Free Thanksgiving Turkeys Head to the Fairgrounds Saturday
Austin, MN · November 13, 2026
Toss on an extra fleece before heading out into the chill this morning. With a full roster of weekend gatherings ahead, you will want the extra energy.
The Lead
Families looking to cross a major holiday essential off their lists can head to the Mower County Fairgrounds tomorrow morning for the Hometown Turkey Takeover. Starting at 9:00 AM, the drive-through giveaway—organized collaboratively by Hormel Foods, Hy-Vee, and the United Way of Mower County—distributes holiday turkeys directly to local households while supplies last. Volunteers will direct traffic through fairgrounds gates, and arriving early is recommended as lines form quickly.
Arts organizers also advise booking ahead for Sunday: the Historic Paramount Theatre hosts a free afternoon screening of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe paired with a youth book giveaway, though advance seat reservations are required. Anyone planning to attend next week's Vienna Boys Choir concert should secure remaining tickets at the box office before they sell out.
Local Pulse
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Today's Outlook
- High 35°F · Low 22°F — Overcast
- Layer up in a warm winter coat to handle today's persistent gray chill.
What's On Around Town
Today
Austin Area Arts Members' Show Reception Austin ArtWorks Center (300 Main St N), 4:00–6:00 PM · Free Celebrate local creators and enjoy refreshments at the annual member exhibition.
Glenville–Emmons Pork Chop Supper Glenville American Legion Post 264 (331 W Main St), Glenville, 5:00–8:00 PM · $15 Hearty community meal supporting local youth activities and athletics.
Crowder Live in Concert Mayo Civic Center (30 Civic Center Dr SE), Rochester, 7:00 PM · Paid High-energy contemporary music with special guest Patrick Mayberry.
Tomorrow
Hometown Turkey Takeover Mower County Fairgrounds, 9:00 AM · Free
Teen Polymer Clay Workshop Austin ArtWorks Center (300 Main St N), 1:00–2:30 PM
The Chubbs Live Torge's Live Sports Pub & Grill (1701 4th St NW), 9:00 PM
Sunday
Film Screening: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Historic Paramount Theatre (125 4th Ave NE), 3:00 PM · Free
Tom Arnold Stand-Up Comedy Lansing Corners Bar and Grill, Lansing, 7:30 PM
Spotlight & Story
- The Mill Pond Monkey House
- Long before floodwalls lined the riverbank, the grounds along North Main Street hosted a bustling zoo in the 1930s. Its monkey exhibit drew regional crowds until late 1943, when keeper Ray Kough sent the four primates to Mayo Clinic researchers fighting polio.
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