HIGHLAND FEST
This three-day festival kicks off with a community picnic and park screening of "Big Hero 6" on Friday. Attractions include a juried art fair, wiener dog races, costume contest and K9 unit demonstrations. Live music by Brat Pack Radio, Blues Cities, Ziggy Smalls and others. Community picnic, fireworks at 10 p.m. Sat. (5-11 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Ford Pkwy. between Finn and Kenneth Sts., St. Paul. www.highlandfest.com.)
SISTER CITIES DAY CELEBRATION
Cool off from the summer heat with an ice cream sundae while celebrating Minneapolis' sister city relationships. Mayor Betsy Hodges will address the crowd and recognize the multiyear relationship with Ibaraki City, Japan; Uppsala, Sweden; and Eldoret, Kenya. Also entertainment and activities. (1-5 p.m. Sun. Free. Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St., Mpls. 612-767-8000. www.minneapolis.org/sistercitiesday.)
MELISSA WALKER
