MINNEAPOLIS — When is a pencil not just a pencil?

When it’s on John and Amy Higgins’ lawn across from Lake of the Isles, is 20 feet tall and gets an annual public sharpening that draws crowds of more than 1,000 people.

The giant pencil, known as LOTI Pencil, will get its fourth annual sharpening this afternoon. The event kicks off another Minneapolis summer filled with outdoor art festivals and (hopefully) not a single day below 65 degrees.

This year’s pencil sharpening falls on Prince’s birthday — and the pencil is ready.

“Because of leap year, by coincidence, it’s going to be another 12 years before Prince’s birthday is on a Saturday,” John Higgins said. “Maybe one of the pencil crew dances [five people dressed in pencil costumes dance] will be to a Prince song. We’ve got special com

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