Sponsored by
Want chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals ready in 2 minutes?
Try Factor, America's #1 ready-to-eat meal delivery service.
Made from ingredients you recognize. Whole food. Nothing unnecessary. Let’s eat real.
Get 50% off your first Factor box + Free Breakfast for a year *1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription active.
What’s Chanhappenin’ This Week
⛅ Weather: Dry all week, with highs in the 60s and 70s and a summer-like Saturday near 82
❓Trivia: The 1976 vote that set up Chanhassen's city manager system
📰 Community News: City Manager Laurie Hokkanen heads to Edina, last call for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan survey, Highway 41 reopens as Galpin prepares to close, 2027 street work for four neighborhoods, and a voting reminder
🍻 Local Deals: BOGO beer at Med Box Grill, mention this newsletter in store
🗓️ Upcoming Events: A recycling facility tour, Chaska vs. Chanhassen football, Sip & Sourdough at Lake Drive Tap, a Halloween costume swap, The Groove dance party at CDT, and the 42nd annual Halloween Party
♾️ Weekly Events: Live music, games, & more
🔎 Get Featured: Want your business or event noticed?
Hey Chanhassen! Big news from City Hall this week: City Manager Laurie Hokkanen is heading to Edina, and the Council is already planning for an interim manager. The 2050 Comprehensive Plan survey closes Tuesday, Highway 41 reopens just in time for Galpin Boulevard to close for paving starting Oct. 13, and four neighborhoods are lined up for street work in 2027. Plus, it's a dry week with a Saturday that feels more like summer, so get outside while you can.
Also, is "what's for dinner" the hardest question of your week? This week's sponsor, Factor, delivers chef-crafted meals that are ready in about 2 minutes. Check them out at the top of this week's issue.
Weather This Week
Chanhassen Trivia
In 1976, Chanhassen voters were asked whether the city should switch to a council-manager form of government, where the City Council hires a professional manager to run City Hall day to day. Did it pass, and how close was the vote?
Scroll down for the answer
Community News
City Manager Laurie Hokkanen Is Heading to Edina · Chanhassen will need a new person running City Hall. Hokkanen, who came back to Chanhassen as city manager in 2021 after an earlier stint as assistant city manager, has accepted the city manager job in Edina, and her last full-time day here is Dec. 4. The Council plans to bring in an interim manager to keep projects moving, with a contract up for consideration at the Oct. 12 meeting. It has also started the search for a permanent replacement by asking executive search firms for proposals, and it will choose both the firm and the next city manager, with a hire expected around April or May. Read the city's update
Last Call for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan Survey · The city is starting work on the long-range plan that will shape housing, parks, trails, roads, and growth in Chanhassen for the next couple of decades, and it wants to hear from residents first. The opening community survey closes Tuesday, Oct. 6, so if you have opinions about where Chanhassen goes from here, now's the time. Take the survey
Highway 41 Reopens, and Galpin Closes Next · Highway 41 north of Highway 5 is expected to reopen today, which clears the way for the city to finish Galpin Boulevard. Timed with the school MEA break, Galpin will close from the West 78th Street roundabout to the Longacres roundabout starting Tuesday, Oct. 13. Crews plan to mill and patch Tuesday, pave Wednesday and Thursday, and wrap up striping by Saturday, weather permitting. If Galpin is part of your routine, plan another route that week. Galpin paving details
Four Neighborhoods Are Up for Street Work in 2027 · At its Sept. 28 meeting, the City Council moved the 2027 City Pavement Rehabilitation Project to its next step. The project covers about 3.4 miles of streets in Bluff Creek Estates, Chanhassen Estates, the 86th Street and Tigua Lane area, and Lake Susan Hills. If you live in one of those neighborhoods, expect to hear more from the city as planning moves along. Read the Council recap
Just in Case You Missed It: Voting Is Open · Absentee voting for the Nov. 3 general election, including this year's mayor and City Council races, is already underway. You can vote in person on weekdays from 8 AM to 4:30 PM at the Carver County Government Center in Chaska, or request a ballot by mail. Mark your calendar: Oct. 13 is the last day to pre-register, and early voting begins Oct. 16. Full voting details
Local Deals
Med Box Grill: Buy one beer, get one free when you mention “What’s Chanhappenin’” in store. Stop by their Turkish and Mediterranean spot downtown for gyros, kebabs, and baklava, and bring a friend along.
Offer valid 9/21/26 through 10/21/26
Upcoming Events
Environmental Academy: Inside a Recycling Facility
Thu, Oct 8 · 5 to 6:30 PM · Chanhassen City Hall · Free
Ever wonder what actually happens to your recycling after the truck drives off? Annie Eklund of Dem Con leads a virtual tour of a single-stream recycling facility. A second session on Oct. 22 heads to Dakota Prairie Composting in Shakopee to see how organics get recycled. See the full schedule
Chaska vs. Chanhassen Football
Fri, Oct 9 · 7 PM · Storm Stadium, Chanhassen High School, 2200 Lyman Blvd.
It's the crosstown rivalry. The Storm host the Chaska Hawks under the Friday night lights, and the forecast looks dry, so grab a jacket for the evening, wear your Storm gear, and pack the stands. See the Storm's schedule
Can't make it to the stadium? Moe's Char House is hosting a Storm football watch party from 6 to 9 PM, so you can still catch the game with your neighbors. Moe's on Facebook
Sip & Sourdough Class
Sat, Oct 10 · 11 AM to 1 PM · Lake Drive Tap, 18651 Lake Drive East
Always wanted to bake your own sourdough but didn't know where to start? The Sourdough Lady walks you through the whole process step by step, and you get to enjoy a local craft beer while you learn. Get tickets
Halloween Costume Swap
Drop off Oct 12 to 15 · Pick up Thu, Oct 15, 2 to 6 PM · Chanhassen Recreation Center
Did the kids outgrow last year's costume? Drop off gently used costumes at the Rec Center, then come back Thursday afternoon to find a new one for this year. Learn more
The Groove: An Early Evening Dance Party
Thu, Oct 22 · 7 to 9:30 PM · The Club Theater at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Love to dance but not the 1 AM nights? The Groove turns CDT's Club Theater into a dance floor packed with '70s funk, '80s pop, '90s R&B, and a little Prince, and it wraps up early enough that you'll still get a full night's sleep. Come early for dinner and drinks, park for free, and expect a welcoming, no-pressure crowd. Get tickets
42nd Annual Halloween Party
Sat, Oct 24 · 5:30 to 7:30 PM · Chanhassen Recreation Center · $6 per child ages 2 to 12
Grab a costume (maybe from the swap) and bring the family for trick-or-treating, carnival games, hayrides, bounce castles, and crafts. Kids 1 and under and the adults with them get in free, and preregistering by Oct. 23 is encouraged. Sponsored by South Lake Agency. Register here
Happenin’ Every Week
Monday
The Initials Game at Lake Drive Tap – 7:00–9:00 PM
Tuesday
Live Music at Brindisi's Pub – 6:00–8:30 PM
Wednesday
Trivia Mafia at Lake Drive Tap – 7:00–9:00 PM
Texas Hold’em at Lake Drive Tap – 6:00–9:00 PM
Saturday
Live Music at Moe's Char House – 7:00–10:00 PM
Sunday
Music in the Garden at the MN Landscape Arboretum – 1:30–3:00 PM, through October (included with admission)
4th Sunday of the Month
Free Bingo at The O.G. Coffee & Wine Bar – 2:00–3:30 PM
Get Featured
Own a Chanhassen business, or have an upcoming local event? We've made it easier than ever to get in front of over 1,400 neighbors.
🏪 Business Spotlight — Tell us your story and get considered for an upcoming issue.
Submit your business
🗓️ Event Submission — Hosting an event in Chanhassen or nearby? Share the details and we’ll get it in front of the community.
Submit your event
Trivia Answer
Yes, by 391 votes. On Nov. 2, 1976, Chanhassen voters approved what's known as Optional Plan B, the council-manager form of government, 1,483 to 1,092. That vote set up the council-manager system Chanhassen still uses today, and that's the job the City Council is now working to fill after Laurie Hokkanen's move to Edina.
Referral Program
Got a friend, neighbor, or coworker in Chanhassen who needs to know what's happenin' around town? Share your link and start racking up free local prizes:
2 referrals → $5 gift card to The O.G. Coffee & Wine Bar ☕
5 referrals → $10 Chipotle gift card 🌯
10 referrals → $15 to Tono Pizza 🍕 (go big or go home!)
Rewards are reviewed before we send them out, so let's keep it real — we're looking for genuine neighbors, not just names on a list.
(referral link in email version only)
Stay Connected
Follow What’s Chanhappenin’ on social media for updates and community highlights.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatschanhappenin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chanhappenin