.
Woodbury Community Blood Drive Friday, May 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital, Bloodmobile provided by Memorial Blood Centers.
WaterFest, Saturday, May 31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lake Phalen Pavilion, 1676 Phalen Dr. E, St. Paul. Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District holds a free, family festival. Outdoor, hands-on learning about clean water, wildlife, and conservation.
Sofia Talvik Live at Musicians Corner House Concerts, Saturday, May 31, dinner at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., at Joe and Sandy Verbout’s home, 11260 Kingsborough Trail, Cottage Grove, Minn. Sofia Talvik is unmistakably Nordic in flavor, but somehow still conforms to American interpretations of her own original music, a North Sea siren blending sparkle and melancholy. A veteran performer with nine full length albums. RSVP to [email protected] or online.
Reptiles Campfire Nature Program, Saturday, May 31, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Lake Elmo Park Reserve Outdoor Amphitheater. The Remarkable Reptiles presents its program, which will include a bonfire when conditions allow. Bench seating and grassy areas are available. Visitors are more than welcome to bring camp chairs and blankets for comfort. All campfire programs are free to campers and visitors with a vehicle permit ($7/day or $30/annual). Camping reservations are available, but not required to attend campfire programs.
Farmers’ Market, Sunday, June 1, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Red Rock Elementary. Opening day with early season produce, flowers,plants, and artisan products. Held every Sunday until Fall harvest ends.
Woodbury Champions Summer Food Pack at Fellowship Church, Wednesday, June 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 .pm., 707 Commerce Drive, #220, Woodbury. The goal is to assemble 250 summer food/snack packs for children in need. We are accepting donations for this effort, so if you are able, please contribute when registering to attend.
Elvis Has Left the Building, June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14 at 7 p.m. A Zephyr Theatre production. Performed at The Grand Banquet Hall, 301 2nd Street S., Stillwater. Elvis is missing! His wily manager, the Colonel, is “all shook up” because he has racked up a secret debt – and with the King nowhere to be found, the only way to pay it off is to find an Elvis impersonator within 24 hours. Hijinks ensue as the Colonel takes desperate measures to replace a man who is irreplaceable. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Pizza orders can be placed up until 6:45 p.m. Cash bar. Tickets are $35 in advance.
Weekends at the Wetlands, Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, 9 a.m to 2 p.m. Belwin Conservancy, 1553 Stagecoach Trail, Afton. Free family friendly event open to everyone with registration. Discover what thousands of schoolchildren already know! Belwin’s Education Site welcomes thousands of students from Saint Paul and Stillwater Area schools every year. This June, you’re invited to explore this special site during two days of open community hiking. Kick off your visit at the new Peter J. King Family Foundation Wetlands Center, then head out on the trail. Naturalist guided hikes will be available throughout the day starting at 10:00 am, or choose your own adventure as you explore miles of trail through woodlands, wetlands, and prairie. Trails at the Education Site are accessible to hikers of all ages and include a mix of paved, mowed grass, and gravel. This event is free, but RSVP required to help with planning for parking and staffing.
Hasenbank Park Grand Opening, Thursday, June 12 at 4 p.m. 10552 Water Lily Lane. Join the South Washington Watershed District and City of Woodbury in celebrating the brand new Hasenbank Park! Explore the trails, public art, restored Hasenbank Woods, and the park-wide stormwater filtration system that brings it all together. Take a self-guided tour through the park and follow the path of water as it moves through the system. Get to know the story behind the public art offerings, and learn about the restoration efforts in Hasenbank Woods. This is a free community event, open to all members of the public. There is no parking lot at Hasenbank Park, so visitors are encouraged to walk, bike, and carpool.
Moana 2, Starlight Cinema at Ojibway Park, Thursday, June 12, at 7 p.m. The first in a series of outdoor movies shown on a 40-foot inflatable screen. Free. Activities begin at 7 p.m. and lead up to the move at dusk. Face painting, animal encounters, crafts, hula hoop contests, trivia. June 26: Despicable Me 4; July 24: The Wild Robot; August 7: Viewers choice.
The Producers, June 13, 14, 16, 20, and 21 at 7 p.m. and June 22 at 2:00 p.m. An Open Door Community Theatre production. Performances at The Loft Stage at East Ridge High School, 4200 Pioneer Drive. A Tony winning Broadway musical comedy by Mel Brooks, The Producers follow a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer, Max Bialystock, and his timid accountant, Leo Bloom, who scheme to produce a flop in order to swindle investors. They choose the worst musical ever written, Springtime for Hitler, but unexpectedly, the show becomes a massive success. The story is filled with outrageous humor, quirky characters, and catchy songs, culminating in a hilarious and chaotic conclusion. This production is a satirical comedy which contains mature themes, strong language, and adult humor, including references to the Holocaust and offensive stereotypes. Recommended for ages 13+. Advance tickets suggested.