Hands-on learning experiences regarding fire safety will be offered during a free event 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, 224 Lamm St.
Fire Safety Day will offer children opportunities to explore fire trucks, interact with Sparky the Fire Safety Dog, see a smoke simulator house and fire extinguisher simulation, and a firefighter relay race.
MinnValley Mutual Insurance is sponsoring the event.
Expo to celebrate older adults
VINE’s annual Love Your Age 55+ Expo is scheduled 1-4 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Grand Hall at Mayo Clinic Heath System Event Center.
The free event will offer opportunities to visit with a variety of vendors, collect goodies, play games, socialize with peers and listen to informative presentations.
A health and wellness team will be offering free balance assessments and blood pressure checks. Attendees also may receive vaccines for shingles, pneumonia, RSV, flu and COVID.
At 3 p.m., Monarch Healthcare Management registered dietitians will present “Healthy Eating As You Age.”
A 4 p.m. panel discussion “Where are they now? Life After Retirement” will feature retired local celebrities Drew Campbell, a former county commissioner, Shelley Schultz, former school administrator, Barry Wortel, a longtime KTOE radio personality, and John Cross, retired Free Press chief photographer.
Participants may watch the VINE Stompers perform and receive instructions in chair yoga exercises.
Free snacks and water will be served.
Poetry event slated Thursday
Four touring Minnesota poets plan a stop at sidetracked, 110 E. Washington St.
Agates Indy Bookstore Tour participants Tracy Rittmueller, Loren Niemi, Dralandara and Marge Barrett will read from their works during the free event 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The League of Minnesota Poets and the Living Room are co-sponsors of visit.
An open poetry share is planned after the reading.
For more information, call 507-995-4428.
Forum to focus on active transportation
Greater Mankato Bike and Walk Advocates representative Cindy Winters will discuss active transportation during her presentation at a Southcentral Minnesota Clean Energy Council forum. The event is 8:30-10 a.m. Friday at South Central Service Cooperative, 2075 Lookout Drive, North Mankato.
Winters is a retired public health professional who worked at both the state and local levels. She specialized in helping communities improve safety and access that would encourage the use of active transportation. Biking and walking are examples of active transportation.
A online option is available for attendees. To register, go to: socrates.zoom.us/j/5012354036?pwd=SkIvZGdudVI1N0plS1FoZXVpMDByZz09&omn=97410488262.
Party for popcorn wagon set
Brown County Historical Society is planning a celebration in honor of its 110-year-old popcorn wagon starting at 10 a.m. Saturday near BCHS’s museum, 12 N. Broadway St., New Ulm.
Free activities include a proclamation signing, a history presentation about the New Ulm Popcorn Wagon, children’s games and ragtime music presentations.