Best Bets: The Home and Vacation Show returns for its 45th year

Published 7:42 am Thursday, March 14, 2019

The 45th Austin Home and Vacation Show will be held this weekend at Packer Arena.

Sponsored by Power 96 Classic Rock/KQPR, this annual expo will feature many vendors offering a variety of products and services of interest to homeowners and travelers.

There will be activities for children in the Kids Corner, including the Austin Jaycee’s trout fishing tank. Austin law enforcement will also be on hand doing kids’ IDs.

Email newsletter signup

Attendees can register to win prizes, which will be given out each day. There will also be prize drawings at the exhibitor booths.

The 45th annual Austin Home and Vacation Show will be from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Packer Arena.

Katie McMahon.
Photo provided

St. Patrick’s Day with Katie McMahon

Katie McMahon will perform Celtic Rhythm, featuring Lia Culbert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at the Paramount Theatre.

McMahon, a native of Dublin, Ireland, first rose to prominence as a featured soloist in the original Riverdance. Classically trained in voice and harp, McMahon will bring Celtic rhythms to life for those of Irish heritage—by blood or by interest.

Local musician Lia Culbert will open for McMahon. A native of Austin, Culbert has been performing in productions at Riverland Community College, Matchbox Childrens Theatre and Summerset Community Theatre since she was nine years old.

A cash wine and beer bar featuring Guiness will be available for the show. Tickets to the reserved seating show are on sale now at austinareaarts.org.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the show.

For more information, call 507-434-0934 or visit www.austinareaarts.org.


Schedule of Events

Friday

• Second Floor Art Gallery – MN Black Fine Arts Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. Austin is hosting this first ever exhibit of the art of Minnesota artists who identify as Black, African, or African American, in collaboration with Obsidian Arts out of Minneapolis. Free and open to the public. Show goes until March 23. For more information, go to www.austinareaarts.org or call 507-434-0934.

• St. Patrick’s Day Feast, noon at the Mower County Senior Center. Whether you’re Irish or Irish-at-heart, come for an afternoon of fun and maybe a little luck of the Irish. Featuring a corned beef meal or parmesan-crusted cod – members $9 and non-member $10. Bring your friends and wear green. Entertainment by The Young Oldies. Sponsored by The Cedars of Austin. For more information or to sign up, stop by the Senior Center front desk or call 507-433-2370.

• MACT Fest, at Riverland Community College. Minnesota Association of Community Theatres Festival brings together theatre groups from all over the state to share their talents in short presentations throughout this multi-day celebration. For more information, call 507-433-0376.

Saturday

• Second Floor Art Gallery – MN Black Fine Arts Show, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center.

• Tech Programs for Youth – Circuits, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Austin Public Library. Monthly program held in the Programming Room for grades 4 – 12. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

• Kids’ Studio – Garden Signs, 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Austin ArtWorks Center. With Gabriella Alva and Alondra Vasquez. Taught in English and Spanish. For kids ages 4 to 14; cost $5. For more information or to register, call 507-434-0934.

• Tech Programs for Youth – Hour of Code, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Austin Public Library. Monthly program held in the Programming Room for grades 4 – 12. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

• Author Visit – Chris Norbury, 1-2 p.m. at Sweet Reads. The popular thriller author is back with his new novel, “Straight River” – join us and get to know his story. For more information, call 507-396-8660.

• Austin Bruins vs. Brookings Blizzard, 7:05 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go, Bruins! Tickets available at the door or at Hy-Vee, Games People Play, Holiday Inn or Jim’s Market Place. For more information, call 507-434-4978.

• MACT Fest, at Riverland Community College.

Sunday

• All You Can Eat Pancakes, 9 a.m. to noon at American Legion Post 91. Breakfast includes eggs, sausage, orange juice or milk, and endless pancakes. Tickets $8 at the door. Proceeds go to help veterans in need. For more information, call 507-437-1151.

• Native American Liturgical Celebration, 3 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church is hosting this liturgy that integrates Native culture and spirituality within the boundaries of the Lutheran Christian tradition, for a profound and deeply spiritual experience. Free and open to the public; a free will offering will be collected for the American Indian/Native Alaskan Association of the ELCA. Light refreshments follow the service. For more information, call 507-437-4516.

• MACT Fest, at Riverland Community College.