The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau has formed partnerships with The Hormel Institute, Riverland Community College, the Chamber, Austin Park and Recreation, Mayo Clinic Health Care System, the Paramount Theatre, several local businesses and individuals, and of course, the Austin Bruins — to enhance the third annual Paint the Rink Pink Bruins game into an entire 10 days full of fun events.

Paint the Town Pink now in its’ second year, has been extended this year, and will run from Friday through Sunday, Feb. 10. This is a fundraiser to bring awareness and funding to cancer research at The Hormel Institute. Here is a breakdown of several of the major pink events:

 Friday, Feb. 1

Austin girls basketbal vs. Rochester Mayo will be at 7:30 p.m. in Packer Gym. This will be the Paint the Gym Pink event. Paint the Packer Gym shirts will be for sale as a fundraiser, pre-sale only. Go to www.austincvb.com and click on the pink ribbon to find the order form.

Saturday, Feb. 2

•Austin High School Packer Dance Team’s Winter Dance Show at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Austin High School. This year, the Austin Packer Dance Team will donate proceeds from the blanket raffle at each show.

•Fishing for a Cure Annual Ice Fishing Contest from noon to 2 p.m. will be at East Side Lake. All proceeds go to The Hormel Institute. The cost is just $15. Children 14 and under cost $10. Contact Jim Nelson at 507-219-6229 for details.

•Austin Bruins Paint the Rink Pink hockey game at 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. The game is the highlight of the entire 10 days of events. Get your tickets soon. Each year, they have all sold out.

 Sunday, Feb. 3

Pink pancakes and Spam from 8 a.m. to noon at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 4-10 and three and under eat free. Additional donations accepted for The Hormel Institute.

 Monday, Feb 4

Craft Sale at Riverland Community College from 5 to 7 p.m. in the west building. All proceeds will be donated.

 Thursday, Feb. 7

Survivor Night Diva Experience at Ooh La La. Local breast cancer survivors will be the guests of honor. Pink wine tasting, courtesy of Apollo. Ten percent of proceeds will be donated to The Hormel Institute.

 Friday, Feb. 8

•All day, Main Street Community National Bank is holding a Pink Bake Sale, with proceeds going to Paint the Town Pink.

•Torge’s Happy Hour Fundraiser, 5 to 7 p.m. James Parker Bracken will perform, and pink drinks will be featured, with $1 from each drink purchased matched by Torge’s and donated to Paint the Town Pink.

•Pretty in Pink fundraiser at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. This fundraiser will also benefit Paint the Town Pink for The Hormel Institute. Only $5 gets you in for a night of fun. Come dressed in your 1980s best outfits and high 80s hair.

Saturday, Feb. 9

Red, White and Pink Event, a health, wellness and cancer health event, runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Come to Oak Park Mall for the Male Runway show. Nominations are accepted at Thrivent, 1211 Fourth Street NW.

•Mickey’s Place is hosting a Dart Tourney and Mardi Gras Party. Also that evening, pink beads, jello shots, and T-shirts will be available. All tips from that evening will be donated to The Hormel Institute.

Other events and activities are being added daily. Please go to our website at www.austincvb.com. Click on the pink ribbon and registration materials will come up. Click again on the Paint the Town Pink logo and the full listing of all activities will appear.

We encourage you to get out and participate in all of these tremendous events that are planned for Paint the Town Pink.

Many local businesses are participating through awareness and by displaying the 4-inch pink breast cancer symbol ribbons in their storefronts. We thank our wonderful Paint the Town Pink Steering Committee members, each of whom have dedicated hours of time in planning for this year’s Pink fundraisers. You will see pink all over town.

Buffy the Cow, over on 12th Street SW near the Mower County Fairgrounds main entrance is sporting a pink scarf, thanks to donation from Walmart. So is Brewster the Rooster at Dave Olson’s Apollo and Dino the Dinosaur by the McDonald’s/Ankeny’s Mini Mart No. 5 by Riverland Community College. Kathi Finley of our committee sewed all the scarves to outfit them. Literally, this town will be painted in pink in time for the Bruins third annual Paint the Rink Pink event.

As always, you can find us at our website, on our Facebook page as the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and also as Paint the Town Pink, here in our monthly columns, and on our weekly radio shows, the Austin Action Report on KAUS 1480 AM on Fridays with John Wright at 8:50 a.m. Contact us at 507-437-4563 or visitor@austinmn.com.

Think pink. Wear pink. Support pink.