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Next weekend

Choose from bandits, bluesmen and bike tours.

Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield, Minn. There's a riverfront fine-arts festival, rodeo and Saturday bike tour in this college town, an hour south of the Twin Cities, but don't miss the re-enactments of the famous bank raid (pictured). They're at 6 and 7 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. and 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The Grand Parade is at 2 p.m. Sunday.  Sept. 3-7.

St. Paul Classic Bike Tour in St. Paul. Ride a 15-, 30- or 45-mile route along the Mississippi, lakes Como and Phalen and St. Paul parkways, starting and ending at the University of St. Thomas and punctuated by food and live music. Sept. 7.

Boulevard Lakefront Tour in Chicago. Ride the 15-mile South Side Ramble, the 35-mile Boulevard Tour or the 62-mile Ultimate Neighborhood Ride; there's a festival afterward at Midway Plaisance, the start and finish. Sept. 7.

Pufferbilly Days in Boone, Iowa. This festival in central Iowa, just west of Ames, is named for a steam engine and features a spike-driving contest, parachute jumps, mud volleyball and rides on the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad. A parade starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Sept. 4-7.

James J. Hill Days in Wayzata, Minn. The festival in this western suburb of Minneapolis is best known for its dachshund races, in which more than 100 dogs compete in the hurdles, sprints and sofa jump, followed by a costume contest and smart pet tricks. Races start at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wayzata West Middle School. There's also an arts and crafts fair, kids' carnival and parade at 1 p.m. Sunday on Lake Street. Sept. 6-7.

Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee. It's in Henry Maier Festival Park and features a powwow, fireworks, lacrosse tournament, fine arts and tribal village. Sept. 5-7.

Villa Louis Carriage Classic in Prairie du Chien, Wis. The Victorian estate on the Mississippi River hosts horses, restored carriages and drivers in period dress for competitive arena and cross-country sport driving. Sept. 6-7.

Rock Bend Folk Festival in St. Peter, Minn. This Minnesota River town throws a free, homespun festival in Minnesota Square Park that features Watermelon Slim, Lehto & Wright and local favorites the Divers. Sept. 6-7.

Sputnikfest in Manitowoc, Wis. In 1962, a piece of the satellite Sputnik 4 landed in front of the Rahr-West Art Museum. Now, this port town on Lake Michigan is celebrating with an Artta This World art fair, family space walk, costume contest and build-your-own Sputniks. Sept. 5-6.

Last updated on August 27, 2008