Residents of Mower County and the surrounding area will have the opportunity this weekend to help animals in need by attending the annual Mower County Humane Society Pasta Dinner and Live Auction on Sunday.

The event, along with the Walk for Animals in September, is one of only two major fundraisers held by the Mower County Humane Society each year.

“We think of this event not only as a fundraiser but also a celebration for the success we have had during the previous year in rescuing abandoned pets and finding new homes for them,” said volunteer Kelly Rush. “This past year was one of the best years as far as numbers of adoptions for both cats and dogs and the number of owner spays and neuters at our sponsored clinics.”

Along with a spaghetti dinner with all of the trimmings, this year’s event will include musical entertainment by Rush Hour, a cash bar and an auction conducted by auctioneer Al Smith.

New to this year’s event are games, grab bags and several contests, all with dog and cat themes.

“We encourage the general public to come, have a good time, and if they didn’t know about our organization before, they can learn what makes us unique from other non-profits here in Mower County,” Rush said.

The Mower County Humane Society’s annual Pasta Dinner and Live Auction will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25, in the ballroom at the Austin Holiday Inn. Tickets can be purchased in advance at $10 for adults and $4 for kids 8 years and younger. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Mower County Humane Society, Double K Specialty or the Holiday Inn. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $5 for kids eight and younger.

The Austin Symphony Orchestra presents ‘Beethoven and Bruch’

The Austin Symphony Orchestra will be performing works by composers Ludwig Van Beethoven, Max Bruch, and Felix Mendelssohn at a concert on Sunday.

Pieces that will be performed are Bruch’s “Violin Concerto No. 1,” Mendelssohn’s “Fingal’s Cave, The Hebrides Overture,” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 3 (Eroica).”

Austin High School senior Emma Andersen will be the guest soloist for “Violin Concerto No. 1.” Stephen Ramsey will conduct the show.

The concert will be held from 2-4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Historic Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at https://www.austinmnsymphony.org/tickets/beethoven-and-bruch. They can also be purchased at Hy-Vee and Coffee House on Main.

For more information, visit www.austinsymphonyorchestra.com.

Schedule of Events

Friday, Feb. 23

• Volunteer Appreciation Event, 9-10 a.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. If you volunteer at or for the Mower County Senior Center, stop by for free coffee and muffins as a show of the Senior Center’s appreciation. Stop by or call the Senior Center at 507-433-2370 to RSVP.

• Austin Community Playgroup – Cardboard Box Building, 10-11:30 a.m. at Austin Congregational UCC. Come and meet other parents, caregivers, and children in an informal, friendly, and fun environment. Please bring your own snacks. All dates are subject to cancellation for church needs – notice will be sent out as soon as possible. For more information, call Sheila at 507-399-1924, or go to https://www.facebook.com/austincongoucc/?fref=ts.

• Friday Fish Fry, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall, 211 First St. SE. Adults $8, ages 4-12 $6, 3 and under free. Full bar. Broiled fish available too.

• ArtRocks Open Jam Session, 7-9 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. The house band sets up and hosts the event. Players bring their guitars, basses, horns, sticks, keyboards, washboards, etc, and singers and songwriters bring themselves, their words, and their voices. The house band will ‘back’ individual jammers, and allow for groups of jammers to get up and play. ArtRocks events are open to friends and family members of jammers, as well as the public. No need to play or perform; listening is an art too. Admission is free. Donations welcome. For more information, call 507-434-0934 or go to www.austinareaarts.org.

• Austin Bruins vs. Minot Minotauros, 7-9:30 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go, Bruins! For more information, call 507-434-4978.

Saturday, Feb. 24

• Origami Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Austin Public Library. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

• Hour of Code, 1:30-2:30 [p.m. at the Austin Public Library. Practice your skill at writing computer programming through online activities using visual blocks of code. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

• Paint the Town Pink Pinko, starts at 5 p.m. with happy hour at the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Fundraiser as part of Paint the Town Pink. For more information, go to www.hi.umn.edu/pttp or call 507-460-0259.

• Austin Bruins vs. Minot Minotauros, 7-9:30 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go, Bruins! For more information, call 507-434-4978.

Sunday, Feb. 25

• Pancake Breakfast, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Queen of Angels – Cunningham Hall. Come find out what makes these pancakes special. Free will donation for a breakfast that includes pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and milk. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus; proceeds will benefit the Pacelli Catholic Schools.