As Hastings Arts Center owner Sarah Lockwood goes about building the Hastings Art Center’s lineup, a focus has always been on variety.
From genres to instruments to formats, what audiences will see one show to the next is meant to be broad.
To that point, this year’s kickoff event was directly inspired from the popularity of the center’s 10-year anniversary celebration historical talk on the history of Guardian Angel’s Church by Hastings Area Historical Society President Spencer Johnson.
The event is a historical talk by Nancy Earhart Burt, the second cousin three-times removed from famous aeronaut Amelia Earhart. Earhart Burt will speak on the life of her famous relative including her infamous final flight.
After the popularity of the last historical talk, “we should do more of these,” laughed Lockwood.
Coffee Concerts, the monthly Tuesday morning concerts from the Hastings Arts Center, run from October 2025 to May 2026. They will feature music from brass ensembles to bluegrass to a barbershop quartet.
After more than a decade of concerts, Lockwood draws from a long waiting list of musicians and performers when putting together the center’s lineup. That long list is a “good problem” to have for the center, however.
This year’s lineup features both new and returning faces including harpist Hannah Flowers who played in one of the center’s virtual concerts during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“I don’t think she’s ever actually been in the building though,” said Lockwood.
This year the Art Center is raising funds for the concerts with a GoFundMe, a change from previous years where grants were able to cover more of the costs of the concerts.
“It just seems to be getting harder to get the grants,” said Lockwood.
The center is seeking $1,300 to cover the costs of the concerts with the funds going towards paying musicians for their time: “All costs are going to artists,” said Lockwood.
The Hastings Art Center is the new home for the new River Valley Community Orchestra rehearsals which take place Sunday nights.
The orchestra rounds out the trio of the River Valley Band and River Valley Chorale of community musical organizations in the area.
“Being in the arts is hard, but it’s worth it,” said Lockwood.

Coffee Concerts
• Sept. 23, 10:30 a.m.—Nancy Earhart Burt historical presentation on Amelia Earhart
• Oct. 7, 10:30 a.m.—Choro Borealis, Brazilian choro music
• Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m.—Artu Duo, cello/piano classical duo
• Dec. 16, 10:30 a.m.—Holiday concert featuring harpist Hannah Flowers
• Jan. 20, 10:30 a.m.—Sarah Lockwood and Gail Olszewski, violin/viola and piano
• Feb. 3, 10:30 a.m.—OboeBass
• March 10, 10:30 a.m.—Jennifer Eckes, classical and broadway singer
• April 7, 10:30 a.m.—Amos Lucidi, piano soloist
• May 19, 10:30 a.m.—The Paper Clips trombone quartet

Main Concerts
• Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.—Jonah Walt and Jazz Combo
• Nov. 15, 7 p.m.—Gary Rue and Randy Sabien, guitar and fiddle duo
• Nov. 29, 7 p.m.—Christmas on the Prairie
• Jan. 25, 2 p.m.—The Barley Jacks
• March 6, 7:30 p.m.—Kaleidoscope Quartet, Men's Vocal Quartet

Special Events
• Sept. 26, 7 p.m.—Anderson Center Artist in Residence presentation: Minnesota Composer, May Klug with members of Zeitgeist
• Oct. 9 6:30-8:30 p.m.—Artists Reception of the City Pastel Collective
• Jan. 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—American Red Cross Blood Drive
• Feb. 14—River Valley Chorale Valentines Day Fundraiser
• Feb. 17—Hastings READS Author Talk
• March 29—Zeitgeist Concert
• April 11—A Night at the Jazz Club with Hastings HS Jazz Band Ensembles
• April 19, 2 p.m.—River Valley Community Orchestra Chamber Music Concert,
Changes, additions and further details about the eleventh season lineup can be found on the Hastings Art Center website or on the Hastings Journal Community Calendar.