The holiday excitement and its many events have come and gone. So it’s back to school for the boys and girls, and back to auditions, academics, music and even more fun for Austin. Cut loose starting this weekend.

1. Minnesota’s music

8:30-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3 and 4, Minnesota Fest, Torge’s Live and the Holiday Inn, 1701 Fourth St. NW, Austin.

Torge’s Live is set to get loud on Friday and Saturday night. The first-ever Minnesota Fest will open up at 8:30 p.m. both nights. Check out Chris Hawkey and his band in the Holiday Inn Ballroom, or meander over to Torge’s for the White Iron Band on Friday. Or head out Saturday and see G.B. Leighton in the Ballroom, or Tim Mahoney in the bar. Tickets are either $10 per night, or $15 for both nights. Promoters are pitching the concerts as an annual event.

2. Your word is…

Tuesday, Jan. 7, spelling bees, Ellis Middle School Auditorium, 1700 Fourth Ave. SE, Austin.

Austin’s wizards of words and sultans of spelling will meet in a showdown next Tuesday at Ellis Middle School. Fifth- through eighth-graders in Austin Public Schools will compete for the title of district spelling champion and a chance to advance to the regional spelling bee, and perhaps state. The competitions will be held by grade: 8:15 a.m. seventh grade; 10 a.m. eighth grade; noon sixth grade; 1:30 p.m. fifth grade.

3. A chance at stardom

6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, auditions, Paramount Theatre, 125 Fourth Ave. NE, Austin.

Matchbox Children’s Theatre is holding auditions for its upcoming presentation, “There’s an Alligator Under My Bed, A Nightmare in My Closet, and Something in My Attic.” Directors seek auditions from ages 10 to adult. The cast will then perform the play Feb. 13-16.

4. Norwegian novelties

10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, Hardanger community ed class, Ellis Middle School, 1700 Fourth Ave. SE.

Bust out those Norwegian roots during Community Education’s Hardanger classes, a four-session class that teaches participants how to make traditional, Norwegian embroidery. The class will be held each following Thursday. Community Education is also offering a scrapbooking class on Jan. 9. For more information about Community Education’s classes, call 507-460-1706. Registration is required.

Look to reporter Matt Peterson’s column every Friday for more about upcoming events in Austin. For even more, check out the calendar on Page 4 every day in the print edition and the austindailyherald.com homepage.