Good morning, Mankato.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Mankato Salvation Army hosted its annual Bundle Me Warm event and gave away over 2500 winter clothing items to more than 800 people in need.

Donations for next year's event are now accepted at local sites — including the Thrift Store, Walmart, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, local banks, and the Amboy Lions Club.

Massad’s Grille (run under S&E Ramos LLC) in the River Hills Mall food court announced on Facebook that it will close on November 29 after decades of serving locals, and customers lined up Wednesday morning for their chicken schwarma and signature sauce.

Some patrons plan to get their schwarma fixes at Sadaka’s Deli while local grocery stores (including the St. Peter Food Co-op) will keep the sauce on their shelves.

Multi-talented artist Mark Braun's pencil illustrations will be on display today through Sunday at Shared Spaces at Emy Frentz building, 523 S.

Second St—sponsored by Twin Rivers Council for the Arts. The exhibit offers an open house Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and extended hours on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.—a digital gallery of his work will be online from Oct. 20 through Nov. 15.

Amelia Wayne led the Mankato 77 Lancers to win multiple awards including best colorguard, percussion, winds and visuals at the Youth in Music Marching Band Championships held last week at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The band will present its new dark show — The Uninvited — to the community on Oct 23 at MSU as it continues to build on its success.

Several school districts are presenting referendum measures on November 4—asking taxpayers for budget approvals to repair and upgrade school facilities.

The ballot questions include requests for secure entrances, technical education expansions, and classroom renovations at multiple districts.

North Mankato Taylor Library now offers a club for kids ages 10 to 17 to explore ghosts and strange events; the group led by librarian Jeremy Freeman meets with games, films, and talks on puzzling topics.

The club, renamed from Cryptid Club to attract more members, will meet on Oct 30 at 4 p.m.—no signup is needed.

Mary Jane Hollerich, a local teacher battling stage four pancreatic cancer, is running the Mankato 10K this Saturday to defy the odds and inspire others.

Since her April 2023 diagnosis, her family and faith have bolstered her determination—she hopes the race will also encourage early cancer screening.

Minnesota State volleyball swept Winona State in three sets on Friday (October 17) with Avery Rosenberg leading with 11 kills, and the Mavericks will play a road game against Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday (the team aims to build on its strong performance).

A Night in Valhalla: Viking After-Dark Experience

7-11 PM — Great Northern Viking Festival — Tickets on sale now — Experience a night of mead, music, and Viking-themed merriment in an immersive setting.

MN Child Welfare Training Academy: MDT Collaboration in Child Protection

— Time Range — Centennial Student Union — Free entry — Explore effective multidisciplinary team strategies in child protection through in-depth training sessions.

Holiday Craft and Gift Show

3-7 p.m. — Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center — $3 Admission — Enjoy three days of shopping, festive cheer, and handcrafted treasures from local vendors.

Styx and Loverboy Concert

1:30-9:00 p.m. — Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center — Tickets from $47.50 — Rock legends Styx and Loverboy promise a night of classic hits and electrifying performances.

MSU Moorhead Dragons vs. Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks Football

12:00 – 1:30 PM — Blakeslee Stadium — Tickets from $33 — Cheer on the Dragons and Mavericks in an exciting collegiate football matchup.