Good morning, Mankato.

The Hickory Street RibFest moved downtown last month, offering a scaled-down event with local food vendors + bands while the Civic Center commits to permanent improvements and plans safety tweaks for next summer’s 2027 festival.

At Tuesday’s expo at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, seniors enjoyed a 30-minute performance by the VINE Stompers and free information sessions from real estate, nutrition, and legal vendors.

Volunteers and participants shared a lively mix of fun, friendship (and reflection) on aging.

Local Master Gardeners from Blue Earth County shared fall gardening tips to help residents harvest seeds and plant garlic and bulbs ahead of winter — reminding gardeners to let seeds dry fully, harvest before frost, and plant garlic between mid-October and Halloween to ensure proper root development.

Minnesota State University, Mankato invites alumni, students, and community members for Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct.

3. The day features a morning parade, free family events (like pancakes with the president and a carnival) and later ticketed athletic matchups and a theater production.

Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule will begin tomorrow, Oct.

1, and block utilities from disconnecting primary heating until April 30 if customers set up a payment plan (this protection also covers renters with accounts in their name).

Spirits at Rest received a conditional permit on Monday, Sept.

28 for its new 20,915 sqft recovery facility at 80 Power Drive that will offer 21-30 day treatment with 44 beds and a dedicated staff — the $7 million construction project is expected to finish next year.

Mankato Area Sunrise Lions Club will hold its ninth annual Diabetes Rally at the WOW!

Zone Family Entertainment Center on Saturday, Oct. 10 to raise funds for youth diabetes programs & research. The event begins at 8:45 a.m. and features a guest presentation, awareness walk, chili lunch, and games afterward.

Rescued sibling cats Lemon and Lime, about 6 months old with white fur and a splash of color, are ready for adoption after recovering from a hoarding situation.

They can be adopted together or separately by calling BENCHS at (507) 625-6373.

A large downtown block between Second and Broad streets from Hickory to Jackson is listed for sale at $3.45 million by local firm NAI North Star.

City Manager Susan Arntz said the city has received inquiries — no plans have been submitted.

Mankato Loyola volleyball beat Alden-Conger 3-1 on Tuesday during a local match, marking a solid win for the team.

MSU curlers Matthew Lannoye and Teagan Thurston have qualified for Team USA’s mixed doubles and will compete at the 2027 Winter World University Games in Changchun, China from Jan.

12 to 16. They must raise $10,000 for travel and lodging (they raised $1,850 so far).

The LeSueur-Henderson volleyball team is undefeated in section 2AA play this season and has strengthened its local standing by dominating recent matches + earning community respect.

Mankato East's volleyball team beat the Austin Packers 3-0 on Sep.

29, showing teamwork and skill during a local match.

Mankato West girls soccer hosted Owatonna on Tuesday night and lost 2-1 in a hard-fought match at their home field.