LOCAL 10: Hastings Ideas, Weekend Plans and Local Updates
Historic Downtown Hastings Minnesota Car Show — July 2026. Photo by Ashley Media.
Today’s reviewed local brief includes a downtown planning survey, opening night for Matilda, school-supply needs, weekend activities, local shopping updates and useful community information.
Weather companion
Friday, July 24, 2026, brings mostly sunny skies to Hastings, with a high near 82°F and a steady south-southwest breeze. The night is expected to be partly cloudy with a low near 66°F; read today’s Hastings Weather + On This Date for the full companion brief.
Friday’s LOCAL 10 has a strong “what happens next” theme.
Residents can weigh in on the future of a key downtown property, local performers are taking the stage, Hastings Family Service is preparing students for the school year, and several organizations have timely weekend updates.
Here are ten reviewed local stories to help you plan Friday and the days ahead.
Top 3 Today
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
1. Hastings seeks public ideas for the downtown Depot parking lot
The City of Hastings is gathering community input about possible improvements to the approximately 100-space Depot parking lot and neighboring Depot Park in downtown Hastings.
This is an early planning and listening process—not an announcement of a final design or construction project. Residents, downtown visitors and other community stakeholders can review the city’s development project information and complete the anonymous Depot survey.
The survey gives the community an opportunity to share how the property is used today and what improvements may be worth considering in the future.
2. Black Dirt Theater opens Matilda the Musical Friday night
Photo by Ashley Media
Black Dirt Theater opens its production of Matilda the Musical at Hastings High School on Friday, July 24, at 7:00 PM.
Additional performances are scheduled for Saturday, July 25; Thursday, July 30; Friday, July 31; and Saturday, August 1.
Online ticket sales close at 5:00 PM on each performance date. Readers should use Black Dirt Theater’s production page to review the current performance schedule and ticket availability.
3. Hastings Family Service collects school supplies through August 11
Hastings Family Service is accepting school-supply donations for local students through Tuesday, August 11.
Residents, businesses and organizations can bring donations to the HFS Donation Center at 301 Second Street East during its posted donation hours.
The organization maintains a current list of requested supplies, so donors should review the official school-supply deadline and collection information before shopping or dropping off items.
Quick Hits
4. Beloved Boutique closes Friday before its final-week sale
Beloved Boutique says it will be closed Friday, July 24, while the downtown shop prepares additional inventory markdowns.
The store plans to reopen Saturday, July 25, at 11:00 AM, with remaining inventory marked 75% off. Shoppers can review the business through the Beloved Boutique website, but should expect limited quantities and changing availability.
The source announcement did not establish the store’s final closing date.
5. St. John’s hosts a free family swim Sunday evening
St. John’s Lutheran Church is inviting local families to a free swim at the Hastings Family Aquatic Center on Sunday, July 26, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM.
Families can review the church’s first-party event announcement before attending. The source does not state whether advance registration or capacity restrictions apply, so admission should not be considered guaranteed.
6. Afton Apple Orchard pauses raspberry picking
Afton Apple Orchard says summer raspberry picking is temporarily closed while more berries ripen.
The orchard plans to publish its next picking update Sunday evening, July 26. That is an update date—not a confirmed reopening date—so customers should check the orchard’s latest raspberry announcement or official website before making the trip.
7. Hastings’ weekly city update covers local government and upcoming plans
The City of Hastings’ latest weekly update gathers several current municipal items in one place, including National Night Out information, a City Council recap and links to upcoming community events and notices.
Residents can open the city’s weekly newsletter and follow its links to the responsible city pages for the full details.
Because the newsletter covers several separate topics, readers should verify individual dates, deadlines and instructions on the underlying city source before acting.
8. Durow Farms opens ordering for local beef shares
Durow Farms, located north of Hastings, is taking orders for beef and ground-beef shares.
The farm says August delivery is available and that home delivery is offered within its stated Twin Cities service area. Customers can review the first-party ordering announcement and contact the farm for current prices, package weights and delivery boundaries.
9. Spiral Food Co-op adds an alkaline-water option
Spiral Natural Foods Co-op says its new water machine now includes an alkaline-water option alongside its existing ultrapure refill water.
Co-op shoppers and refill-water customers can review the store’s service announcement for more information.
This is a store-service update. HastingsNow is not making any medical, health or wellness claims about alkaline water.
10. Krazy Kat Vintage announces 20% off furniture
Krazy Kat Vintage says its furniture is currently 20% off, including pieces that had already received other price reductions.
Local vintage and furniture shoppers can review the shop’s current sale announcement.
No sale-ending date was published, and all offers remain subject to current inventory.
If you only click one
Complete the City of Hastings’ Depot parking lot and Depot Park survey.
It is today’s most broadly useful link because it gives residents and downtown visitors a direct opportunity to help shape the city’s early thinking about a prominent public property.
Share a useful local update
Hastings-area businesses, organizations and residents may submit useful updates, clarifications and community responses through Local Pigeon.
Every submission is reviewed, and submitting information does not guarantee publication. HastingsNow remains the editor and publisher and makes the final decision about what appears in LOCAL 10 and elsewhere on HastingsNow.com.
How LOCAL 10 is selected
LOCAL 10 is selected for usefulness, timing, local relevance, source diversity and public value. Inclusion is not paid placement and is never guaranteed.
