Arts briefs: St. Croix garden tour for a good cause

The 21st annual St. Croix Garden Tour, a self-guided tour of gardens in and around the Stillwater area, will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 12 and 13.

Tickets range from $15-$20 depending on whether they are purchased in advance. Visitors can tour the gardens all in one day or spread out their stops across the weekend.

All proceeds benefit FamilyMeans, a nonprofit in Stillwater that has helped strengthen families through financial counseling, youth programs, therapy and counseling, caregiver support, and more.

Information about the St. Croix Garden Tour is available at www.familymeans.org or call 651-439-4840.

Auditions will be held July 8 and 9 for the annual Amateur Talent Show that is part of the Washington County Historic Courthouse Ice Cream Social at the Historic Courthouse, 101 W. Pine St., Stillwater. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and auditions start at 7 p.m. Auditions are on a first-come, first-served basis and for all categories.

The Ice Cream Social is at 4:30 p.m. on July 17.

Audition participants must act in their performance attire and bring their own accompaniment, iPod or CD. A CD player, iPod cable, microphone and full-sized keyboard will be provided. The maximum group size is eight.

Registration is now open for the July 12 Lift Bridge Road Races, which offer 10-mile, 5K and kids running races along scenic courses through the St. Croix Valley.

The 10-mile race starts at 8 a.m., the 5K at 8:20 a.m. and the kids race at 10 a.m. at Lakeside Park in Bayport, 2 Central Ave., where the races also finish.

Kids Race registration is available only in-person at HealthEast Stillwater Clinic, 2900 Curve Crest Road Stillwater, through July 9.

To register, and for more information, go to www.stillwaterliftbridgeroadrace.com.

William O'Brien State Park, 16821 O'Brien Trail N., Marine on St. Croix, is playing host to the WOB Water Olympics from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 5.

Most activities need a partner. To sign up a team, call the park office at 651-433-0500.

The city of Cottage Grove is seeking nominations for its Green Garden Award, which has been presented annually since 2007.

Nominations will be accepted for both residential and commercial properties and are due by 4 p.m. on July 25. Contestants may not win in consecutive years.

A nomination form can be downloaded at www.cottage-grove.org, (search "green garden") or picked up at Cottage Grove Public Works, 8635 W. Pt. Douglas Road S.

The Woodbury Community Theatre's production of "Bye Bye Birdie," a Tony Award-winning musical telling the story of a rock 'n' roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army, will open on July 25 and run through Aug. 3 at The Loft Stage at East Ridge High School, 4200 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury.

380 Rivertown Drive #200, Woodbury.