The city of Wadena, Minn., will get some hard-won honors this weekend when the Science Museum of Minnesota sponsors "Wadena Days," commemorating the city's encounter with an EF4 tornado that is at the heart of the Omnitheater production, "Tornado Alley."

Filmmakers captured the tornado that hit Wadena on June 17, 2010, destroying or damaging hundreds of homes and the high school. City leaders and residents then worked with filmmakers to document the painful damage in the hours and days after the tornado.

The city was recently given an Outstanding Community award by the Minnesota Power Foundation for its recovery efforts, which included building a new $38 million high school, which opened for this school year.

Residents of Wadena and surrounding communities will get free admision to the film; 55 will be riding down together on a bus Saturday.

Read about Wadena Days here.

See the movie trailer here.

National Weather Service summary and photos here.