Arts briefs: Catch a mermaid at Renaissance Festival

Catch a mermaid at final days of the Renaissance FestivalA live mermaid has come to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival: "Ambrosia" appears in her specially built tank, and tales of her wondrous adventures are told.

She and much more entertainment awaits at the festival, which runs through Sunday.

This weekend is your last chance to go. Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The festival is located three miles south of Shakopee on Hwy. 169. Admission is $21.95 for adults ($2 off for seniors), $12.95 for children age 5-12, and free for kids 4 and under.

For more information, visit www.renaissancefest.com or call 952-445-7361.

Art Center members have juried art showThe opening reception of the Edina Art Center's juried members' art show will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday.

Judges will reveal their choices at 6 p.m. for awards of excellence, merit and a special Betsy Bryant Pottery Award.

Community festival set for this weekendThe 15th annual Plymouth on Parade Celebration will take place this weekend.

A parade with more than 80 community entries will start at 11:30 a.m. Saturday following Plymouth Boulevard from 34th Avenue to 37th Avenue. Free family activities will follow at 12:30-3 p.m. at the Plymouth Ice Center/Life Time Fitness facility and Hilde Performance Center. That will include open ice skating, open gym and swimming, a mini farmers market, face painting, pony rides, a Ducky Derby and food.

A children's musical group, "Sticks and Tones," will perform from 1:30-2:30 p.m. About 5,000 rubber ducks will race against each other after the parade for the Minnetonka/Plymouth Rotary fundraiser. For more information, go to www.ducksonparade.com.

Fire department sponsors 5K Run/WalkThe Plymouth Fire Department is sponsoring a 5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run Saturday at 9 a.m. beginning at Fire Station II, 12000 Old Rockford Road.

Race day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and all 5K participants will receive a long-sleeved t-shirt. The 5K registration fee is $25.

For more information, call 763-546-9220 or e-mail PFD5K@comcast.net.