LOCAL 10: School Supplies, Apple Season and Freedom Fest
Downtown Hastings, MN in the evening. Image by HastingsNow.com
School-supply help, apple picking, September events, local jobs and fall fundraisers lead Saturday’s LOCAL 10 for Hastings.
Weather Companion
Weather companion by HastingsNow.com
Saturday, August 29, brings an 80% chance of morning showers and thunderstorms to Hastings, followed by improving conditions and a high near 82°F. Saturday night stays mostly cloudy near 67°F; see today’s Hastings Weather + On This Date for the full companion.
Saturday’s list starts with something immediately useful for local families, then moves into apple season and a growing September calendar.
There are also two local hiring opportunities, an approaching ski-pass deadline and several community fundraisers worth knowing about before September gets busy.
Infographic by HastingsNow.com
1. HFS Still Has “To Go” School-Supply Backpacks
Hastings Family Service says families living in ISD 200, or with students attending school in ISD 200, can still register for a filled “To Go” backpack while supplies last.
Families should call HFS at 651-437-7134 before going. Backpacks are filled according to the student’s school and grade.
The program is intended for eligible ISD 200 families and students, and availability is limited to the backpacks still on hand. HFS also shared the current school-supply update on Facebook.
2. Afton Apple Orchard’s Flower Festival Continues This Weekend
Photo by HastingsNow.com
Afton Apple Orchard’s current update says the orchard is open from 10 AM–6 PM Saturday and Sunday, August 29–30, as its Flower Festival continues.
Pick-your-own Paula Red and Zestar apples and early fall raspberries are available, with Flower Festival access offered as a $5-per-person addition to regular orchard admission.
Fruit availability is seasonal, and no weather-related operating change was included in the reviewed update, so visitors may want to check the orchard’s latest information before heading out.
3. Freedom Fest Is Set for September 11
Image provided by United Heroes League.
United Heroes League is preparing for Freedom Fest on Friday, September 11, featuring Basic and Boring, Fistful of Ladies, Pipewrench and Good for Gary.
The current Freedom Fest event listing gives the location as 2800 Ravenna Trail in Hastings, with doors opening at 4 PM and the program beginning at 5 PM.
Current tickets are listed at $25, with children ages 5 and younger admitted free. The event is open to ticketed members of the public.
United Heroes League also shared a first-party Freedom Fest update on Facebook.
QUICK HITS
4. Whistling Well Brings Apples to St. Paul Before Its Hastings Opening
Hastings-based Whistling Well Farm says it will bring apples to the St. Paul Farmers’ Market on Saturday, August 29.
More importantly for Hastings-area apple fans, the farm says its local opening day is Friday, September 4. Whistling Well Farm is located at 8973 St. Croix Trail S. in Hastings.
See Whistling Well Farm’s current apple-season announcement. The post does not state Saturday’s St. Paul Farmers’ Market hours.
5. Hastings Hockey Seeks Paid Bingo and Meat-Raffle Workers
Hastings Hockey says its Charitable Gambling Manager is looking for people to run bingo and meat raffles at several locations.
The positions are paid and training is provided. Interested applicants can contact Gambling@HastingsHockey.com.
See Hastings Hockey’s current hiring announcement for the first-party update.
Pay rate, schedules and specific work locations were not stated in the reviewed announcement.
6. Afton Alps Pass Prices Increase After September 7
Ski and snowboard season may feel distant, but Afton Alps says its lowest pass pricing of the fall ends Monday, September 7.
The current Afton Alps Pass is listed at $541 for adults ages 13–61. Other pass products, age categories, access and terms vary, so prospective buyers should review the option that fits them before purchasing.
Afton Alps also shared the current deadline reminder on Facebook.
7. Main Street Market Fall Festival Returns September 26
The Main Street Market Fall Festival returns to downtown Hastings on Saturday, September 26, from 10 AM–5 PM.
The Hastings Downtown Business Association lists live music, food trucks, children’s activities and downtown shopping throughout the event.
Squeaky Wheel Pottery is also planning an outdoor tent pottery sale from 10 AM–5 PM and $10 mini-pumpkin sculpting from 11 AM–4 PM. See Squeaky Wheel Pottery’s festival announcement for its portion of the day.
8. SEAS Is Collecting SetonFest Donations
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish is collecting supplies ahead of SetonFest on Sunday, September 27.
Requested donations include Gatorade, soda, fizzy water, king-size candy bars, new gallon-size canning jars with lids and Fleet Farm gift cards.
Donations should be dropped off at the parish office before September 27. The reviewed post does not state parish-office drop-off hours, so donors should confirm access before making a special trip.
SEAS also has the original donation request on Facebook.
9. The Harbor Church Is Hiring a Worship Director
The Harbor Church says it is hiring a Worship Director to lead worship and help develop its musical teams.
Interested applicants are directed to send resumes to kwarner@theharborchurch.com.
See The Harbor Church’s current hiring announcement.
Compensation, weekly hours and an application deadline were not stated in the first-party post.
10. Regina Auxiliary Plans September Garage Sale and Fall Raffle
Regina Auxiliary’s annual Thrifty Treasures Garage Sale is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, September 11–12, at Hastings Resurrection Methodist Church.
The garage-sale announcement includes a Friday bake sale and a Saturday $5 donation sale.
The Auxiliary is also selling Fall Raffle tickets at the Regina Hospital Gift Shop and Benedictine Country Store, with the drawing scheduled for Monday, September 28. See the Fall Raffle announcement for that update.
Garage-sale hours and the raffle-ticket price were not stated in the reviewed material.
If You Only Click One
Start with Hastings Family Service’s school-supply assistance page.
It is the most immediate resident-utility item in today’s LOCAL 10: eligible local families can still pursue filled backpacks before the school year begins, but the remaining supply is limited.
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