Daily
Rochester
Monday, January 19th, 2026
Good morning, Rochester. Here's your local news at a glance for Monday, the 19th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Today, Rochester marks MLK Jr. Day with the annual 'We Have a Dream' Celebration starting at 8:15 a.m. at the Mayo Civic Center, including breakfast, a 10:30 a.m. freedom rally & a community program with keynote Thomas Thibodeau at the Rochester Civic Theater concluding at 2:30 p.m. KROC
- ➤ Rochester Public Transit is running A Warm Place to Be program from Saturday, Jan. 17 until Tuesday, Jan. 20 to offer free shelter from extreme cold — passengers simply need to inform the bus driver to use the service. KIMT
- ➤ State Fair board votes to keep ticket and parking prices the same for 2026 and approves over $67 million for fairground improvements (including renovations to Lee and Rose Warner Coliseum). The decision, made in Rochester, aims to enhance guest experience and support a range of events. KTTC
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The History Center marked its 100-year anniversary on Jan. 17 with a ribbon-cutting + debut of the Faces and Places exhibit honoring early members and hosting a printing workshop. It will launch an IBM exhibit on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. + begin weekly historical dance classes in February. KIMT
- ➤ Rochester will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration today at the Mayo Civic Center with events starting at 8:15 a.m. hosted by the NAACP and Chamber of Commerce; activities include breakfast, a freedom rally, a community program with a keynote speaker, and panel ending at 2:30 p.m. KROC-AM
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Castle Con
12 PM - 6 PM — Historic Chateau Theatre — Check event page for details — Immerse yourself in a weekend-long tabletop gaming extravaganza with tournaments and family-friendly fun.
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The Lewy Convergence: Clinical Wisdom and Historical Reflection
11:30 a.m. — Leighton Auditorium — $25 Registration — A landmark CME event honoring Dr. Friedrich Lewy's legacy while advancing knowledge on Lewy Body Dementia care.
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Monster X Tour
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Tickets starting at $20.50 — Experience thrilling monster truck action and freestyle motocross in an adrenaline-pumping event.
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Social Ice Festival 2026
4-10 p.m. — Peace Plaza — Free entry — Experience a vibrant winter oasis with themed bars, ice sculptures, and live DJ entertainment.
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The Sound Of Fate
7:30 p.m. — Mayo Civic Center — Ticketed event — Experience Tchaikovsky's epic showdown with fate through his Symphony No. 5 and Rossini's spirited Overture to Semiramide.
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A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
7:00 p.m. (Thu, Fri, Sat), 2:00 p.m. (Sun) — Rochester Civic Theatre — Ticket prices varied — A low-born man's chase for love and an earldom takes a comedic and murderous twist.
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Junior Gold Qualifier at Colonial Lanes
Multiple time slots available — Colonial Lanes — Participation fee required — Compete in a thrilling Junior Gold qualifier with exciting scholarship opportunities.
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Spanish Conversation Meetup
6:30-7:30 p.m. — Rochester Public Library — Free entry — Practice your Spanish speaking skills in a friendly group setting.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The grass is greener where you water it.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Rochester
Welcome to the Daily Rochester, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Rochester, Minnesota community. If you like the Daily Rochester, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Rochester.
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