Several wonderful events are coming up during this cold month. Tonight, there is a special event happening that we encourage the entire community (and beyond) to come out for: "Paint the Rink Pink" will be at 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. The Austin Bruins will play the Coulee Region Chill, and the arena ice literally will be painted pink.
This game is in support of the Hormel Institute’s world-renowned research, and the Bruins will all wear pink to battle cancer. There will be silent auctions and other fun activities and post-game entertainment and a live auction from the ice level, with all bidders placing bids from the players’ boxes.
Local cancer survivors will take part in the opening puck drop and singing of the national anthem. Proceeds will go to the Institute, with 100 percent of the money going directly to cancer research. Everybody has been touched by cancer in some way; make a point to be there and support the fight against it.
Also happening this weekend is "13 Bells of Boglewood" at Paramount Theatre. Matchbox Children’s Theatre will present the play that illustrates the choices we make between doing what is right and doing what satisfies our greed.
Set in a forest, two gold-diggers find themselves on opposite sides of this equation as they encounter fairies, spriggans and the Greedy Bogle. Show times are 2 p.m. today and Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Some of the other hot events during the cold month will include:
• Wednesday through Sunday, Riverland Theatre will present "See How They Run." Recommended for the entire family, this is a special alumni event and is a hilarious British farce by Philip King. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Feb. 12 and 2 p.m. Feb. 13.
• Riverland Choir students will offer their singing Valentine telegrams. All day Feb. 14, you can gift someone with this delightful gift — anywhere around town. Call 433-0547.
• The Mower County Historical Society is hosting Social Concerns at 11 a.m. Feb. 15 at the Hormel Historic Home. The free program, "Yes, that Really Happened: Humorous Stories of Mower County’s Past," will be presented by Dustin Heckman.
Don’t forget that it is time to sign up for Austin Community Education classes. The brochure is online www.austin.k12.mn.us/cld/default.aspx if you have questions.
The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center continues to offer free cross-country ski rentals on Thursdays in February. The hours are 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the free rental is available for children and adults.
Austin offers outdoor ice-skating rinks at Sherman Park, South Grove Park, Kaufman Park and Galloway Park. There are warming houses at both Kaufman and Galloway. Skating hours are normally through 9 p.m.
For the full listing of all winter activities in and around Austin, check out our Calendar of Events on our website, www.austincvb.com.
