State Veterans Day program to leave the metro

By Tim Engstrom Published October 18, 2025

MANKATO — The official Minnesota State Veterans Day Celebration takes place this year at the Mankato Armory.

A free breakfast is served starting at 8:30 a.m., with the program at 10 a.m.

The Mankato Armory is at 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Mankato.

The observance will pay tribute to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. There will be live music, a keynote speaker and remarks from elected officials.

Commissioner Brad Lindsay has pushed for it to move around the state. For decades, it took place in Inver Grove Heights. Last year, it moved to Arden Hills. This is the first time the event is outside the Twin Cities metro area.

Elsewhere, the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum is hosting a free event called the Veterans Day Film Festival.

Presented in partnership with Lakeland PBS and Pioneer PBS, the festival will feature special matinee screenings that salute the stories, courage and legacy of those who have served.

It is from noon to 8 p.m. on those public-TV stations.