Worth the drive

Less than 2 hours away

Carson Center, Paducah, Ky.

Mannheim Steamroller, usually a Christmas staple, has extended it's repertoire to cover the spring season. The "Fresh Aire" performance features lavish multimedia images, synchronized lighting and special effects, and it will be at the Carson Center on Tuesday. The first "Fresh Aire" album debuted in 1974 and combined classical themes with pop elements. The Fresh Aire series grew to include eight albums. Show is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55, $30 and $40. Call the box office at 270-450-4444.

Less than 3 hours away

The Hofgarten at Hermann Farm, Hermann, Mo.

Hermann is having a Wurstfest. You can go for free. This year's Wurstfest at Hermann Farm's Hofgarten, sponsored by the Dierberg Educational Foundation, will be serving up a lot more than sausage. Visitors to the 2008 Wurstfest at the Hofgarten will have the opportunity to see expert outdoor cooking enthusiasts demonstrate exactly how their ancestors cooked with cast iron Dutch ovens. They will be able to try food like cowboy beans and chicken stew with rice, all prepared over an open flame. Some recipes hark back to Lewis and Clark and some to the Civil War era. The Hofgarten will also feature Agri Missouri members with a variety of Missouri products from chili mixes to barbecue sauces to enhance any outdoor cooking event. The Saturday event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Hofgarten at Hermann Farm at 208 East First Street in Hermann. Call Joan Treis at 573-486-FARM or visit www.hermannfarm.org.