It’s a big weekend in Hastings! You can rock on the river, feast with a firefighter and drive into some of the community’s rich history. And, if you have friends in from out of town, they can enjoy it all and a stay at The Confluence, which is now open for lodging. Get your walking and dancing shoes on. It’s going to be a busy couple days! Civil War Weekend The Dakota County Historical Society will host “Civil War Weekend” at the LeDuc Historic Estate on Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10. The event will start at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. each day. The LeDuc Historic Estate is located at 1629 Vermillion Street in Hastings, Minn. Admission to the event is $9 for an adult, $8 for seniors, $7 for children (ages 5-17) and free for children 4 & under, or for members of the Dakota County Historical Society. This year’s theme is “Munitions & Technology”, and visitors will learn about what life was like as the country entered into a Civil War and the weaponry involved. Visitors will interact with various reenactors on the site; listen to live music and visit the general store. Presentations will feature Minnesota’s involvement and explore life during the outbreak of war. Founded in 1939, The Dakota County Historical Society (DCHS), preserves, interprets and promotes the history of Dakota County, Minn. DCHS operates three historic sites -- Lawshe Memorial Museum at 130 3rd Avenue North in South St. Paul, Minn.; the LeDuc Historic Estate; and the Sibley Historic Site at 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway in Mendota, Minn.-- as well as a research library and research Web site. DCHS memberships range from $25 to $60 for individuals and households. Corporate memberships also are available, starting at $100. Call 651-552-7548 or visit www.dakotahistory.org for more information. Rivertown Live! Gates open for the Rivertown Live! Concert for a Cause Saturday at 4 p.m. The event features big-name entertainment on two stages at Levee Park in downtown Hastings. The event is sponsored annually by the Hastings Area Rotary Club. This year’s ticket is a big one! Taking the Rotary Pavilion Stage at 5 and 7:30 p.m. to warm up the crowd is The Hype. The Hype will lead concertgoers on a musical and visual road trip back to the 1980s, featuring the biggest hits from Motely Crue, Def Leppard, Poison, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith. Their show is actually five mini concerts packed into two hours. At 6 p.m., rock legend John Waite takes the main stage. Waite has released 10 studio albums as a solo artist and is perhaps best-known for his 1984 hit “Missing You” which topped the charts. He was also the lead vocalist for the successful rock bands The Babys and Bad English. Hits from his time with The Babys include top 20 songs “Isn’t it Time” and “Every Time I Think of You.” Taking the main stage at 9 p.m. is “Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas.” Mickey Thomas’ soaring voice propelled Starship through its peak decade of the 80s. He formerly was lead vocalist with the Elvin Bishop Band when he was lead singer on “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” With Jefferson Starship, the hits kept coming, with classics such as “Jane,” “No Way Out,” “Find Your Way Back” and “Layin’ It One the Line.” After the band was renamed “Starship,” three number one hits came: “We Built This City,” Sara,” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.” Get tickets at riverotwnlive.com. 82nd Annual Booya Fundraiser The Hastings Fire Department will host its 82nd Annual Booya Fundraiser at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2035 W. 15th St., Saturday Sept. 9. The tasty booya stew will be served starting at 11 a.m. There will be raffle drawings throughout the day. Contact any Hastings firefighter for tickets or call 651-480-6150. The event is sponsored by the Hastings Fire Department Relief Association.