Arts briefs: Denmark Township Historical Society schoolhouse project to be celebrated

Folklorist John Berquist will bring Minnesota's pioneer days back to life with music and stories at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at Carpenter Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail S. in south Washington County.

The Denmark Township Historical Society planned the event to recognize and thank donors who helped save the historic Valley School.

Berquist will perform his mix of regional tales, lumberjack ballads, Scandinavian tunes and folk melodies. He also plays guitar, mandolin and button accordion.

The Historical Society completed its purchase of the school on May 1, thanks to donors who gave $80,000 toward the effort.

Anyone interested in supporting the Valley School project is invited to this free event. Guests will park at Carpenter Nature Center. From 1 to 2:15 p.m., visitors can ride the "school bus" to see nearby Valley School, where former students and a "teacher" will be on hand to greet them.

Speakers include Jen Vieth, executive director of Carpenter Nature Center; Brent Peterson, executive director of the Washington County Historical Society; and Joe Hoover, representing Minnesota Historical Society's Outreach Services.

Stefanie Abderhalden and Jeremy Johnston, who comprise Apollo Duo, will present a concert featuring various styles and periods of music arranged for flute and percussion. It begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, in the Great Hall at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi.

The Apollo Duo's inception began at Illinois State University, where Abderhalden and Johnston each received their master's degrees in music performance in 2012. The performance at St. Andrew's will be the final performance of their fall 2013 tour, which includes the premiere of a newly commissioned work, "Poltergeist," by Patrick M. O'Shea.

Valley Chamber Chorale and Music St. Croix will kick off their new season with a free concert, "Latin Rhythms," at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 Fourth St. N., Stillwater.

The chorale was formed in 1975 as a creative outlet for adults with previous musical experience who sought an opportunity to perform sophisticated works not normally attempted by church choirs and other singing groups.

Oktoberfest will come to the Lake Elmo Public Library at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, with a presentation on the history of beer making followed by sampling of beer at the Lake Elmo Wine Co.

Twin Cities Tastings will discuss the brewing process and the ingredients that go into beer, especially that of St. Paul's Summit Brewery.

The Friends of Pool 2, a group that advocates on behalf of the stretch of Mississippi River from Denmark Township to St. Paul, is holding a Chili Cook-Off & River Craft Fest from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Twin City Marina, 4455 64th St. E., Inver Grove Heights.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three chili entries.

Tasters will be charged $5, which entitles them to sample as many of the entries as they wish before voting for their favorite.

For more information, go to http://www.friendsofpool2.org.

Soprano Maria Jette will perform the works of George Frideric Handel and Swedish composer Johan Helmich Roman alongside the Washington, D.C.-based ensemble The Vivaldi Project on Sunday, Sept. 29, at St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church, 2175 First St.

The event is a part of the WaterMusic Concert Series and open to all ages.

For more information, call 651-429-5351.

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society will conduct its seventh annual historic house tour of the city from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Visitors on the self-guided tour will get to see the interiors of 10 homes, including country homes, a boat shop, a former grocery store and lakeside cottages.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the event, and can be purchased over the phone, online or in person at the White Bear Lake Armory, at 4th Street and Cook Avenue.

Visitors will receive a ticket booklet with maps and information about each location.

Call 651-407-5327 for more information.