Maple River Early Childhood

05/30/2026

📣 Summer lunch breaks just got better! 🎶☀️

The 23rd Annual Songs on the Lawn, presented by Xcel Energy, kicks off next Thursday at Civic Center Plaza in downtown Mankato! Join us every Thursday in June from 11 am to 1 pm for live music, local food vendors, and family-friendly fun.

🎸 June 4 featured band: Everett Smithson Band
🍔 Local food vendors on-site: ATOM Hospitality, Beans Coffee Company, Frozen Yogurt Creations, Massad's, Pub 500, The Loose Moose Saloon & Conference Center, and Wooden Spoon
👧 Activities for kids from the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota
🎟 Free to attend

Bring your coworkers, friends, lawn chairs, and appetite and enjoy summer in the City Center!

05/28/2026

The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota is excited to offer KinderKids Drama & Acting Classes!

Tailored for children in Pre-K or Kindergarten, this program assists in developing your child’s communication skills and boosting their confidence from the start. In our Kinder Kids program, every student will actively participate in creative drama activities aimed at improving speaking skills, boosting confidence, and fostering creative learning and early social skills.
Ray Smart (“Mr. Ray”) has a Master’s degree in Education and has spent the past 8 years serving over 1500 students in the Mankato area earning the 2023 Spirit of Youth Award from Mankato Public Schools.
The class includes 4 sessions, each session will be 30 minutes long and will be using Drama Kids curriculum as the core mode of instruction. The last 10 minutes of the first 3 classes will focus on building a character that students will perform during our fourth and final class of the session - Parents will be invited to watch!

Class Dates:
June | 12 & 26
July | 10 & 17

TIME: 9:30-10am

Ages: 4-6 years old
Cost: Free, registration required
Class Capacity : 15
Parents do not attend but are required to stay onsite during the entire 30 min session

Register Here: https://ecom.roller.app/cmsouthernmn/programregistration3/en-us/product/1962834?date=2026-06-12

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

05/28/2026

Barnyard Explorers is a hands-on event where kids discover farm animals and learn how they help produce the food and everyday products we use.

05/28/2026

Sign your children up for 2 free games of bowling all summer long.

05/28/2026

Save the dates

Let the countdown begin!!! See you soon!!!

05/28/2026

Need something to do today?!

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

It’s open! 💦💦

The Splash Pad at Heritage Park is now open for the season. Please help us keep the splash pad in good condition this season by respecting the splash pad rules.
- No pets
- No bikes/skateboards/scooters in the splash pad
- No glass containers

Remember to double check the area for your belongings before leaving and use the provided trash cans to dispose of your trash.