WCCO Saturday Morning Links & Recap (Oct. 10)
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Haunted basements, fall colors, swap meets and the Minnesota Wild are just four of the things Natalie Nyhus and Mike Augustyniak covered on WCCO Saturday morning. Here are more details about these, and several other, great events going on this weekend in Minnesota.
People started moving out of urban centers for a quieter and slower pace of life about 65 years ago. The Minnesota History Center's new exhibit, "Suburbia," takes a look at what many historians consider one of the most important events in U.S. history. Suburbia opens Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets are $11 for adults and $6 for kids.
The Soap Factory's annual horrific event, the "Haunted Basement," is back for a ninth year. Small groups are brought into the dark depths, forced to wonder, 'Will I be lost, separated and stuck in here forever?' You can also go in blind by yourself to exclusive environments that guarantee scary one-on-one encounters. Once you are in the path, there is no turning back. More than 75 artists, directors and performers have come together this year to bring your worst fears to life.
It is the last weekend of the Afton Alps Fall Fair and Swap Sale. You can swap those old skis and snowboards Saturday, and stick around for the sale and fair. There will be free hay rides, kids' inflatable jumpers, a candy hunt, music and more. The swap goes from 9 a.m. until noon, while the sale and fair begins at 11 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. There is also a Beer and Wine Fest from noon to 3 p.m.
As we approach peak fall colors, it is time to plan your trip to take in the beauty of the changing seasons. We asked you where to go for the best fall colors in Minnesota, your votes sent Natalie Nyhus north to the Cuyuna Trail System.
The Twin Cities will be part of the nation's largest walk to fight kidney disease, from which 26 million Americans suffer. Reg Chapman will host the 2015 Twin Cities Kidney Walk, which kicks off Saturday at Thomson Reuters in Eagan.
It is time to head back out on the ice as the Minnesota Wild play their first home game of the season Saturday night. They take on the team they knocked out of the playoffs last year-- the St. Louis Blues. The puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center. There are still tickets available, but they probably won't last long.
They are among the most sought after, and most frightening things you can eat. A St. Paul restaurant is celebrating all things oyster this weekend – which is why Jason DeRusha Eats at Meritage.
Have an old bike laying around in the garage you don't use anymore? Why not donate it? The group Free Bikes 4 Kidz has started its collection drive. They take in new or used bikes, tunes them up and then give them to kids in need in early December. You can drop off bikes at Allina Health locations Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Last year, Allina Health and Free Bikes 4 Kidz collected and distributed more than 5,000 bikes just in time for the holidays.
The Saint Paul Art Crawl is back this weekend. The St. Paul Art Collective has been putting this event on since 1991. It features more than 300 artists and around 20,000 visitors each year. The free crawl is mainly concentrated in Lowertown, but events can be found in other neighborhoods as well.
And the acclaimed documentary "Humpback Whales" is coming to downtown St. Paul's Science Museum of Minnesota. Click here for more information.