Minnesota Renaissance Festival
The king and queen request your presence at one of the merriest of summer events. The annual festival celebrating the 17th century is filled with themed weekends, starting with Italian Carnivale next weekend. See an Arabian horse and bird shows, garlic demonstrations and a spaghetti-eating contest. New this year are human combat chess matches, princess court, pub crawls and historic cooking demonstrations. Other themed weekends include Royal Ale Fest, Silk Road, Discover the Riches, Highland Fling and more. (9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-next Sun. $9.50-$21.95. Ends Sept. 30. Minnesota Renaissance Festival Grounds, 12364 Chestnut Blvd., Shakopee. 952-445-7361. www.renaissancefest.com.)
Wild Rumpus
What can be comfier than wearing your pajamas on a trolley ride? Wild Rumpus books and the Minnesota Streetcar Museum invite children to a pajama party where guests are served milk and cookies on the platform before a trolley ride. Author and illustrator Nancy Carlson will read favorite bedtime stories. Tickets must be reserved online. (6:30 & 7:30 p.m. Thu. $5. Como-Harriet Streetcar, 42nd St. and Queen Av. S., Mpls. www.wild rumpusbooks.com.)
