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Nancy Yang

Say 'I do' (again) and hop on the night train: What to do this weekend

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
Why not kick off your weekend by saying "I do" again with 99 other couples? The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in St. Paul is celebrating 100 years this weekend with trivia, music, special gardener talks and a mass vow renewal.
Courtesy of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

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The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in St. Paul is celebrating its 100th birthday this weekend and you're invited. It's also Night Trains season at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum.

From free events to family fun to adults-only, here's a roundup of events to get you out of the house — or not.

Free: POWs in Minnesota

Veterans Day
A U.S. war veteran took part in a memorial ceremony before the start of a Veterans Day Parade in New York last year. Veterans Day honors all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Jewel Samad |AFP | Getty Images 2014

OK, so this isn't a weekend event, but because it falls on a school night, you might want to plan accordingly.

Celebrate Veterans Day — Wednesday, Nov. 11 — learning about the prisoners of war who once called Whitewater State Park home.

Local legend has it that German POWs requested to be placed there because of the scenic beauty and friendly people, the DNR says.

The program runs from 7-8 p.m. at the park, which is located in Altura, just east of Rochester. The event is free, but all vehicles need a valid state parks permit, which can be purchased upon arrival. A one-day vehicle permit is $5.

For families: All aboard the night trains

Night Trains at Twin City Model Railroad Museum
Night Trains at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum.
Courtesy of the Twin City Model Railroad Museum

Night Trains season begins Saturday at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. The lights are turned down, the make-believe town of Matlin is buried in a blizzard and the layouts are adorned with miniature Christmas lights and decorations.

Admission is $10 per person; children 4 and under are free. Family and group rates are available.

Night Trains runs every Saturday through the end of February.

For adults: The more the marry-er

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is celebrating its 100th birthday this weekend.
Courtesy Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Why not kick off your weekend by saying "I do" all over again — with 99 other couples?

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in St. Paul is celebrating 100 years this weekend with trivia, music, special gardener talks and a mass renewal of vows.

The first 100 couples to check in Saturday morning will receive a special certificate.

There is no dress code and couples are asked to limit guests to two.

Indoors: Whip it good

Shiva Shankn tries to prevent being passed.
Shiva Shankn (Falone Aeed), second from right, tried to keep jammer Jacked Pipes (Jackie Lehmann), far left, from passing her during the Minnesota RollerGirls All-Star team practice in Exhibit Hall B at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Nov. 3, 2015. The team is preparing to compete in, and host, the 2015 International WFTDA Championships.
Angela Jimenez for MPR News

Roller derby will crown a new champion this weekend at the 2015 International Women's Flat Track Derby Association Championships in St. Paul.

The Minnesota RollerGirls All-Stars take on the Texas Rollergirls, from Austin, in Game 4 at 8 p.m. Friday at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. The championship game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoors: Go on a high-tech treasure hunt

Try your hand at geocaching, a game in which players use GPS-enabled devices to find caches of treasure, at the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul on Saturday.

The free event is open to anyone age 7 or older and all equipment is provided. Participants can register online.