Summer Fun 2016: July highlights

Adele

July 5-6: Having released the biggest album of 2015 with "25," Adele is now earning accolades on tour. Her concerts have been receiving rapturous reception in Europe. The Twin Cities will be the kickoff of her North American tour, which includes a staggering six nights at New York's Madison Square Garden and at Los Angeles' Staples Center. We get only two nights of her Oscar-winning "Skyfall" and the Grammy-winning "Rolling in the Deep," "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain." (Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. Sold out.) Jon Bream

'The Lion King'

July 5-Aug. 7: This is the biggest blockbuster of all time in any media, grossing more than $6 billion worldwide since its 1997 premiere. And it all began at the Orpheum Theatre, where it returns for a five-week engagement. Director Julie Taymor set up shop there, working out the kinks of a show would go on to wow the world with its mix of puppetry and evocative storytelling. The narrative is one of royal succession, like "Hamlet" on a mythic African savanna. But the performances and effects all conspire to create a transporting magic. (Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $49-$125. 1-800-859-7469 or hennepintheatretrust.org.) Rohan Preston

Basilica Block Party

July 8-9: The Basilica boasts a hipper-than-usual lineup for its 22nd annual fundraiser. Indie-rock faves Death Cab for Cutie and piano popsters the Fray are the main-stage headliners. The rest of the roster is quite strong, including rocking bluesman Gary Clark Jr., Americana ace Ryan Adams, Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn, "Rise Up" hitmaker Andra Day, 2012 "American Idol" champ Phillip Phillips, Cold War Kids, American Authors and X-Ambassadors. (Basilica of St. Mary, Mpls., $55-$100. basilicablockparty.com.) Jon Bream

'Seeing Nature: Landscape Masterworks from the Paul G. Allen Family Collection'

July 10-Sept. 18: With a fortune estimated at $17.9 billion, Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen can afford to be capricious. And his art collection offers a rich magpie's peck of glittering names: Claude Monet, Gustav Klimt, David Hockney, Edward Hopper, J.M.W. Turner, Georgia O'Keeffe and other art stars of the past 400 years. Forty of Allen's paintings will be shown at the Minneapolis Institute of Art as part of a two-year national tour. (Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Av. S. $20. 612-870-3000 or artsmia.org.) Mary Abbe

'Pinocchio'

July 15-Aug. 14: Time was most theaters would go dark in the summertime. Not anymore. And certainly not at the Children's Theatre Company, which has a ready and willing audience of out-of-school youngsters looking to sate their imaginations. CTC's summer offering is "Pinocchio," adapted by British director Greg Banks. Banks has a flair for minimalist, imaginative takes on classic texts, including "The Jungle Book" and "Huck Finn." His "Pinocchio," pitched to tykes and their chaperones, is told by a four-person acting company led by Elise Langer. (Children's Theatre, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.) R.P.

Aquatennial

July 20-23: Although the Aquatennial significantly shrunk last year, from 10 days down to four, the event still includes some of summer's most treasured events. The festival begins with a family fun night in Loring Park with activities for all ages followed by the Torchlight Parade that highlights local marching bands and Aquatennial royalty. Throughout the remainder of the fest see a performance by the Twin City River Rats, do yoga at Target Field Station or help save a life at the blood drive. The finale includes CariFest, a Caribbean-themed festival and fireworks over the Mississippi in downtown Minneapolis. (aquatennial.com.) Melissa Walker

Drake

July 24: After a hotly anticipated lead-up to his latest album "Views," sing-rap sensation Drake is at the peak of his powers. With "Hotline Bling," the most successful single of the OVO Sound rapper's career, leading the way, Drake has never been a more veritable stadium-filler than he is right now. The Champagne Papi is bringing along his understudy, the immensely popular Future, with whom he released "What a Time to Be Alive" in 2015. Indeed. (Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. $47-$127.) Jerard Fagerberg