Tickets will be available Thursday for two free planetarium shows Jan. 31 at Mankato East High School.
The Mankato Planetarium Production Club shows are slated 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. and will feature constellations to be found in the winter skies above Minnesota.
To reserve seating Thursday or later, go to: ticketsource.us/mankato-east-planetarium/e-koqybk
Ag Expo opens Wednesday at civic center
The state’s agriculture community will gather Wednesday and Thursday in Mankato. The Minnesota Ag Expo will take place at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
The expo will feature a trade show with about 100 booths. Its full slate of speakers includes keynote addresses by the Shark Farmer and Machinery Pete.
Advance registration has closed; however, same-day registrations will be accepted at the door.
For more information, go to: mnagexpo.com.
Public ice rinks open
Public skating rinks are open in North Mankato and Mankato.
Mankato’s outdoor rinks are in 11 city parks.
North Mankato’s rinks are in King Arthur Park, 1580 Sharon Drive; Spring Lake Park, 641 Webster Ave.; Walter S. Farm Park, 1601 Countryside Drive; and Wheeler Park, 402 Page Ave.
For more information, call Mankato city offices at 507-387-8600 or North Mankato city offices at 507-625-4141.
Forum series starts Jan. 28
“Understanding Conflict in the Holy Land” is the first in a series of five forums scheduled at Trinity Lutheran Church, 511 S. Fifth St., St. Peter.
The 2025 Simpson Forum opens 7 p.m. Jan. 28.
Forum panelists are:
• Natan Paradise, director of the Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Minnesota, where he also serves as director of undergraduate studies. He teaches courses in Jewish history and cultures, Jewish-American literature and Jewish humor in addition to his research and writing on the American Jewish experience, antisemitism and strategies for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Jameel Haque, associate professor of history at Minnesota State University, where he teaches courses on the Islamic world, world history and the history of sports and games. He is director of the Kessel Peace Institute at MSU.
• Mimi Gerstbauer, professor of political science at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. She serves as co-director of the Gustavus Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies program. Her international experience includes serving as a Fulbright Scholar in Poland, teaching courses at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan and leading courses on community peacebuilding in Colombia.
• Najeeba Syeed, professor of religion, is the inaugural El-Hibri endowed chair and executive director of the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. She has been a professor, expert practitioner and public speaker for the past two decades in conflict resolution, interfaith studies, mediation, restorative justice, education and social, gender and racial equity.
• Darrell Jodock has been involved in Christian-Jewish relations since 1978. He is a member of the dialogue group co-sponsored by the National Council of Churches and National Council of Synagogues. In 2005, he was part of an earlier dialogue group that visited Israel and the West Bank.
The series will continue Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25. The $10 registration fee for the series is due Wednesday.
A virtual option is available to registered participants.
To register or for more information, go to: thesimpsonforum.com.