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Nancy Yang

Go figure (skating) and have a creepy-crawly good time: Your weekend planning guide

The Devil with Two Heads
See the Devil with Two Heads at Dr. Entomo's Palace of Exotic Wonders at Como Zoo and Conservatory. The exhibit opens this weekend and runs through April.
Courtesy of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

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Catch a glimpse of the next Michelle Kwan at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and come one, come all to a new exhibit highlighting the curious creatures of the insect world.

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: A palace of exotic wonders

Glow-in-the-dark scorpions
Feast your eyes on glow-in-the-dark scorpions at the Dr. Entomo's Palace of Exotic Wonders exhibit.
Courtesy of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Step right up and experience the creepy, crawly, marvelous world of exotic insects and invertebrates at an old-fashioned circus sideshow-inspired exhibit opening Friday.

Behold the Devil with Two Heads (also known as the giant Sonoran centipede, which confounds predators with a tail that looks like its head) or feast your eyes on glow-in-the-dark scorpions at Dr. Entomo's Palace of Exotic Wonders at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory's exhibit gallery in St. Paul.

Live animals on display — shudder — include Madagascan hissing cockroaches, Goliath bird-eating tarantulas, emperor scorpions and more.

The exhibit runs through April 17.

For families: Catch a fish and quality family time

Fish for free during Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend. Minnesota residents can fish or spear fish for free when accompanied by a child age 15 or under.

Several organized fishing opportunities are available throughout the state, including Berrrmidji Kids Can Ice Fish on Saturday. Kids aged 8 to 15 can join the park naturalist for an afternoon of perch fishing on Lake Bemidji.

For adults: A jam session

The Blockfather
The Thunderjacks take on The Gentlemen's Club Saturday as they battle their way for the 2016 Crystal Skate trophy.
Courtesy of Minnesota Men's Roller Derby

Most people know about women's roller derby in Minnesota. But did you know the state is also home to several men's derby teams?

See the Thunderjacks and the Gentlemen's Club in action Saturday night at Champions Hall in Eden Prairie.

Tickets are $10 (and yes, though this event is filed under "adults," kids are welcome. Children 10 and under get in free with an adult).

Indoors: Go figure (skating)

Michelle Kwan
Michelle Kwan performs during the ladies' qualifying free skate at the 2004 World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund, Germany. See rising stars at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which start Friday.
Frank Augstein | AP 2004

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships kick off this weekend in the Twin Cities.

The main event (see: ladies' event) isn't until next weekend, but see the next Michelle Kwans and Scott Hamiltons in the intermediate, juvenile and novice levels this Saturday and Sunday.

Outdoors: Brrring on the cold

Yes, it's cold and icy outside. But it's Minnesota, where that sort of thing is celebrated.

Several cities are hosting winter festivals this weekend, including Arctic Fever in the west metro, Back to Hack in Hackensack and Icebox Days in International Falls.