While there were plenty of opportunities to celebrate Prince (who was born June 7, 1958) and the 40th anniversary of “Purple Rain” last month, the film itself was actually released on July 27, 1984. As such, members of Prince’s estate are hosting a “Purple Rain” screening at 4 p.m. July 27 at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.

Tickets are $19.99 and are available via axs.com. VIP tickets are also available for $199.99 and include “a special reserved seating area, an exclusive event-related gift, unique photo opportunities, a private reception following the film and more.”

“Purple Rain” will be shown at center court, with people who worked on the film in attendance.

Prince headlined the basketball arena twice in December 1997 on his Jam of the Year World Tour and returned there on July 7, 2007, the day he also performed an afternoon show at Macy’s and a late-night gig at First Avenue, the club he helped make famous thanks to its prominence in the film. In addition to frequent visits to watch the Timberwolves and Lynx play, Prince joined Lenny Kravitz during his encore at Target Center in August 1999 to play guitar during “Fly Away.”

“We are thrilled to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ‘Purple Rain,’ a film that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide,” said Prince’s eldest sister Sharon L. Nelson in a news release. “This event is a heartfelt tribute to Prince’s unparalleled talent and the lasting impact of his artistry.”

“Purple Rain” grossed $70.3 million worldwide, against its $7.2 million budget and won an Academy Award for best original song score. In 2019, the film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The soundtrack spent 24 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, spawned five hit singles and won two Grammys. A musical based on the film is set to have its world premiere in April at Minneapolis’ State Theatre.

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Good luck getting top prospect Riley Heidt to talk about himself. If his answers this week at Wild development camp are any indication, he would much rather let his play do the talking.

Luckily for anybody following Heidt’s rise up the ranks, the way he carries himself on the ice speaks volumes about the player he could become.

After being selected by the Wild in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Heidt filled up the stat sheet last season with the Prince George Cougars, recording 37 goals and 80 assists across 66 games.

Not only did that production put the Wild on notice, it put Heidt in position to make the team out of training camp this season.

“Personally I believe that I’ve got a good shot,” Heidt said. “I’ve worked hard my whole life. I think I fit right in. It’s just going to come down to myself.”

That’s exactly the type of attitude general manager Bill Guerin is looking for out of young players trying to break through. Asked last month at the 2024 NHL Draft about Heidt’s chances of making the team, Guerin made it clear that nothing will be handed to him.

“You have to earn it,” Guerin said. “You have to beat guys out for a spot.”

The process of doing that started this week for Heidt as he arrived at Wild development camp with a chance to separate himself from his peers. He certainly looked the part while zipping around the ice at TRIA Rink in St. Paul, showcasing his immense skill set whenever the puck was on his stick.

“I’m not trying to do too much.” he said. “Just play my own game and stick to that.”

That’s more than enough for director of player development Brad Bombardir. He lauded how talented Heidt is on the surface while highlighting the ability to make plays at high speed as arguably his most impressive trait.

“He’s a little unique in that way,” Bombardir said. “It’s a different level than a lot of other players.”

The biggest thing Wild have stressed to Heidt is turning himself into a more complete player. They don’t want him to be content operating solely as a prolific scorer. They want him to be somebody the coaching staff has trust in sending over the boards in every situation.

“Obviously I’ve talked to the development guys a ton,” Heidt said. “We had some good talks about trying to improve my all-around game.”

His willingness to do that was noticeable last season as Heidt developed into a strong penalty killer.

“We have so much respect for him doing that,” Bombardir said. “It allowed him to grow his game.

What else does Heidt think he needs to do to prove himself?

“Just be myself out there,” he said with a smile. “I think they like me.”

Indeed. There’s no doubt that Heidt will be a player to watch at training camp in a couple of months. His job is to make sure the Wild have no choice other than to keep him around.

“It’s been my dream since Day 1,” Heidt said. “I wouldn’t be playing this sport if I didn’t want to do that.”

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Best Buy’s Geek Squad is to host an academy camp from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from July 17 to July 18 at Parkview Center School in Roseville.

The free two-day camp is for kids ages 10 to 18 and participants will have the opportunity to become “Junior Agents” by learning skills about coding, game design, photography, 3D Design and more.

The camp aims to help young people build self-confidence, creativity and learn how technology can benefit them, according to a statement by Best Buy.

To register visit web.cvent.com/event/9830fa1e-344e-4c51-b600-8d5f418edc46/websitePage:d7d0c02d-aaed-4297-9f83-4112b26b377e.

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The Dragon Festival is returning to St. Paul’s Lake Phalen from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday — the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The festival, which celebrates Asian and Pacific cultures, features Dragon Boat racing in which teams propel ornate long boats across the lake. The history of dragon boat racing dates back 2,400 years ago as a time to commemorate the death of a poet, minister and counselor to the emperor during the Chu dynasty.

There’s also ethnic foods and a variety of cultural activities. A beer garden, a bean bag toss tournament and a fashion show are among the many new additions this year.

Varieties of food from different Asian countries will be available, jewelry and handmade arts and crafts from a variety of Asian backgrounds and ethnicity will be showcased, according to a spokesperson from Dragon Festival.

The aim of the festival is to foster trust and a sense of community among Asian-Pacific communities, enhance pride and honor Asian-Pacific history and culture, according to organizers.

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