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Best events in
Mankato

Events and things to do in Mankato, MN blend small-town charm with a full calendar of community activities. The local scene adapts to the seasons, with outdoor festivals and concerts at venues like Vetter Stone Amphitheater filling the warmer months. From the historic, artsy feel of Old Town to the bustling nightlife of the City Center, different areas provide unique atmospheres for entertainment.

Wander through historic Old Town to discover silo art and boutique shops before finding live music at a neighborhood spot like the Oleander Saloon.
Experience major concerts and Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks hockey games at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in the City Center.
Enjoy North Mankato's distinct community feel with annual street festivals along Belgrade Avenue, such as the summer's Blues on Belgrade and the fall's Bier on Belgrade.

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Popular in Mankato

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Mankato, MN - Micro Maidens: The Show @Kato Ballroom primary image

Mankato, MN - Micro Maidens: The Show @Kato Ballroom

Thu, Oct 15 • 8:00 PM

Kato Ballroom

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Hocus Pocus Picture Show! primary image

Hocus Pocus Picture Show!

Sat, Oct 17 • 11:30 AM

Circle Inn

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Reading Ready Revolution™ Kick-Off primary image

Reading Ready Revolution™ Kick-Off

Tue, Oct 20 • 5:30 PM

Wow! Zone

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Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange primary image

Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange

Wed, Oct 28 • 9:30 AM

VINE Adult Community Center

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Own the Shift Leadership Tour: Leading with Confidence Through Change primary image

Own the Shift Leadership Tour: Leading with Confidence Through Change

Thu, Oct 29 • 6:00 PM

Maverick Innovation Gateway

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2026 Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes primary image

2026 Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes

Sun, Nov 8 • 11:00 AM

Mankato

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Tell Me Lies - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac primary image

Tell Me Lies - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Thu, Nov 12 • 8:00 PM

The Venue

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Mankato, MN - Micro Maidens: The Show @Kato Ballroom primary image

Mankato, MN - Micro Maidens: The Show @Kato Ballroom

Thu, Oct 15 • 8:00 PM

Kato Ballroom

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Hocus Pocus Picture Show! primary image

Hocus Pocus Picture Show!

Sat, Oct 17 • 11:30 AM

Circle Inn

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Reading Ready Revolution™ Kick-Off primary image

Reading Ready Revolution™ Kick-Off

Tue, Oct 20 • 5:30 PM

Wow! Zone

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Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange primary image

Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange

Wed, Oct 28 • 9:30 AM

VINE Adult Community Center

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Own the Shift Leadership Tour: Leading with Confidence Through Change primary image

Own the Shift Leadership Tour: Leading with Confidence Through Change

Thu, Oct 29 • 6:00 PM

Maverick Innovation Gateway

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2026 Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes primary image

2026 Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes

Sun, Nov 8 • 11:00 AM

Mankato

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Tell Me Lies - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac primary image

Tell Me Lies - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Thu, Nov 12 • 8:00 PM

The Venue

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry primary image

A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Tomorrow • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube primary image

AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube

Thursday • 6:00 PM EDT

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HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism primary image

HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 1:00 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett primary image

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026 primary image

Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry primary image

A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Tomorrow • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube primary image

AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube

Thursday • 6:00 PM EDT

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HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism primary image

HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 1:00 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett primary image

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026 primary image

Humanitarian Water Engineering Fall 2026

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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From nearby cities

Mankato, MN - Micro Maidens: The Show @Kato Ballroom primary image

Mankato, MN - Micro Maidens: The Show @Kato Ballroom

Thu, Oct 15 • 8:00 PM

Kato Ballroom

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Hocus Pocus Picture Show! primary image

Hocus Pocus Picture Show!

Sat, Oct 17 • 11:30 AM

Circle Inn

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District 18 Candidate Forum primary image

District 18 Candidate Forum

Thu, Oct 22 • 5:30 PM

620 S Rd

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Australia's GIRLS NIGHT OUT LIVE :TAKEOVER SAINT PETER,MN! primary image

Australia's GIRLS NIGHT OUT LIVE :TAKEOVER SAINT PETER,MN!

Thu, Oct 22 • 8:00 PM

Tremendous Brewing Company

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2026 Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes primary image

2026 Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes

Sun, Nov 8 • 11:00 AM

Mankato

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Tell Me Lies - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac primary image

Tell Me Lies - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Thu, Nov 12 • 8:00 PM

The Venue

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Growing in the GreenSeam Workshop primary image

Growing in the GreenSeam Workshop

Sat, Nov 14 • 9:00 AM

Maverick Innovation Gateway

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Vision Studios Presents: The Spooklights @ JUX primary image

Vision Studios Presents: The Spooklights @ JUX

Fri, Dec 18 • 7:00 PM

12 Civic Center Plaza

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Mankato, MN - Micro Maidens: The Show @Kato Ballroom primary image

Mankato, MN - Micro Maidens: The Show @Kato Ballroom

Thu, Oct 15 • 8:00 PM

Kato Ballroom

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Hocus Pocus Picture Show! primary image

Hocus Pocus Picture Show!

Sat, Oct 17 • 11:30 AM

Circle Inn

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District 18 Candidate Forum primary image

District 18 Candidate Forum

Thu, Oct 22 • 5:30 PM

620 S Rd

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Australia's GIRLS NIGHT OUT LIVE :TAKEOVER SAINT PETER,MN! primary image

Australia's GIRLS NIGHT OUT LIVE :TAKEOVER SAINT PETER,MN!

Thu, Oct 22 • 8:00 PM

Tremendous Brewing Company

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2026 Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes primary image

2026 Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes

Sun, Nov 8 • 11:00 AM

Mankato

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Tell Me Lies - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac primary image

Tell Me Lies - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Thu, Nov 12 • 8:00 PM

The Venue

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Growing in the GreenSeam Workshop primary image

Growing in the GreenSeam Workshop

Sat, Nov 14 • 9:00 AM

Maverick Innovation Gateway

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Vision Studios Presents: The Spooklights @ JUX primary image

Vision Studios Presents: The Spooklights @ JUX

Fri, Dec 18 • 7:00 PM

12 Civic Center Plaza

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Free events

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Regulatory Fairness Hearing - Mankato, MN primary image

Regulatory Fairness Hearing - Mankato, MN

Thu, Oct 15 • 9:30 AM

MSU's Centennial Student Union

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Reading Ready Revolution™ Kick-Off primary image

Reading Ready Revolution™ Kick-Off

Tue, Oct 20 • 5:30 PM

Wow! Zone

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Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange primary image

Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange

Wed, Oct 28 • 9:30 AM

VINE Adult Community Center

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Own the Shift Leadership Tour: Leading with Confidence Through Change primary image

Own the Shift Leadership Tour: Leading with Confidence Through Change

Thu, Oct 29 • 6:00 PM

Maverick Innovation Gateway

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Regulatory Fairness Hearing - Mankato, MN primary image

Regulatory Fairness Hearing - Mankato, MN

Thu, Oct 15 • 9:30 AM

MSU's Centennial Student Union

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Reading Ready Revolution™ Kick-Off primary image

Reading Ready Revolution™ Kick-Off

Tue, Oct 20 • 5:30 PM

Wow! Zone

Check ticket price on event

Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange primary image

Southern Minnesota Age-Friendly Exchange

Wed, Oct 28 • 9:30 AM

VINE Adult Community Center

Check ticket price on event

Own the Shift Leadership Tour: Leading with Confidence Through Change primary image

Own the Shift Leadership Tour: Leading with Confidence Through Change

Thu, Oct 29 • 6:00 PM

Maverick Innovation Gateway

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Points of Interest near Mankato

Rasmussen Woods

Childrens Museum Of Southern Minnesota

Carnegie Art Center

Blue Earth County Historical Society

Mount Kato Ski Area

Land Of Memories Campground

Frequently asked questions about Mankato

Are there free events to attend in Mankato, MN?

Yes, Mankato offers several free community events to enjoy. The CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour is a year-long public art display, while summer brings the Songs on the Lawn concert series and Music in the Park events.

Where can I find live music events in Mankato?

Several venues in Mankato regularly host live music events. The historic Kato Ballroom features various acts, while the Oleander Saloon in Old Town is a go-to spot for a 21+ crowd and diverse music genres.

What are some family-friendly events in Mankato?

North Mankato is known for its family-friendly street festivals. The series of events on Belgrade Avenue offers fun for all ages, as do the weekly Mankato Farmers' Markets that run from spring through fall.

What is the nightlife like in Mankato's City Center?

Mankato's City Center is the hub for local nightlife, especially on weekends. The area features gastropubs like Pub 500 with trivia and bingo nights, alongside other bars and restaurants that attract a lively college crowd.

What kind of outdoor events happen in Mankato?

Mankato's outdoor event calendar is especially active in the summer. Vetter Stone Amphitheater hosts large concerts and the annual Ribfest, while various parks host free music series and community gatherings.

How can I experience the local art scene in Mankato?

The local art scene is very accessible in Mankato. The Carnegie Art Center hosts monthly exhibits showcasing local talent, and the year-long CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour transforms the City Center into an outdoor gallery.

What's the difference between things to do in Old Town and City Center?

Old Town offers a historic, artsy vibe with boutiques and intimate venues. City Center provides a more modern nightlife experience and is home to the large-scale concerts and sporting events at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.

Are there food and drink festivals in Mankato?

Yes, Mankato hosts several popular food and drink-focused events. The annual Ribfest at Vetter Stone Amphitheater is a major highlight, and North Mankato's Bier on Belgrade is a popular fall celebration.