LOCAL 10: What Hastings Should Know Today — Thursday, July 9th, 2026
Lake Isabel Park in Cowtown, a charming green space just a short walk from Historic Downtown Hastings, Minnesota. Photo by Ashley Media
Mostly sunny, comfortable, and very July-in-Hastings — that is the shape of Thursday, July 9th. With a high near 81°F, a light northeast breeze, and a mostly clear night near 62°F, today looks like a good one for riverfront music, quick errands, local giving, job leads, and a few save-the-date plans.
Here are 10 useful local updates Hastings residents may be glad they did not miss.
Today in Hastings in 10 Seconds
Thursday is shaping up as a friendly summer day: comfortable weather, a Music + Market night at Levee Park, local hiring leads, a kitten food need at Animal Ark, and several arts, family, and Rivertown Days-adjacent updates worth putting on the calendar.
Top 3 Today
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
1. Music + Market returns tonight at Levee Park
Source: City of Hastings Government
Music + Market is back at Levee Park on Thursday, July 9th, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with live music, local vendors, food, a Kids Zone, and that hard-to-beat riverfront setting. With comfortable July weather in the forecast, this is the easy “after work, after dinner, bring the kids, meet a neighbor” pick of the day.
Why it matters: It is a same-day local event with a clear time, place, and family-friendly reason to get downtown.
2. Animal Ark needs kitten food — and Fluegel’s can help
Source: Animal Ark
Animal Ark is asking for kitten food during a busy stretch of kitten season, and the update points residents toward an easy way to help locally through Fluegel’s. If you have been looking for a small, practical way to support a nearby rescue, this is one of those simple “grab an extra item while you are out” opportunities.
Why it matters: It turns a community need into a clear action for residents who want to help animals right now.
3. Hometown Dairy is hiring
Source: Hometown Dairy
Hometown Dairy has posted that it is hiring, which may be helpful for residents looking for local work or a nearby summer job lead. The post does not list every detail in the feed, so interested applicants should check the source directly for the latest role, schedule, and application instructions.
Why it matters: Local hiring posts are useful, especially when they come from a recognizable Hastings-area business.
Visit Hometown Dairy in Hastings, Minnesota. Photo by HastingsNow.com
Seven Quick Hits
4. River Pines Dental is hiring a hygienist
Source: River Pines Dental
River Pines Dental has a hygienist opening posted through Indeed. If you or someone you know is looking for a dental position in the area, this is worth a look before the listing changes or expires.
5. Squeaky Wheel Pottery has limited spots left for an August wheel intensive
Source: Squeaky Wheel Pottery
Squeaky Wheel Pottery shared that only a few spots remained in its August wheel intensive. Availability can change quickly, so interested students should check the original source before making plans.
Book a pottery class at Squeaky Wheel Pottery in Historic Downtown Hastings, Minnesota. Photo by Ashley Media
6. A new HPAC exhibit opens Friday
Source: Hastings Prescott Arts Council
The Hastings Prescott Arts Council has a new exhibit opening Friday, July 10th. Details in the feed were limited, so art lovers should check HPAC’s original update for the latest exhibit information, hours, and location.
7. Rivertown Days disc golf tournament is getting closer
Source: The Studio Downtown MN
The Studio Downtown MN is pointing residents toward a Rivertown Days disc golf tournament, with local sponsor energy already building. The link is Instagram-only, so check the source for current registration, date, and event details.
Check the source for latest details →
8. Kids Carnival will support Hastings Family Service
Source: River of Life Hastings
River of Life Hastings is promoting a Kids Carnival on Saturday, July 18th, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with proceeds supporting Hastings Family Service. It is a family event with a local giving angle.
Visit Kids Carnival at River of Life Hastings. Photo by Ashley Media
9. Black Dirt Theater puts Matilda tickets on sale
Source: Black Dirt Theater
Black Dirt Theater has tickets available for Matilda, with performances listed for July 24th, July 25th, July 30th, July 31st, and August 1st. If summer theater is on your list, this is a good one to save now.
10. HCTV posts the 2026 Hastings Fourth of July Parade
Source: Hastings Community TV
Hastings Community TV has posted the 2026 Hastings Fourth of July Parade on YouTube. If you missed it, want to rewatch it, or are hoping to spot a familiar float, this is the easy replay link.
If You Only Click One
Click the Music + Market update from the City of Hastings. It is the most time-sensitive item in today’s LOCAL 10, and it gives residents a clear same-day plan for Thursday, July 9th: head to Levee Park from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for music, vendors, food, kids’ activities, and a riverfront summer evening.
Also today: Weather + On This Date
Today’s Hastings weather looks mostly sunny and comfortable, with a high near 81°F and a mostly clear night near 62°F. In today’s Weather + On This Date post, the time capsule includes Minnesota severe-weather history from July 9th, 2017, Vermont’s 1793 constitutional milestone, and NASA’s Voyager 2 flyby of Jupiter in 1979.
Read today’s Weather + On This Date →
How LOCAL 10 Works / Respond to This Story
LOCAL 10 is selected from reviewed local updates, public source posts, official announcements, Soundbites, and HastingsNow editorial judgment. HastingsNow prioritizes useful, timely, locally relevant updates with public value.
If your business, organization, team, or event was mentioned and you want to add a correction, thank-you, extra detail, updated link, or 30-second response, DM HastingsNow and ask for the LOCAL 10 Reply Line.
Have something Hastings should know? Send a Local Update or record a 30-second Soundbite with Local Pigeon. All submissions are reviewed before anything goes public.
Source Note
LOCAL 10 is built from reviewed local updates, public source posts, official announcements, Soundbites, and HastingsNow editorial selection. Public social posts are used as discovery sources; images from public posts are not reused unless permission is granted.
Local Note
Have something Hastings should know? Send a Local Update or record a 30-second Soundbite with Local Pigeon.
