It’s that time again. Fine arts departments across the land are gearing up for fall performance seasons to give their students and the public something fun and arty to do at night.

Once again, we’ve made the rounds to those in our area. Compiled the line-ups. And printed them right here for you to cut out and put on the fridge for later.

Minnesota State University’s guest artist series has some goodies lined up. Cooker John, a folk and blues band from the Twin Cities, will kick things off Sept. 3. Piano blues musician Scottie Miller, world musicians Eastern Blok, and Harry Manx, who blends blues, folk and Hindustani classical music, are also on the roster.

Bethany Lutheran College and Gustavus Adolphus College have their usual line-ups of intimate recitals by students, faculty and alumni. And they’ve also got some good traveling talent coming in, as well as theater and dance performances. (For MSU Theatre & Dance’s upcoming season, please see the story to run Sept. 11.)

The always entertaining Theatre Physics, a vaudeville-style skit show, begins the season Sept. 18.

One of the fall highlights is guitarist Pat Donohue, said Lois Jaeger, Bethany fine arts director. Donohue is a “world-class guitarist,” she said, known for being a part of the Guys All-Star Shoe Band on MPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Al Behrends, fine arts director at Gustavus, has Kurt Elling coming back for a performance with the Laurence Hobgood Trio. Elling, a 1989 alum, is a six-time Grammy Award nominee for jazz vocals.

“His workable range is extraordinarily broad,” Behrends said.

He’ll be performing music Oct. 10 from his newest album, “Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman,” among other pieces, before heading to Washington, D.C., the next day by invitation from President Obama to perform at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass & Composers Competition.

His visit coincides with Gustavus’ Homecoming and Elling’s 20th anniversary of his graduation from Gustavus.

For various other entertainment offerings, read below.

Bethany Lutheran College

All events are in the Bethany Fine Arts Center theater unless otherwise noted. Events are free unless noted. For more information, visit www.blc.edu or call Lois Jaeger at 344-7365.

-- Bethany Fall Festival, campus wide, Sept. 18-20, featuring Arts on the Green and Theatre Physics

-- Theatre Physics, Sept. 18-20, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sept. 18 and 19, 2 p.m. Sept. 20, $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors