Few current Jewell County residents remember what Saturday nights were once like in Mankato when the stores were all open late and the town was filled with shoppers. Saturday nights were the social highlight of the week when people gathered to do their trading, perhaps eat out, go to a movie and do lots of visiting.
The late Maime Boyd, a longtime member of this newspaper’s staff, wrote a column each week based largely upon who she saw and talked to on Saturday night in Mankato.
Today’s residents will have an opportunity this Saturday to experience a bit of what Saturday nights used to be like in the towns of Jewell County when the Mankato Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Dane Hansen Foundation, sponsors the special event.
The special activities begin at 3 p.m. with a free movie at the Ute Theatre. The Ute will be showing Christmas Chronicles.
From 4:30 to 5:30 the Turkey Bowl will be held in the Kiers’ Store. Participants will have an opportunity to roll a frozen turkey toward bowling pins.
Santa Claus will have his post office open from 5 to 7.
There will be a food court with a variety of Food Trucks located on Jefferson Street north of Mankato Professional Pharmacy with seating inside the community center.
Darrell and Deb Bohnert will offer trailer rides around Mankato from 5 to 7 p.m. The trailer will load near Hair and More.
There will be a live nativity and telling of the Christmas story at 5 and 5:30 at the community center.
The giant community Christmas tree placed earlier this month on the community center will be lit at 6:15 Saturday by Mayor Justin Schoonover. Jeff Sells will read “The Polar Express” story starting at 6:30 in front of Mankato Plumbing. Various prizes will be awarded after the reading is completed.
Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to arrive about 7 p.m. in conjunction with the Stocking Stroll that begins at that time.
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