Entertainment - Hastings Journal

With the last blast of winter (I hope) melting away, around our household, our thoughts turned to spring. With spring break coming next week, we decided to get a jump on the fun. We’re … more

By Jack McLoone | 3/11/25

A Spring Break Staycation!

With the last blast of winter (I hope) melting away, around our household, our thoughts turned to spring. With spring break coming next week, we decided to get a jump on the fun. We’re … more

By Jack McLoone | 3/11/25

Riverside waits to start their show “The Sandlot” before a packed house at Hastings High School for their 2025 Preview Show.

Show Choirs hold pre-competition home show for fans and they hit a home run

As a former choir nerd, a self-induced title I am proud of, I was both excited and bummed that the Show Choirs had a pre-competition show the same night and time as a boys’ basketball game. Why … more

By Bruce Karnick | 1/21/25

Sounds of the Season!

The Hastings High School bands, jazz ensembles and orchestras entertained Dec. 10 with its Holiday Collage Concert. more

Photos submitted | 12/23/24

Hastings Public Works employees put up decorations in downtown Hastings on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Holiday Hoopla, Small Business Saturday, and City Tree Lighting Nov. 30

Downtown Hastings will be abuzz with activity Saturday, with the Holiday Hoopla activities and the annual tree lighting at Hastings City Hall. Downtown Hastings and businesses have been decorated for … more

Staff Report | 11/26/24

The full mural upon completion in 1998 (left) was vibrant and beautiful. That beauty did last but many of the details and the bountiful colors faded as time went on. The 2024 picture (right) gives a perfect example of why it is time to replace the mural. 1998 photo submitted, 2024 photo by Bruce Karnick

After 26 years of greeting visitors to Hastings, it’s time for a change

26 years to some is not a long time and to others, it can be a lifetime. If you are a person in your mid-twenties, you still have the world to conquer. If you have 26 years’ experience on the … more

By Bruce Karnick | 10/22/24

A Little Texas in Hastings

Little Texas kicked a little to a packed audience on the Hastings riverfront. There were three bands, Slamabama on the Rotary Pavilion Stage with Little Texas and Diamond Rio on the main stage. The … more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/17/24

The south side of the mural celebrates spring with the bold sunset, spring flowers and a white tail deer. The west side of the mural celebrates fall. As you look at this side of the mural with the raccoon and fall colors you will notice McNamara Stadium at Todd Field off in the distance, a perfect not to the history of Raider sports.

Arts and Culture Commission completes Roadside Park project

The Hastings Arts and Culture Commission has been busy lately with the completion of the ‘Paint by Numbers’ community project at the Tennis/Pickleball Courts at Roadside Park and a … more

By Bruce Karnick | 8/21/24

Kurt Neumann of the BoDeans belted out a song in the band’s set at the Music by the Mississippi Festival Saturday night.

Music by the Mississippi brought the heat!

It was a hot night at the Treasure Island Amphitheater for its Music by the Mississippi Festival Saturday. The weather wasn’t all that was steamy. In a festival headlined by the BoDeans and the … more

By John McLoone | 7/31/24

The view from above as the Spin Doctors were finishing their portion of the Rivertown Days concerts in downtown Hastings. The riverfront provides the perfect backdrop for the carnival rides and midway games.

Days to remember!

The 45th annual Hastings Rivertown Days took place last weekend featuring carnival rides, craft fairs, events across the community and live music with Saturday headliner the Spin Doctors. While the … more

By Graham P. Johnson and Bruce Karnick | 7/24/24

The Miesville Fire Department held their first annual Water Wars Saturday afternoon in their parking lot. Eight teams from around the region competed in this fun event. The goal is to push the empty keg that is suspended on the cable with via a pulley to the opponent’s end of the ‘arena’ using the water from the fire hose.

Miesville holds first annual ‘Water Wars’

The history of fire departments having water wars is not well documented, but the rumor floating around the crowd at Miesville’s first annual ‘Water Wars’ event on Saturday was that … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/24/24

Crowds from the 2023 Rivertown Days gather downtown.

Spin Doctors headline Rivertown Days 2024

Rivertown Days has long been the biggest event on the Hastings calendar. Live music, a craft fair, carnival rides, and events from the medallion hunt to the car show draw residents from across the … more

By Graham P. Johnson | 7/16/24

The Hastings area Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts led the parade with their color guard.

Despite the threats of rain, Hastings shows up big for Fourth of July celebration

Mother Nature has been messing with the region a lot recently. Just as the flood waters were beginning to recede, more rain entered the forecast and threatened to put a damper on the Fourth of July … more

By Bruce Karnick | 7/10/24

Vermillion State Bank, the longtime fireworks show sponsor, is proud to bring the Fourth of July celebration to Hastings each and every year. The show typically lasts 20-25 minutes and is held at Hastings Public House on the Hastings Golf Club course, which is the best spot to view the show.

Fourth of July fun includes parade, fireworks

What is happening on the Fourth of July in Hastings and the surrounding area? It is a good bet that there will be a lot of celebrating this great country’s independence with friends and family! … more

By Bruce Karnick | 6/26/24

Hastings Memorial Day observances planned throughout community

Hastings Community Memorial Observances are planned for Monday, May 27, 2024, at the Minnesota Veterans Home, Roadside Park, Soldiers and Sailors Cemetery, and the Veterans Memorial at Levee Park. … more

5/21/24