South metro arts and leisure briefs: Canterbury Park plans big holiday celebration

Canterbury Park plans big holiday celebrationCanterbury Park is planning a big July 3 fireworks display as well as its 2011 Championship Wiener Dog Race for July 4th, all along with horse racing and special entertainment.

Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. on July 3, with the first race at 4 p.m. After Race 7, around 7 p.m., Mick Sterling & the Irresistibles will entertain between races until time for the fireworks, which should begin about 10 p.m.

Gates will open at 12:30 p.m. on July 4th, with the first race at 1:30 p.m. Free hot dogs will be available, and a hot dog eating contest is planned along with the Wiener Dog Race, featuring the best canine racers from events held on June 19 and 26. For kids, there'll be free pony rides, a petting zoo and face-painting.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 60 and older, and free for anyone 17 and under each day.

Canterbury Park is located at 1100 Canterbury Road. For more information, call 952-445-7223 or go to www.canterburypark.com.

Garden tour set for this weekendThe Northfield Garden Club is featuring six gardens and seven artists during its annual garden tour this weekend.

The tour will take the public to visit the 14 gardens, including a working windmill, at the home of Jane and Jerry Skluzacek, 3071 300th St. W.

• Corrine and Elvin Heiberg, 410 E. 1st St., with a front boulevard featuring Xeriscaping.

• Elizabeth Olson, 2412 Pepper Ridge Court, whose new garden includes creative use of mulch and brick with retaining walls.

• Erika and Dan Tallman, 2120 Taylor Court, who have a shade garden with a 40-foot water garden down a back hill.

• Jason and Karin Bartlett, 1705 Jackson Court, whose "small space" garden features a large variety of containable trees.

• Steve Remes and Liv Hustvedt, 814 Prairie St., whose large lawn contains gardens with unique Asian statuary throughout.

The cost of the tour is $10. Tickets are available at Knecht's Landscaping, Eco Gardens, the Measuring Cup and the Northfield Arts Guild, as well as at each home on the day of the tour.

Tour hours will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Arts Guild plans 'Art in Bloom' saleThe Northfield Arts Guild is planning its "Art in Bloom" sale at 304 Division St. beginning Saturday and continuing through July 2.

An opening reception is planned for 1-3 p.m. Saturday in the gallery shop. Floral arrangements by Northfield Garden Club members also will be displayed in vases handmade by Northfield-area artists.

For further information, call 507-645-2254 or go to www.sites.google.com/site/northfieldgardenclub.