Arts briefs: Franconia Park offering a cornucopia of music

A musical trip abroad, with dancing and singing along, is coming up this weekend at Franconia Sculpture Park's Music@Franconia series.

Performers from 1-7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, include:

• Orkestar Bez Ime, or "orchestra without a name" in Bulgarian, formed in 2002 and performing Eastern European music from Albania to Ukraine;

• Quartetto Rosso (Red Quartet), whose typical performance includes pieces such as Funiculi Funicula and O Sole Mio, sung in Neapolitan dialect, plus contemporary folk and jazz tunes;

• Accordionist Mark Stillman, who has performed on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion and with the Minnesota Orchestra, with styles including French cabaret and German polkas;

• Vocalists Francine Roche and Nancy Sanchelli Guertin.

Musicians appear in Franconia's Earthen Amphitheater. Bring a blanket, grab a bite or beverage from on-site vendors.

Music@Franconia is made possible through a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council and community and business sponsors.

Washington County Parks will host two upcoming Minnesota Starwatch parties.

On Friday, Aug. 14, a party will be held at Big Marine Park Reserve from 9-11 p.m.

The second one will be held Friday, Sept. 4, at Lake Elmo Park Reserve from 8:30-10:30 p.m.

The family program is free with a park vehicle permit. Minnesota Starwatch parties are hosted by Mike Lynch of WCCO radio.

Visitors will use telescopes, including two 20-inch reflectors that are among the biggest mobile telescopes in Minnesota.

There's also an astronomical camera-telescope system for views of the more distant parts of the universe.

The event will be held even if it's cloudy. No registration is required, but bring lawn chairs, blankets, snacks and bug spray.

The final concert of Oakdale's summer concert series is "Remembering the King," an Elvis tribute.

It will be held at Walton Park Band Shell on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 7-8:30 p.m. The park is situated at 15th Street and Hadley Avenue. Admission is free.

The film is based on the true story of the late Maria Altmann, an elderly Jewish refugee living in Los Angeles.

Altmann fought the government of Austria for almost a decade to reclaim Gustav Klimt's famous painting of her aunt, "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I." The painting was stolen from her relatives by the Nazis in Vienna just before World War II.

Free popcorn is available. The film is rated PG-13.

Camp games and traditional backyard games are on tap this week at the city of Woodbury's Backyard Bash.

Games include bocce, ladder golf, and croquet, all aimed at ages 6 to 12.

It's activity No. 551604-07 when you register online at the city's website (http://tinyurl.com/o6jaaxs) or call 651-714-3583.