Fall Family Adventures

FarmAmerica Fall Festival

Sept. 14

Come to Farmamerica for the Fall Festival where there will be lots of fun activities to enjoy together as a family! Enjoy the corn maze, Prairie Fairy, food trucks, vendor fair, tram rides, games for kids including old-fashioned school-yard games & scavenger hunt.

Sept. 14

Harvest Bowl

Sept. 14

The Harvest Bowl combines football and farm fun! The Minnesota State University, Mankato (360° virtual tour) Mavericks take on Winona State in a football match-up during the third annual Harvest bowl at Blakeslee Stadium. The start time is scheduled for 1 p.m. and a host of events and activities lead up to the kick-off. The line-up includes tractors, a mechanical bull and a coloring contest with cheer/dance.

Stay Tuned for additional details

Sept. 14

Old Town Art Fair

Sept. 14

Come celebrate the 9th annual 2019 Old Town Art Fair!

A day filled with fun, authentic local art experience that you won’t want to miss! Come out, bring your friends, and show your support for your community and for the arts!

Sept. 14

Mankato Farmer's Market

Sept. 14 - 28

The Mankato Farmers Market has been in Mankato for over 40 years. Shopping at and supporting the farmers’ market circulates money within our community, helping to keep it strong. Local farmers and artisans at the market continue to help our community thrive by recirculating your wisely spent dollars. The main outdoor Market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, through the second Saturday in October. Hours are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Mankato Farmers’ Market is also open Tuesdays & Thursdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The market is located at 1895 Adams Street in the Best Buy parking lot.

Dates, Times and Location

Sept. 14 – Best Buy Parking Lot– 8am-12pm
Sept. 17 – Best Buy Parking Lot – 3:30-6pm
Sept. 19 – Hub Food Park – 3:30pm-6pm
Sept. 21 – Best Buy Parking Lot– 8am-12pm
Sept. 24 – Best Buy Parking Lot – 3:30pm-6pm
Sept. 26 – Hub Food Park – 3:30pm-6pm
Sept. 28 – Best Buy Parking Lot – 8am-12pm
Oct 3 – Hub Food Park – 3:30-6pm
Oct 5 – Best Buy Parking Lot – 8am-12pm
Oct 8 – Best Buy Parking Lot – 3:30-6pm
Oct 10 – Hub Food Park – 3:30pm-6pm
Oct. 12 – Best Buy Parking Lot – 8am-12pm
Oct. 15 – Best Buy Parking Lot – 3:30pm-6pm

Sept. 14-28

River Hills Mall Fall Fling Craft & Vendor Fair

Sept. 20-22

The Craft & Vendor Markets are special events where local businesses, crafters, artisans and more can come into River Hills Mall to sell or advertise products and services. These tabling events are in the mall’s common area.

Sept. 20-22

Mankato Maker's Market

Sept. 22

The Mankato Makerspace hosts the Mankato Maker Market, a showcase and market of locally made or sourced arts, crafts, production and harvests! Hosted on the final Sunday of each month, the market will be your source for local, whether it be fine art, home decor, coffee, produce. Stop on down any time between 12-5 pm to check out the selection behind the Mankato Makerspace at 1700 3rd Ave. Rain days will be moved inside the Makerspace.

Sept.22

Pumpkin Junction at Blue Skye Farms

Sept. 28 - Oct 27

Pumpkin Junction began in 2016, where a bumper crop of pumpkins allowed for Blue Sky Farms to share the harvest with area families. Enjoy kids games, fun maze, farm activities, concession stand, farmer’s market, hayrides and more! Pumpkin Junction is held weekends beginning the end of September through October and is FREE.

Special Dates

Sept. 28-29
Oct. 5-6
Oct. 12-13
Oct. 17-20
Oct. 26-27

Hours 10-5pm; Sundays 12pm-5pm

Sept.28 - Oct.27

Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota's Harvest Festival

Oct. 5-20

Make fall memories at the Children’s Museum at the fifth annual Harvest Festival! Come explore the toddler straw maze, play in corn and soybean pits, meet and greet a variety of visiting animals, learn all about the science of pumpkins and decorate your own in the Loft, and even try new harvest foods.

Special Dates

Oct. 5-6: Ag on the Move
Oct. 5: Tractor Alley 9am-4pm: This is free outdoor event. Museum membership or daily admission is required to access indoor Museum exhibits.
Oct. 5: Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence Grain Bin Safety 9am – 2pm
Oct. 5: Minnesota Owl Program from 10am-11am
Oct. 6: 4-H Engineering Design Challenge – 1-3pm
Oct 12 – 13: Harvest Foods
Oct. 12: Bread Wagon, wheat grinding, & butter making 10am-12pm; Cider Making 1-3pm
Oct 13: Food Preservation (canning, freezing, dehydrating)
Oct 13: Under the Sun Herbs 10am-2pm
Oct. 17-20: Harvest Fun
Oct 17: Ag Afternoon with Midwest Dairy, MN Pork, Blue Earth County Corn and Soybean, Alltech, Minnesota Turkey, and MN Soil Health Coalition, 1-3pm
Oct.17: Harvest Hoedown 6-8pm with Square Dancing 6:30-7:30pm and Harvest Food Sampling from South Central College Culinary Arts Students
Oct. 18: Pets and Vets with MN Valley Pet Hospital – stuffed animal checkups and therapy dogs Niko and Louie 9:30-10:30am
Oct.19: Old Fashioned Fun & Games
Oct. 20: Pet Expo 1-2 pm

Oct. 5-20

Party on the Prairie

Oct. 5

Join us in Benson Park in North Mankato for this free community event including a corn pit, scarecrow walk, face painting, bounce house, hayrides, fall food, drinks and more!

Bring your lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy live music, starting at 2pm.

Oct. 5

The Mankato River Ramble

Oct. 6

Savor some of Minnesota’s best cycling. Explore the autumnal beauty of the Minnesota River Valley at the 8th Annual Mankato River Ramble. The landscape will be dressed in peak fall colors. Try one of four scenic tours ranging from 12 to 58 miles. You’ll pass charming waterfalls, epic river valleys and bountiful farmland at the easy pace of a bicycle. Don’t miss the award-winning pie, world renown raspberry bars, invigorating fresh fruit, and all of the other treats, attractions, and amenities while on the River Ramble. Plus, all of this great entertainment is family friendly — kiddos and teens up to age 17 ride for free!

Oct. 6

Cirque Du Crave

Oct. 10

Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP) is proud to present our 2nd annual “Cirque du Crave” fundraising event!

Enjoy a culinary competition featuring dishes prepared by local restaurants, mix & mingle under the big top, and be wowed by circus entertainers & sideshows – all while raising awareness about youth hunger!

FOCP is a local non-profit focused on solving youth hunger, primarily through the work of the BackPack Food Program for elementary students, and the Power Pack program for middle school students. During the 2019-20 school year, FOCP will serve close to 1,000 youth, in 21 public schools!

Oct. 10

Maker Fair Minnesota

Oct. 12

Join us for the 8th Annual Maker Fair Minnesota Handcrafted Artisan event on Saturday, October 12, 2019 9am – 4pm at the Nicollet County Fairgrounds in St. Peter, MN.

The Maker Fair started in Minnesota in 2012 to celebrate handcrafted arts and foods. The event features a large all-handcrafted fair showcasing artisans selling everything from knitting to stained glass, upcycled furniture to soap, jewelry to pottery, home décor to clothing. Meet the makers and start your holiday shopping by buying local, one of a kind creations.

The event kicks off with Goodie Bags filled with coupons and samples from our makers distributed to the first 50 adult shoppers. Attendees can also get crafty by making adult and kid make-and-take crafts sponsored by local businesses. Grab a bite to eat, shop the handmade maker booths and enjoy the atmosphere of the Nicollet County Fairgrounds. In the afternoon, Goodie Bags filled with coupons and samples made for a younger crowd are handed out to the first 50 youth shoppers in line.

Oct. 12

Farmamerica Harvest Celebration

Oct. 12

Join in the trick-or-treating and pumpkin decorating fun at Farmamerica. Highlights include a corn maze, corn sensory activities, touch-a-truck, bounce house, scavenger hunts, festive games and prizes, pick a pumpkin, free apple cider, local food truck, tours of the historic farm sites and more.

Oct. 12

The Mankato Marathon

Oct. 18-19

Come celebrate the 10th Anniversary the Mankato Marathon on Oct 18-19, 2019! The Midwest’s boldest race will feature a brand-NEW urban course, highlighting the beautiful Minnesota River Valley. Sign up for the Full, Half, Relay,10K, 5K or Bold Challenges – but don’t hog up all the fun and get the kiddos registered for the youth races. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Come for the run and stay for the fun with plenty of events and activities going on throughout Mankato on Saturday evening.

Oct. 18-19

Plan Your Mankato Getaway

Where to Stay

In greater Mankato, you’ll find more than just a comfortable night’s sleep. We have hotels with on-site restaurants; game rooms and swimming pools and more!

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Where to Dine

Where to Eat

Mankato has a strong local food scene where restaurants in the City Center and nearby neighborhoods serve everything from New York style pizza to creative burger creations and local craft beer.

Find Food

Where to Play

In Mankato, we know that recreation is a big part of any vacation. Whether you want to stay indoors or conquer the great outdoors, Mankato is your getaway destination in southern Minnesota!

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Visitor Guides

Read through the Travel Guides and Explore all there is to do in Greater Mankato including maps of the CityArt Sculpture Tour and Southern Minnesota biking trails and hiking paths along the countryside.