For specific dates, visit the calendar of events!

International Festival
April
An event designed to celebrate and raise awareness of cultural diversity in Greater Mankato. Enjoy taste-testing a variety of foods from throughout the world and viewing colorful costumes and dance demonstrations from an array of countries.

Location: Mankato East High School – intersection of Hwy 22 and Hoffman Road.

Brew Fest    
June

Great River Energy Bike Festival    
June

Rockin' in the Quarry    http://symphony.mankato.com/
June
507.625.8880
The Mankato Symphony Orchestra and SMC present a rockin’ good time. Gather your friends, family and neighbors and prepare for a unique listening experience. The orchestra performs a concert that includes everything from pops favorites to the 1812 Overture, complete with cannons. Bring a lawn chair, pack a picnic and enjoy a FREE rock concert of popular music.

Location: SMC Kasota Quarry – three miles north of the intersection of Third Avenue and Hwy. 14
 
North Mankato Fun Days
July
A Community celebration and large homecoming for everyone. A kiddie parade and a large community parade travel the winding streets of lower North Mankato and include floats, cars, tractors and candy! This four day festival is one of the largest summer events and features a carnival, food stands, bingo, and beer garden with music from local artists.

Location: Wheeler Park – intersection of Range Street and Garfield Avenue in North Mankato.

Alltel Minnesota Viking Training Camp    www.vikings.com
Late July to Early August - For One Month
The end of the summer means hot and heavy workouts for the Minnesota Vikings professional football team. Watch them train on Blakeslee Field at Minnesota State University, Mankato, two times a day, six days a week. Get up-close and personal at a scrimmage, Party Purple, in Vikings Village or at an autograph session.

Location: Campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato

Commerce on Commerce Day    
August

Hickory Street Ribfest    www.alltelcenter.com
August
 507.389.3000
Award winning ribbers from all across the country gather to provide good eats on Hickory Street for one weekend a year. Bring the whole family and be entertained by a wide variety of live bands and games for the kids.

Location: Parking lot between Hickory and Cherry Streets

Mahkato Mdewakanton PowWow
September
Thousands of Native Americans return to their ceremonial grounds in Land of Memories Park. Members of different tribes come together to celebrate and reenact ceremonial dances while wearing traditional costumes. A wonderful display of colorful costumes, traditional foods and crafts can all be found at this event honoring our Native American history.

Location: Land of Memories Park – one mile south of Mankato on Hwy. 169

History Fest      www.historyfest.com
October
Take a trip to Jack McGowan’s farm as he transforms his rural farm into a weekend of historical hands-on recreation. Special exhibits include fire eaters, candle making, ox drawn carriage rides and hot air balloon rides.  For more excitement learn to belly dance, catapult a pumpkin or watch a reenactment of the civil war.

Location: McGowan’s farm  

Deep Valley Book Festival      www.deepvalleybookfest.com
November
507.345.9777
Presented by the Betsy-Tacy Society, Minnesota Heritage Publishing, the goal of the festival is to promote Minnesota authors and writers. Gathering authors, writers and publishers together for a two day celebration of books and reading gives the public a chance to meet the authors and visit with them personally. Authors will have a chance to show their work and interact with their peers through programs and presentations. Mankato, home to author Maud Hart Lovelace, is a perfect setting for an event such as this. In the Betsy-Tacy books Lovelace depicted Mankato as the “ Deep Valley” where she “Betsy” and friends grew up.

  Back to top