Film, music festival set at Square Lake

The 11th annual Square Lake Film & Music Festival, featuring nine musical acts and dozens of locally produced animations/independent films, runs from 2 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Aug. 10.

The festival is held about half a mile from Square Lake County Park, at 13359 Partridge Road N. in Stillwater. A limited amount of free on-site camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets for the event, which cost $20 and can be picked up at will-call, are available at http://squarelakefestival.com. Bicyclist discount tickets are on the "bike" page. Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult. More than half of the attendees for this festival bike 78 miles round trip from the Twin Cities via the Gateway Bike Trail.

Musical acts this year include Dark Dark Dark (live set and film score), Heavy Deeds, Greg Grease, Crimes, Food Pyramid, Is/Is, Moors & McCumber and Body Omara. The musical acts will be interspersed with film screenings, including discussions with directors.

Pioneer Day in Newport kicks off at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, with a parade beginning at Newport Fire Hall, 155 20th St. The parade will make its way down 4th Avenue to Pioneer Park.

There will be food, vendors and the St. Paul Park-Newport Lions Club's beer tent will be at the park all day. There will be games, bingo, crafts and inflatables, and a car and motorcycle show where trophies will be awarded. The Newport Business Association is sponsoring an Elvis impersonator who will begin his show at 5:30 p.m.

Pioneer Day Buttons are now being sold at City Hall, South Suburban Rental, the North Pole Restaurant, Newport Drug and John Bartl Hardware. Purchase a button to receive unlimited corn at Pioneer Day and to be entered into a raffle drawing at 5 p.m. on Pioneer Day. Individuals do not need to be present at the raffle drawing to win; winning numbers will be posted on the city's website on Aug. 12. Buttons are $3 each or four for $10.

A certified archery instructor will offer a hands-on shot at archery at two sessions at Afton State Park, 6959 Peller Av. S.

One session runs from 10 a.m. to noon on Aug. 17, the other from 1 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 18. You can stop by anytime and stay as long as you like.

This activity is suitable for anyone age 8 and older, but children age 15 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. Equipment is provided, and personal archery equipment is not allowed.

Outdoor yoga at Lake Elmo Park Reserve is continuing through Sept. 5.

The program is for ages 14 and older, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

This is a beginner to intermediate yoga series led by registered yoga teacher Kim Thomas. Participants should plan to arrive 10 minutes early and bring their own yoga mat. Drinking fountains, restrooms and ample parking are available at the North Picnic Shelter. In case of rain, classes will be indoors at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve's Nordic Center.

Registration is required. Register at the park contact station or by telephone at 651-430-8370.

Lake Elmo Park Reserve is at 1515 Keats Av. N., Lake Elmo, 1 mile north of Interstate 94 at the intersection of County Road 19 and County Road 10. For more Washington County Parks programs and events, see www.co.washington.mn.us/parks.

The 4th Annual Afton Fest, a fundraiser for the Afton Historical Museum, will run from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, in Afton's Town Square Park. Admission is free.

Music will be provided by the Zebra Mussels, and beer, wine, food and dancing will be part of the festivities.

Works by photographer David Parker will be displayed during the month of August at the Oakdale Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley Av.

Hours for the Discovery Center are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays; noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, call 651-747-3860 or go to www.oakdalefun.com.

Saint Croix Vineyards, 6428 Manning Av. in Stillwater, is hosting a Wine Meets Art Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Aug. 10-11.

Participants can interact with top local artists and sample local wine, beer and food. Free vineyard tours each day. For more information, visit scvwines.com.

Those attending will meet at the visitor center and learn how to use a GPS unit, then head out in the park to find some specially placed caches. A limited number of GPS units will be available.

Call the park office to sign up or get more information at 651-433-0500.

The summer-long music series at Franconia Sculpture Park continues at noon Aug. 17 with a day of music at the outdoor Earthen Amphitheater.

The World Music Festival will feature Xibaba, Mu Daiko, Viviana Pintado and the Q-Band, L'Assassins and The Chalice.

The park is located at 29836 St. Croix Trail in Franconia. Parking is $5. For more information, call 651-257-6668 or e-mail info@franconia.org.