LOCAL 10: Aquatic Center Finale, Fall Sign-Ups and New Faces
The Lake Isabelle Association held their 2nd Annual Gem of the East celebration with food, drinks, music, games and lots of smiles. Photo by Ashley Media
Sunday’s LOCAL 10 covers the final pool day of 2026, fall activities and classes, a new veterinary payment option, community updates and a little Hastings history.
Weather Companion
Weather companion by HastingsNow.com
Sunday, August 23 brings a sunny, comfortable day to Hastings, with a high near 79°F and a light northwest wind. Tonight looks mostly clear with a low near 52°F; see today’s Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date for the companion brief.
It’s Sunday, August 23, and today’s list has one especially time-sensitive reminder: this is the last day of the season at the Hastings Family Aquatic Center.
Beyond that, fall is starting to take shape. Dance and early-childhood options are available, a local business is planning an anniversary week, and several organizations have new updates worth knowing.
Here are today’s 10.
Top 3 Today
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
1. Hastings Family Aquatic Center Closes for the Season Sunday
Sunday, August 23 is the final operating day of the 2026 season at the Hastings Family Aquatic Center, 901 Maple St.
The pool is open from 12:00–5:00 PM for its final day, according to the City of Hastings.
If a last swim of summer is part of today’s plan, this is the day to do it. See the City of Hastings’ aquatic center closing-day update for the source announcement.
2. Just For Kix Hastings Still Lists Openings in 2026–27 Dance Classes
Families looking ahead to fall activities still have options at Just For Kix Hastings, 1806 Vermillion St.
Its current registration information lists numerous 2026–27 classes as Open, with several others described as Almost Full, across multiple ages and grade levels.
Because availability can change, families should check the current choices rather than relying on a static count of openings. Start with the latest Just For Kix Hastings registration update.
3. Town & Country Veterinary Adds Cherry Payment Plans
Visit Town & Country Vet in Hastings, Minnesota.
Town & Country Veterinary Services in Hastings says Cherry payment plans are now available as a payment option for veterinary care.
That gives customers another payment method to ask about when arranging care.
The announcement does not establish approval requirements, interest rates, repayment terms or other costs, so those details should come directly from the provider. See Town & Country Veterinary Services’ announcement.
Quick Hits
4. Hometown Dairy Plans First-Anniversary Week for September 14–20
Hometown Dairy says it will celebrate its first year in business from September 14–20 in Hastings.
The week is expected to include deals, food, games and gift-card drawings. A more detailed daily schedule appears in the business’s announcement, but those individual specials have not been separately checked for today’s LOCAL 10.
See Hometown Dairy’s first-anniversary announcement for the original update.
5. Fall ECFE Registration Is Available Through Hastings Community Education
Families with babies and young children can start looking ahead to fall through Hastings Community Education.
Its current ECFE information includes Fall 2026 options, the 2026–27 early-childhood calendar and registration, with recent district updates also pointing families toward September ECFE classes at Tilden Community Center, 310 River St.
Individual class availability can change. See Hastings Community Education’s recent ECFE update and use the current program information when choosing a class.
6. Hastings Welcomes a New Fire Inspector and Police Officer
Two new public-safety staff members have joined the City of Hastings.
The City says Ben Blanchard joined the Hastings Fire Department as Fire Inspector on August 4, while Stephen Golden joined the Hastings Police Department as a police officer on August 10.
Read the City of Hastings introduction to its new team members.
7. Créme de la Créme Teases a Mystery Flavor for August 27
Follow Crème De La Crème on Facebook.
Créme de la Créme is giving customers something to guess about before later this week.
The Hastings business says a new mystery item or flavor will become available Thursday, August 27. Its teaser hints at what may be coming but intentionally stops short of formally naming it.
We won’t spoil the guessing—or turn the hint into a confirmed flavor. See Créme de la Créme’s August 27 teaser.
8. “Jumping Jack” Sculpture Lands at Benjamin-Lewis Sculpture Park
A grasshopper has landed at Benjamin-Lewis Sculpture Park—at least the steel kind.
Hastings artist Dale Lewis says his sculpture “Jumping Jack” is now installed at the park near Highway 42 and Lock Boulevard after appearing at several other area locations.
The current placement comes from Lewis’s own update rather than a separate park listing. See the artist’s “Jumping Jack” installation post.
9. SEAS Parish Schedules 12-Week Evangelical Catholic Program
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish says a 12-week Evangelical Catholic program is scheduled for Thursdays from September 3 through November 19, from 6:00–8:00 PM in the parish conference room.
The program is aimed at adults interested in Catholic faith formation.
The announcement does not clearly define registration requirements or whether participation is limited to parishioners, so interested residents should confirm those details with the parish. Read the SEAS program announcement.
10. City’s Flashback Friday Spotlights Hastings Ardent Mill History
Today’s list ends with a look backward.
The City of Hastings has published a new Flashback Friday feature about the Hastings Ardent Mill and its history in the community.
For readers interested in the places and industries that helped shape Hastings, the City’s longer post has the full history feature. Read the Ardent Mill Flashback Friday story.
If You Only Click One
Start with the City of Hastings’ aquatic center update.
It is the most time-sensitive item in today’s LOCAL 10: Sunday, August 23 is the final day of the 2026 season, and the pool closes at 5:00 PM.
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