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BLOOD DRIVES:
Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule a donation time or to find a drive near you.
THERE’S AN EMERGENCY NEED FOR Type O Blood!!!!!!
Donate between now and FEB. 28th and receive a $20 e-Gift Card to a merchant of your choice!!!!

Wed.   3/4           9:00-2:00            Central Lakes College Staples
Wed.   3/4           9:00-3:00            Jenkins VFW
Thurs. 3/5           9:00-3:00            McGregor Community Center
Fri.     3/6           9:00-3:00            Brainerd VFW
Mon.   3/9           12:30-5:30          Onamia High School
Tues.  3/10         8:30-2:30            Long Prairie High School
Wed.   3/11         12:00-6:00          Outing Town Hall
Thurs. 3/12         9:00-3:00            Wadena Deer Creek High School in Wadena
Thurs. 3/12         10:00-4:00          MMFCU in Aitkin
Mon.   3/16         1:00-7:00            St. Francis Center in Little Falls
Tues.  3/17         12:00-6:00          St. Francis Center in Little Falls
Tues.  3/17         12:00-6:00          Pequot Lakes High School
Wed.   3/18         8:30-2:30            St. Francis Center in Little Falls
Wed.   3/18         9:00-2:00            Verndale High School
Fri.     3/20         10:00-4:00          Faith Lutheran Church in Staples

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March is Minnesota Food Share Month, the largest grassroots food- and fund- drive in the state, brings together organizations, businesses, faith communities and individuals to help stock and support the capacity of nearly 300 food shelves in the state.  2026 marks the 45th year of this campaign!  This month, residents are encouraged to support their local food shelves by making donations to their area food banks to help their friends and neighbors who are living with food insecurities.  There are a number of places to donate food or make monetary donations in the Brainerd Lakes area, which include, but are not limited to:  the Crosslake Food Shelf, Pine River Area Food Shelf, the Salvation Army Food Shelf in Brainerd, the Cuyuna Range Food Shelf in Crosby, The Pillager Family Center’s Food Shelf, the Aitkin Food Shelf at First Lutheran Church in Aitkin, the Lakes Area Food Shelf in Pequot Lakes, or any food shelf near you.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides FREE Tax Preparation help to anyone, FREE of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over age 50 and have low to moderate income…and volunteers are available in the Brainerd Lakes Area!  The volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code.  Brainerd Tax-Aide is located in the Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore in east Brainerd and are available now through April 15th.  Stop by the ReStore to make an appointment.  They are available Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 5:30.   Tax-Aide is the largest free, volunteer-based tax program in the U.S.

Crow Wing County is hosting an Online Public Land Sale Auction on NOW THROUGH Tues. Mar. 24th at 7:00pm.  Parcels will be offered for sale via the Public Surplus Auction website, PublicSurplus.com.  Properties are located throughout Crow Wing County.  Those who are interested will need to create an account at the PublicSurplus.com website and follow the registration requirements.  Properties offered for sale can be viewed online at CrowWing.gov/LandSales or by contacting the Land Services Department (824-1010).

3/2 – 3/8

Brainerd Amatuer Hockey Association (BAHA) invites kids to Try Hockey for Free during their Brainerd Hockey Spring Event on Tues. Mar. 3rd at the Essentia Health Sports Center in Brainerd.  This is FREE to all participants and no hockey or skating experience is necessary.  GIRLS are invited to hit the ice from 5:00-5:45 and BOYS can skate from 5:45 to 6:30pm.  Participants should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before scheduled ice time for equipment handout.  During the sessions, kids will learn basic skating and hockey related skills all while having fun and meeting new friends!  ALL equipment is provided. ADVANCED Registration is REQUIRED at BrainerdHockey.com.

Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter will host another Pints for a Purpose on Wed. Mar. 4th.  Stop by between 4:00-7:00pm and during that time, $1 from every pint sold will be donated to an area non-profit.  This time, dollars raised will be donated to My Neighbor To Love Coalition, helping to fund their mission to end homelessness and extreme poverty in the Brainerd Lakes Area.  While there, enjoy live music and pizza from Rafferty’s.  They also have secured MATCHING dollars per pint from a number of other sponsors, too, so your contribution will go even farther!  See you there!

The Lakes Area United Way reminds you there will be another Mobile Food Pantry at the CLC Brainerd Campus on Thurs. Mar. 5th from 10:00-11:00 or until the food is gone.  The distribution will be in the West Parking Lot and will be provided by Second Harvest Northland.  There is no cost and no proof of income required.

Feeling stressed, unsettled or anxious?  Join The Center in Brainerd on Fri. Mar. 6th at 12:00 for a free, 1-hour session with Bryn Lowrie Yahn to learn ways to release stress and feel more calm.  She’ll use a combination of breathwork, meditation, gentle movement and Emotional Freedom Techniques-Tapping to reset your nervous system.  Space is limited.  Contact The Center for more information.

Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River will host a Craft Supplies Swap on Sat. Mar. 7th from 9:00-12:00.  If you have gently used craft items that are in good working order that you are not using (sewing/quilting, knitting/crocheting, scrapbooking/paper crafts, beading, jewelry-making, stamping/card making/painting/drawing, kid art supplies or crafting books & magazines), bring them to the DROP OFF DAYS at Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River between 12:00-6:00 on Thurs. Mar. 5 or between 8:00-12:00 on Fri. Mar. 6th.  Then on Sat. the 7th, come by and get items you need or want!  This is a NO-MONEY event and you do not need to drop off items to “shop” this event.  To see a list of items that are NOT accepted (like GLITTER!!!), visit Happy Dancing Turtle’s Facebook page.

The 25th Annual Ice Tee Open will be held on Sat. Mar. 7th from 11:00-4:00 at Moonlite Bay in Crosslake.  All the proceeds from this fun event will be given to Camp Knutson.  Put your foursome together or come alone and they’ll find a team for you.  Bring your own club, they will furnish the ball.  Call Moonlite Bay for a tee time at 218-692-3575 OR just show up!  Entry fee for adults is $20… Children Under 14 is $10.  Families are welcome – they’ll have special prizes for kids, a silent auction, food specials and beer and drink specials, too!  See you there!

The 2026 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics MN will be held on Sat. Mar. 7th at Breezy Point Resort.  On-site registration starts at 11:00.  The plunging starts at 12:00.  To plunge, they ask that you raise a minimum of $75 – with that, you’ll receive a long-sleeve Polar Plunge T-shirt!  Register or donate now at PlungeMN.org.

The Pine River Chamber of Commerce invites you to the 2nd Annual Pine River Soup Wars on Sat. Mar. 7th from 11:00-2:00 at The Warehouse in Pine River.  This is your chance to sample some of the best soups in town, prepared by talented local businesses and community members all competing for the ultimate title of “2026 Soup Wars Champion!”  Bring a canned item for the Pine River Food Shelf and be entered to win the Generous Hearts giveaway.  Tickets are just $10 for adults… $5 for kids 12 and under (ages 2 and under are free).  Venmo, cash and check accepted.  Proceeds will benefit the Pine River Chamber of Commerce.  Sign up to compete on the Soup Wars 2026 Facebook Page.

The Pequot Lakes-Breezy Point Lions Club invites the public to their Beer & Wine Tasting Fundraising Event on Sat. Mar. 7th from 2:00-5:00 at the Pequot Lakes American Legion.  Enjoy a pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw and a cookie, plus sample great beer and wine (provided by Spirits of Nisswa) and get in on the Basket Raffle with items valued up to $350!  PRE-Event ticket special:  Buy one ticket, get one for ½ off.. Two tickets for only $45!  Tickets at the door day of will be $30 each.  Get tickets in advance at Spirits of Nisswa and receive a $5 coupon towards a future purchase!  Learn more on the PLBP Lions Club Facebook page.

The Lake Hubert Grange invites its neighbors, friends and community members to join them for a special presentation on Sun. Mar. 8th at 3:00 at Lake Edward Town Hall in Nisswa.  Kaitlyn, Jacob’s sister and spokesperson for Jacob’s Voice, will share Jacob’s story and speak about cyberbullying – how it impacts individuals, families and communities.  This is for all ages.  Please spread the word.  Lake Edward Town Hall is at 23977 Co. Rd. 4 in Nisswa.  Please come.

The Pelican Lakes Conservation Club will host a Corn Beef & Cabbage Dinner on Wed. Mar. 11th and the public is invited!  Come and enjoy this holiday delight, with all the fixings from 5:30-6:30. $12 for Club members, $14 for non-members.  Please RSVP by Sun. Mar. 8th by calling 218-562-4664. The General Membership Meeting will follow the dinner.

3/9 – 3/15

The Lakes Area Unlimited Learning will present Briana Smith on Mon. Mar. 9th starting at 1:30 at Heartwood Senior Living in Crosby.  Briana is an historian and author who explores the social, cultural and political landscape of divided Berlin.  She is a program manager with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Minnesota and holds a PhD in history from the University of Iowa.  The program is free for members and $10 for non-members.

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber invites you to another Business After Hours on Tues. Mar. 10th at Karl’s TV & Appliance (at 302 5th Ave. NE in Brainerd) from 4:30-6:00.  Come and learn about this new business while doing some networking, plus enjoy some great appetizers and beverages – you may even win some prizes.  PLEASE RSVP in advance if you plan to attend… BrainerdLakesChamber.com.

The annual Downtown Brainerd St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will be held Sat. Mar. 14th.  Get ready as Brainerd celebrates all things Irish!  Food, drink specials, family activities, a medallion hunt and the Parade (1:00).  Get your green on and see you there!  More on Facebook: 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Brainerd

The 52nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Celebration in Crosslake is set to take place the weekend of March 12-14 in beautiful Crosslake, so let’s Paint the Town Green!  Join the fun on Sat. Mar. 14th for the biggest parade around!  Start the day with the 12th Annual Clover Dash 5K/Ruck/Kids Run at 8:30 in Town Square then, gear up, because the Parade Starts at 1:15!!  Get more info at Crosslake.com!
(ENTRIES NO LONGER ACCEPTED… PARADE IS FULL.)

Join the Northern MN Ducks Unlimited for its Northern Cass County Sportsman’s Bingo on Sun. Mar. 15th at Birchwood Char House & Bar in Hackensack.  Doors will open at 12:00 with the first game starting at 1:00.  $60 for 10 rounds of Bingo, plus there will be different raffles at the event, too!  Food will be available for purchase from Birchwood and you could win guns, cash, hunting and fishing gear and more!  For info, search Northern MN Ducks Unlimited on Facebook.

3/16 – 3/22

Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter will host another Pints for a Purpose on Wed. Mar. 18th.  Stop by and enjoy a beverage and $1 from every pint sold (regular or NA) will be donated to a lakes area non-profit.  This time, the dollars will be donated to Heartland Symphony Orchestra!  They hope to see you there!

The Brainerd Family YMCA will host another Taste of the Lakes 2026, the signature community event and culinary celebration that has delighted guests for more than three decades, on Thurs. Mar. 19th from 5:30 -9:00 at the Northern Pacific Center’s Exchange Building in Brainerd.  The event brings together the lakes area’s most talented chefs for an evening of amazing food, wine, beer, spirits – all in support of the YMCA’s Youth Mentoring programs and enrichment opportunities for all ages.  The event is for 21+.  Tickets are $100 or $150 for VIP. Get Tickets online now at GiveButter.com/TOL2026.

The Babinski Foundation will host a Microchip Clinic on Fri. Mar. 20th from 9:00-4:00 at their facility in Pequot Lakes.  If they are ever to go missing, increase the chances of getting your precious cat or dog home safely by getting them microchipped on this day for only $25!  No appointment needed, walk-ins are welcome!  No future fees or membership fees necessary, either!  The Babinski Foundation is at 2825 76th Street SW in Pequot Lakes. (These Clinics are always held the 3rd Fri. of each month)

The Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota will perform Sacred Refuge:  From Light to Light with the National Lutheran Choir on Fri. Mar. 20th at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd starting at 7:30.  The program will feature a variety of fin choral literature, including works by Minnesota composers Jake Runestad and Aaron DcDermid.  Learn more and get tickets at LegacyChorale.org.

The Brainerd Lakes Home Show & Expo will be up and running Fri. & Sat. Mar. 20 & 21 at the Essentia Health Sports Center in Brainerd, presented by Advantage Home Pros.  The Brainerd Lakes Chamber and the Mid-Minnesota Builders Association invite you to this larger-than-life expo – which will be open Friday from 12:00-7:00 and Saturday from 9:00-5:00.  The cost to enter is just $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+) and kids 15 and under get in FREE with a paid adult.  Contact the Chamber for more information!  (Featured LIVE ENTERTAINMENT from the University of Minnesota Physics Force… shows on Friday at 4:00 & 6:00…. And on Saturday at 11:00, 1:00 & 3:00… included in admission!)!  Find more information on the event at BrainerdLakesChamber.com.

Join the Brainerd Elks for Once Upon A Story Time at the Brainerd Public Library on Sat. Mar. 21st from 10:00-12:00.  Enjoy a fun, free and welcoming story time experience for children and families in our community.  Books will be read by members of the Brainerd Elks Lodge 615 and there will be crafts and games for kids to enjoy.  Cookies and snacks will be provided by Friends of the Library, too!  This is a great opportunity to build a love of reading, creativity and community. All are welcome!

Join Northern Lakes Rescue at Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter for The Pints, Pups & Puzzles Tournament on Sat. Mar. 21st from 1:00-5:00.  Enjoy an afternoon supporting the dogs and a local brewery… bring together friendly competition, great drinks and rescue pups for an event you don’t want to miss. Get your four-person team together for the Puzzle Tournament ($50/team) to do a 500-piece puzzle.  All teams start together and the first team to finish wins a 50/50 pot split, the other half goes to Northern Lakes Rescue!  Learn more and register by visiting the event’s page on Facebook.

The Aitkin County Knights of Columbus invite the public to Ham Bingo on Sun. Mar. 22nd starting at 1:00 at St. James Catholic Church in Aitkin.  $10 for 20 regular games and just $2 for the coverall where the winner splits the pot!  A freewill lunch will be served after the coverall.  All are welcome!

3/23 – 3/29
The Brainerd Lakes Chamber invites you to another Business After Hours on Tues. Mar. 24th hosted by Lakeland PBS in Brainerd from 4:30-6:00.  Come by and tour Northern Minnesota’s premiere public broadcasting stations during this networking event.  Enjoy delicious appetizers (fruit, veggies, chips, dip and desserts), refreshing beverages, making connections and you may even win prizes!  If you plan on attending, please register in advance at BrainerdLakesChamber.com.

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber, as part of its Blue Ox Success Series will host a workshop entitled AI Unpacked and Unfiltered on Wed. Mar. 25th at the Greater Lakes Association of Realtors Office on Pearl Drive in Baxter.  The event will take place from 11:00-1:00 and the cost for Chamber members is $50 ($35 for Small Business).  This lunch & learn style event will explore how AI is showing up in today’s workplaces and highlight popular tools and real-world use cases, safety and risk considerations.  Register online at BrainerdLakesChamber.com.

The Annual Brainerd VFW Vietnam Veterans Day recognition gathering will be held on Fri. Mar. 27th from 5:00-7:00pm.  There will be a free meal and beverage for Vietnam veterans and their significant others.  Daughters of the American Revolution will serve apple pie and ice cream too.  Chaplain Rios will give a prayer for those who did not return, and Taps will be played around 5:45.  Veterans are encouraged to bring memorabilia and share their experiences with those who have “been there and done that.”  More information is online at BrainerdVFW.org.

Grassroots Concerts will kick off its Spring Season on Fri. Mar. 27th with Davina Sowers at the Live Well Nightclub & Coffee Bar at the Journey Church in Nisswa, starting at 7:00.  You’ve probably heard of Davina and the Vagabonds…as they bring their soulful, bluesy, jazzy, juke-joint, high-energy music across Minnesota.  Davina will perform this rare intimate show, solo.  Blending jazz, blues, folk and smooth gospel music together.  Admission is just $15 at the door for adults.  $5 for children under 12 with listening attention.  Doors open at 6:30. Learn more online at GrassrootsConcerts.org.

CLC Performing Arts, once again, welcomes audience favorite, Monroe Crossing to the CLC Brainerd Campus’ Chalberg Theater on Fri. Mar. 27th at 7:00.  Tickets start at $15… CLCPerformingArts.com.

Join the Babinski Foundation in Pequot Lakes on Sat. Mar. 28th for their February Community Dog Walk taking place from 9:00-12:30.  This is your chance to spend some quality time, outdoors with a shelter dog.  Get the shelter dogs -and yourself – out for some fresh air and exercise… everyone is welcome.  You don’t need to bring a thing!  Please sign up for a session (always the last Saturday of the month), at EventBrite.com or find the link through the event page on Facebook.

LYC Choral Festival will be held on Sat. Mar. 28th at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd where singers in grades 5 and up are invited to participate in a choir festival with the Legacy Youth Chorale.  Join the Concert Choir for the day, warmup and learn a piece of music with the choir, have lunch and sing in a concert on the Gichi ziibi stage!  Get more info and register online at LegacyChorale.org.

Motley United Methodist Church will host its Community Breakfast on Sat. Mar. 28th from 9:00-10:30.  There is no charge for the meal – it’s just an opportunity for members of the community to come together and share a meal.  Free will donations are accepted for the Motely Area Food Shelf.  The church is on 3rd Ave. S. in Motley.

Join the Northland Arboretum at Clayhill Farm & Forest on Sat. Mar. 28th for a hands-on outdoor experience all about the Art of Making Maple Syrup.  This guided tour, starting at 1:00, will take you out to the forest where you’ll learn to identify and tap maple trees, see how sap is collected and boiled down into syrup and taste test some with pancakes!  The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for kids… pre-registration is REQUIRED and space is limited.  Register online at NorthlandArb.org/Events.


3/30 – 3/31
The 2026 Legendary Women Hall of Fame Ceremony will be held on Mon. Mar. 30th at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd starting at 5:00.  Five Brainerd High School graduates will be inducted into the Hall:  Dr. Tori Bahr, Judy Bialka, Theresa Thesing Goble, Cheryl Wentworth Mathison and Shayla Paradeis.  Social time will begin at 4:30 with the program at 5:00.  The event is free to attend and is open to the public.