Powwow primer

Yes, you're invited. Here's what to expect at the annual gatherings and why you should go.

Until last year's first Bemijigamaag Powwow, many community leaders in the northern Minnesota town of Bemidji had never been to a powwow.

"They said, 'Oh, that's a Native American thing, that's their thing,'' said organizer Darrell Kingbird. "They said, 'I never knew I could come to one.' ''

But the powwow's tradition of welcoming outsiders is an old one. It's a family reunion, and the one concept central to the Ojibwe and Dakota world view is this: We are all related.

So the three largest Ojibwe bands in northern Minnesota invited the locals as well as Gov. Mark Dayton, and they came. This year, the bands invited the entire Minnesota Legislature to their Saturday powwow.

"We opened a lot of doors and healed a lot of stereotypes,'' Kingbird said. "And this year, we're doing the exact same thing.''

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Best bets for the weekend

Observe Earth Day or fling an earthy insult on Shakespeare Day.

This will be a good weekend to go for a scenic drive along southeast Minnesota's Root River, with stops for the Bluff Country Studio Art Tour, and along Lake Michigan, where there are artist-studio tours in Racine and Kenosha.

St. Paul hosts the Art Crawl, and in southeast Wisconsin, the beloved Princeton Flea Market opens for the season.

In southwest Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship in Dodgeville is a good excuse to visit its artistic neighbor towns, Mineral Point and Spring Green.

Above the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers in Hastings, there's  an Earth Day Birding Festival, with hikes and bird-banding. In the Minnesota River Valley, birders host Salt Lake Weekend at two wildlife refuges.

Parks everywhere are inviting nature-lovers to pick up litter and clear trails for Earth Day, and the celebration in Crystal Lake, Ill., also includes puppet shows and music.

In nearby Chicago, observe the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death at fireworks scored to music inspired by his works. It's also Talk Like Shakespeare Day, a good time to deploy this insult generator and call your friends foolish toads or loathsome maltworms.

Wildflowers are popping up fast. If you're not sure where to look, see our list of prime locations and identification guide. Two of our favorite spots: Minnesota's Whitewater State Park and Wisconsin's Kickapoo River Valley. Both are also prime morel-mushroom habitat.

Next weekend

Celebrate May Day with polka and giant puppets.

Maifest in Amana, Iowa. There's polka music, keg-tapping, food-sampling, artisan demonstrations, pony rides and a 10 a.m. Saturday parade. April 30-May 1.

May Day Parade and Festival in Minneapolis. This earthy, lighthearted fest in Powderhorn Park features the giant puppets of Heart of the Beast Theatre and a people's parade. May 1.

Mid West Music Fest in Winona, Minn. More than 60 musical groups in all genres play in museums, galleries, cafes and arts centers across town. April 28-30.

Art Attack in Harbor Country, Mich. The eight Lake Michigan towns between the Indiana border and Warren Dunes State Park offer gallery receptions, artist demonstrations, theater, music and wine tasting. April 29-May 1.

For more events, see our Events Calendar.

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