Whether you live in the area or are vacationing nearby or are coming to see me for an appointment, there many things to see and do in downtown Hastings, MN.
Plan a day or a weekend stay and check out these activities, events, and fun options while you are here.
Downtown Hastings, MN
Unique, Vintage, and Quirky
While a lot of the shops have come and gone over the years, there is still a general flavor of downtown. That is to say, locally owned shops offering unique and interesting items you are not likely to find elsewhere. For clothing, the La Tee Dah Boutique (corner of 2nd/Sibley) has really lovely choices (although a limited size range). Apart from that they offer some jewelry options, accessories, and fun (and funny) gifts. My missions there are specifically to buy Blue Q socks and other little items, so even if you’re not looking for a fab dress, you will find something that catches your eye.
Other shops you may want to pop into: Grove Boutique, Quaint & Quirky (for locally made, MN-themed), or Second Street Antique Mall. There’s a new wedding boutique, too, in case you are in the market for formal wear. Even if you are not looking for such finery, you may still want to window shop, because the building is so beautiful. Another one to peek into is The Studio (rental space for events, photography sessions, and meetings).
Are You Crafty?
If you have answered yes, and if you have any interest in fiber arts, MUSE2320 Fiber Co. will not disappoint. The owner, Sara, specializes in creating hand-dyed yarns and has made a lovely, cozy little shop for the community, Pop by for a bit and pick out a few skeins for a new project, along with a package of MUSE loose teas. You will be all set for a relaxing weekend after your Hastings adventure.
Treat Your Inner Child
(Or, your actual children and grandchildren!) Swing by SC Toys (on 2nd). It is hard to not find a few favorites when you spend time browsing through the great collection and variety of toys in this cool shop. On a lucky day, you might even get to see Bubble Bear doing his thing out front and take a photo together. (There may be a cat in-store, as a heads-up for anyone with allergies).
For more serious gamers, do not miss out on the absolute gem on the other corner of 2nd and Sibley, Level Up Games. It’s impossible not to find a new board game you’ll want to add to your home collection. Stay awhile and play a game or two. Shop for a new comic, graphic novel, or card deck, too. Regular evening events hosted; check their calendar; open ’til 8pm.
Geek Haven Coffee
I need my coffee. So, this place gets its own header here. If you’re like me, then you need to know about Geek Haven. They’re located just inside the Level Up Games store and will have you caffeinated with a fine brew in no time. They’ve also got other lovely options, like tea, chai tea, Italian sodas, lemonades, hot cocoa, plus delectable pastries and Hastings Spiral Co-Op wraps. Oh, and they do take online orders if you are on the go!
Make it a Spa Day
Book a spa treatment at the Hastings Beauty School, located in the beautiful historic building. They are open Monday-Friday for hair up-dos, manicures, pedicures, or facials, as well as other services. Don’t forget to take a group photo on the front steps before you leave. **They also offer 12 and under birthday specials.
East of Hastings Bridge
Enjoy the Weather
As well know all too well here, Minnesota weather runs the gamut and can be all too unpredictable. But whether the beaming sunshine, or cool and drizzly is your favorite, there’s never a bad day to be down on the riverfront. Right downtown Hastings, Levee Park & the Pavilion (the riverfront east of the bridge) are the obvious gems. Find a bench, picnic table, or place to spread out a blanket and watch the boats and birds on the Mississippi river. There’s also a nice open space if you want to play frisbee or set up a yard-game.
Be sure to walk the labyrinth located near the pavilion. If you are having an appointment with me, be sure to ask for a copy of the “Guide to Walking the Labyrinth” that I wrote to have on hand for my clients who are interested in trying it out. It’s FREE.
See the lift bridge in action and the many trains as they pass through town and across the river. A number of the train cars have cool graffiti. I personally enjoy watching it daily as a moving and constantly changing art installment. Make a day of it and hike or bike along the riverfront trail, too. There is a 10-Mile Loop and the trailhead for that is under the Hwy 61 bridge. (click for offsite map)
Get in on an Event
As soon as it is nice out going through to fall, the city has events planned almost daily in the park, from children’s activities, to movies, to live performances (dance, magic, etc.) and concerts. Before visiting, make sure you take a look at the events calendar. The largest events include these five: Make Music Day is later in June, Party in the Park (earlier in July), The Rivertown Days Festival is near the end of July and there are car shows every 3rd Sunday (May-Oct). Lastly, Rivertown LIVE! (huge concert) is mid-September. If you want to participate, that’s great and you can plan for that, but if you don’t want to deal with the crowds and lack of access or parking, then schedule a visit accordingly.
Other Events of Note
Don’t think event time downtown is only for the warmer weather months, oh no. There is always something going on downtown. Hootenany (live music event) is the end of April. Mainstreet Market Fall Festival, end of September. Halloween Candy Crawl, end of October, Holiday Hoopla, end of November/beginning Dec. Canadian Pacific Holiday Train (w/ mini-concert) is earlier in December. Mid-January there is the ice sculpture installment; visit until all is cracked and melted. The 2025 Yeti Ice Sculpture Celebration is January 18th, if you want to add that to your calendar. And, Frozen Mulligan, a “traveling” 9-hole golf event held at various downtown locations, is mid-February. Wait a minute…is there no event in March? Have I forgotten something? Or, maybe someone needs to get on that straightaway.
West of Hastings Bridge
From downtown, head toward the water and walk along the riverfront. Go west, underneath the bridge, past the newly renovated Confluence (which is the only hotel downtown and may have events or whoknows and whatzits going on, too) into Jaycee Park (the riverfront west of the bridge). There are benches, swing benches, and picnic tables. Docks for fishing and a boat launch. If you keep walking, nearer to the dam is also a barge docking. That has a couple benches and scenic overlook binoculars.
It’s possible to walk all the way down to the dam, which technically is the Hastings River Flats park. There are no amenities apart from the walking/biking trail, but there is prairie land flora and fauna. At the end of it you reach Lock & Dam #2, Visitors are welcome at the free observation platform to watch barges moving through the lock. If you aren’t up for the long walk from downtown traversing all three inter-connected parks, there is a parking lot to the right of the road and the observation area marked next to it. (Probably stop there instead of trying to get clearance through the high security gate). Plus, one picnic table if you are so inclined to dine.
Across from the Jaycee Park is Lake Rebecca where you can walk around, paddle, picnic, fish from a small pier, and watch the ducks and geese. (Be a good human. Please don’t disturb the animals or allow dogs off-leash in this area. This is nesting ground for many birds, turtles, and other wildlife. A few years ago, we lost much of that wildlife during the flood and the creatures are very gradually returning. If you wouldn’t like someone making you feel unsafe in your own home, don’t make them fearful in theirs).
Fill Your Belly
There is food in downtown Hastings, MN, and it’s yummy, so don’t go away hungry.
Local Secret: Pizza and Family Game Night
With all the choices available, one of our favorites as locals is to order online & swing through Spiral Pizza (420 Vermillion; opens at 4pm Thurs-Mon) for carry-out and head over to Spiral Brewery Eat, chat, have a beverage and play some board games. Bring your own along or use one from their collection. My go-to is their nitro cold brew coffee (highly recommend).Kids are welcome here and you can bring in your own food/snacks if you like. Make sure to double-check their events calendar before you go. Music, comedy, and Weds. night trivia, draw in extra-large crowds; you may find yourself waiting a long time for a table. Worst case scenario: take your meal and games and walk a short distance down the street east to Oliver’s Grove Park. Do some downtown people watching.
These are the recommended downtown dining choices:
- El Mexican is the best place to get your chimichanga and fajita fix. It’s also the best place to grab breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning. Very family-friendly, too!
- Lock and Dam Eatery is a corner culinary landmark near the bridge for Lunch, Dinner, and Drinks. Share a Bird’s Nest appetizer and enjoy the patio or reserve a bubble to dine in in the winter.
- Spiral Pizza (on Vermillion near downtown area) for takeout. Small patio area, parking in back. Pizza, chicken, ribs, pasta. What’s not to like?
If none of these options works for you or your group. Pack a picnic and head down to the parks (one on either side of the bridge). There are picnic tables and plenty of places to blanket-picnic if you prefer.
(Side note. If you want to grill, head over to the park at Vermillion Falls where they have them set up. Bring along your own charcoal and fixings and you’ll be picnicking in no time.)
Salad Warning
As someone who knows “someone” who is very adamant about having their salads, it is painfully clear that there is nowhere in Hastings that offers a substantial salad menu. So, if salads are your thing, know that the best local places will only offer you 3-5 fairly standard options, but they’re pretty good if you settle on one. Around town, try Me & Julio, Dugarel’s Bar & Grill or Lock & Dam Eatery.
For Lunch/Dinner on Your Way Out
Sometimes you want to get dinner as a last stop on your way out of downtown, and in that case, Hastings has these top spots to consider. Nothing fancy, just good eats.
- Taqueria el Huasteco. If you see one of the bright red food trucks out on the town, do swing in for amazing Mexican food. Add on a Jarritos. The family that owns this business are my neighbors up the street; I know it is spring when the trucks aren’t home. (Only on Facebook: here.) If you like it hot and spicy, you will love their salsas.
Off of Vermillion/Hwy 61
- Bimi Thai. Recommended favorite for dine-in, patio, or takeout. Great curries; really, you can’t go wrong w/any order. Don’t forget spring rolls, wontons, and mango sago dessert!
- Me & Julio. Recommended for sandwiches, burgers, giant burritos, wings, dine-in, cute patio, drinks, occasional musicians. (Not recommended for takeout).
- Dugarel’s Bar and Grill. Recommended patio dining and fantastic monthly specials, above average bar and grill cuisine options. Drinks, games/pool/darts, music, events.
- Bierstube. Cannot forget to recommend this divey, German dining locale. It is not every day you get to curb your hankerin’ for wiener schnitzel. Go all in on “A Taste of Deutschland” platter for two.
- Schoolhouse Scoop. Our local ice cream shop is only a few blocks from downtown; located in the Schoolhouse Square off of Vermillion. Schoolhouse Scoop is only on Facebook: Click here to open in a new window. Choose something unexpected for your spoonful of “Extra Credit”, and you might find a brand-new favorite.
Off of Hwy 55.
- Rooster. Recommended casual, hidden spot for chicken tenders, slaw, waffle fries, wings, fish & chips. Wraps, rice bowls. Mmm…so much delicious chicken. Dine-in, takeout, delivery. Family-friendly, lots of seating (it only looks small from the outside).
- Spiral Food Co-op Deli. If nothing else, pop by here for sandwiches, wraps, and soup, Mon-Fri 11am-2pm.
I understand I have not included every single downtown business, some for reason, others by happenstance. But of these, you’re certain to have a head start on your visit to downtown Hastings, MN. And, if you discover a few places on your own and have good experiences with them, then that’ll be even more special for you. Enjoy your time!
Mandorla Academy | Consultations
Book your in-person session in advance of your visit to Hastings with Heather Oelschlager, psychic medium.
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