Weekend Events: What's Going On, What's Different

Big Weekend Events

• Welcome the Heroes Home from Iraq Parade, 500 Pine St, Saint Louis, MO.— Starts at noon on Saturday at Keiner Plaza, goes down Market Street and ends at Union Station. Veteran's Village is inside Union Station from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Live Music and Entertainment inside Union Station from 3-8:30 p.m. Free.
  
  
• Entrepreneur Weekend St. Louis, Railway Exchange Building at
  6th and 7th Streets at Olive Street, St. Louis, MO.-The event promises to be a fast-paced, challenging and fun way to build a company from idea to creation with people from diverse backgrounds, each with something unique to bring to the table. Prizes awarded to the top three businesses at the end of the weekend.

Weekend Long Events

• 2012 Saint Louis Auto Show at America's Center, Edward Jones Dome, 901 N Broadway, St. Louis, MO - The auto show is the largest automobile event in the St. Louis area. It features more than 500 new cars, trucks, SUVs and concept vehicles from more than 25 manufacturers. The event also features drift racing, giveaways and a charity gala. $5
  
  
• Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age, 5700 Grand Dr, St. Louis, MO-"Journey back through the Ice Age to view some of Earth's largest and most awe-inspiring mammals in The Field Museum exhibition Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. Monumental video installations, hands-on interactive displays, life-sized models, fossil tusks and skulls—and even touchable teeth— bring these ancient giants back to life," the Missouri History Museum's site states. $15  

Friday Night Events

• Actress from The Josephine Baker Story, 1640 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO.-Actress Lynn Whitfield will be the keynote speaker for the St. Louis County Library's Black History Month celebration. Whitfiield is best known for her title role in The Josephine Baker Story. 7 p.m. Free.

Saturday Events

• Orchid Show, 4344 Shaw Blvd, Saint Louis, MO. — The Missouri Botanical Garden maintains one of the world’s premier orchid collections, and the Annual Orchid Show features 800 blooming orchids. $5

• Wrap and Roll at Dierbergs School of Cooking, 12420 Tesson Ferry Rd., Saint Louis, MO.-Second through fifth-graders can learn to make crispy egg rolls, pizza calzones, burrito wraps, sweet "sushi" snacks, apple strudel wraps and veggie wraps. 10 a.m.$20

• Hot! Hot! Hot!, Butterfly House, 15193 Olive Blvd, Chesterfield, MO.—Get ready for warm weather with tropical-themed, kid-friendly activities, games and crafts. Live steel drummers perform. For children ages 2 to 10 with their families. 11 a.m. Free.

• Super Bowl Favorites at Dierbergs School of Cooking12420 Tesson Ferry Rd, Saint Louis, MO.-Kids in grades five through eight can learn to make Tackle ‘Em Taco Dip, Touchdown Tortellini Soup, Goal Post Garden Salad, Quarterback Quesadillas, Playbook Potato Bake and Out-of-Bounds Brownie Bites. 1 p.m. Free.

Sunday Events

• Mardi Gras Magic at Dierbergs School of Cooking,12420 Tesson Ferry Rd, Saint Louis, MO.- Suzanne Corbett teaches students to make shrimp remoulade, romaine with garlic chapon dressing, chicken étouffée, New Orleans french rolls and beignets. Note: Suzanne Corbett is a contributor to Patch. 1 p.m. $37