Good morning, Mankato.

Farmer George Denn of Good Thunder farm said his pumpkin season is in full swing at six honor system stands around Mankato, where buyers enjoy pumpkins in unique colors and sizes (blue, yellow, and orange).

Valley Veggies and Flowers near Minneopa recently stocked 500 of his pumpkins amid high demand.

Minnesota State University’s Good Thunder Reading Series returns with diverse literary events from campus to the Carnegie Art Center.

It starts Sept. 10 with a workshop, craft talk & reading by Rita Bullwinkel, with additional sessions featuring noted authors later this fall and early next year.

Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Schools is asking the community to vote yes on an operating levy on Nov.

3 to add $391 per student each year over the next decade. The measure comes after recent $600,000 cuts raised class sizes and reduced programs (fewer services now remain).

Tickets are on sale for Minnesota State University, Mankato's 2026-2027 Theatre and Dance season, featuring Mean Girls in October + Frozen in April alongside Studio plays and dance concerts.

Season packages starting at $100 and individual tickets at $12 are available online or at the box office Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.

Mankato Area Public Schools is vetting applicants to operate special childcare suits at Eagle Lake Elementary School as part of an ongoing project to expand care options for local families.

The school district started offering spaces after a successful bonding referendum funded building updates — giving families more childcare choices.

MnDOT will begin work on frontage roads in April before closing a mile-long segment of Highway 169 in North Mankato in May or June 2027 for new pavement and safety upgrades, with a detour in place until early October.

Baldwin’s Appliance Repair & Kato Glass donated thousands on Wednesday, Sept.

2 at the Anthony Ford Hockey Rink to support childhood cancer research and improvements at Spring Lake Park in North Mankato. The foundation will plan its pond hockey fundraiser on Jan. 30-31, weather permitting.

Mankato's outdoor Farmers+ Market remains open Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays plus Thursdays 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Best Buy parking lot on Adams, where local Market Bakery is serving fresh baked goods for six more weeks while nearly 50 vendors offer a range of produce, honey, and meats.

Mankato West football, led by its senior leadership, aims to bounce back as the Scarlets will open the season on Sept.

4 against Mahtomedi.

After two straight six-win seasons, the Mankato East football team (Cougars) will face Owatonna in Week 1 as they build momentum for a promising season.