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What’s Chanhappenin’ This Week
⛅ Weather: A warm Wednesday near 75, then highs in the 60s, a chance of showers Saturday, and a chilly Sunday morning in the upper 30s
❓Trivia: The Chanhassen banker behind a Minnesota political party
📰 Community News: Absentee voting now open, the candidate forum recording, speed enforcement on Galpin, and ANNIE opens at CDT
🏪 Business Spotlight: Packing meals for people around the world since 2006
🍻 Local Deals: BOGO beer at Med Box Grill, mention this newsletter in store
🗓️ Upcoming Events: Bone Adventure, Friday Night Pickleball Parties, Harvest Day at the Arb, Lotus Lake Gifts turns 10 years old, and Oktoberfest at Lake Drive Tap
♾️ Weekly Events: Live music, games, & more
🔎 Get Featured: Want your business or event noticed?
Hey Chanhassen! This week we're shining a light on a local spot where volunteers have been packing meals for people around the world since 2006. Absentee voting for the Nov. 3 election is now open, and there's a heads-up for anyone who drives Galpin. Plus, ANNIE opens Oct. 9 at CDT, and Saturday brings both Lotus Lake Gifts' 10th anniversary and Oktoberfest at Lake Drive Tap.
Also, is your kitchen counter starting to look like a vitamin aisle? This week’s sponsor, IM8, rolls 16 supplements into one daily drink. Check them out at the top of this week’s issue.
Weather This Week
Chanhassen Trivia
In 1944, a Chanhassen banker helped merge two Minnesota political parties into one, then became the first chairman of the new party. Who was he, and which party did he help create?
Scroll down for the answer
Community News
Absentee Voting for Nov. 3 Is Open · You can already cast a ballot for the general election, including this year's mayor and City Council races. In-person absentee voting runs weekdays from 8 AM to 4:30 PM at the Carver County Government Center in Chaska, or you can request a ballot by mail. Two more dates worth saving: Oct. 13 is the last day to pre-register, and early voting begins Oct. 16. Full voting details
Missed the Candidate Forum? Watch the Recording · If you were unable to watch last Thursday’s forum for Chanhassen's mayor and City Council candidates, the full recording is now available online. Thank you to the League of Women Voters of Eastern Carver County for organizing the event. Watch the recording
Watch Your Speed on Galpin Boulevard · If Galpin is part of your daily drive, now's a good time to ease off the gas. The city's latest Chan Check-In gives a heads-up about speed enforcement along Galpin Blvd. The Carver County Sheriff's Office has been adding high-visibility patrols this year on streets where the city has received speeding complaints. Watch the Chan Check-In
ANNIE Takes the Main Stage at CDT · Guys and Dolls has taken its final bow, and Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' next Main Stage show is a family classic, with songs like "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life." Opening night is Friday, Oct. 9, and the show runs through Feb. 27, 2027. Guests must be at least 5 years old. Tickets and info
Business Spotlight
Feed My Starving Children
The Chanhassen site of Feed My Starving Children quietly hit a big milestone this spring: its 20th birthday, marking two decades since it opened on March 1, 2006. The nonprofit itself traces back to 1987 and has its roots right here in Minnesota. Today, Chanhassen is one of three permanent packing sites in the state, alongside Eagan and Coon Rapids.
The numbers are hard to wrap your head around. Last fiscal year, the Chanhassen site alone produced more than 29 million meals, out of roughly 260 million across all eight of FMSC's permanent sites. In March, the organization packed and shipped its five billionth meal. Donations pay for the ingredients volunteers pack, and distribution partners cover the cost of shipping the meals to where they're needed.
The best part is that no experience is required. A typical session starts with a short orientation, followed by about 75 minutes in the packing room filling bags with MannaPack meals of rice, soy, vegetables, and vitamins, and it wraps up with the final tally of how many meals your group packed. Schools, businesses, churches, sports teams, and families all come through, and you can sign up on your own or as a group. The site also hosts Pack and Pledge sessions on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve mornings (donations welcome, but not required), and some local families have made them a holiday tradition for more than 15 years.
Before you head home, stop by FMSC MarketPlace, which sells handcrafted goods from artisans in the communities that receive FMSC food. Artisans earn a fair wage, retail profits fund more meals, and the shop is verified by the Fair Trade Federation. Its holiday boutique is coming up October 16 and 17.
The Chanhassen site is always looking for more volunteers, so grab a hairnet and bring some friends. Find a packing time
📍 18732 Lake Dr E, Chanhassen, MN 55317
🌐 fmsc.org/locations/chanhassen-mn
📞 (952) 937-2329
🕐 Packing: Mon 4:45 to 8:45 PM · Tue to Sat 9:15 AM to 8:45 PM · Sun closed
🛍️ MarketPlace: Mon to Sat 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM
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
Bone Adventure
Through Fri, Oct 2 · Chanhassen trails · Free
Ten bones painted by Park & Rec participants are hidden along Chanhassen's 66 miles of trails. Snap a photo of your dog with each one you find, show your photos at Chuck & Don's (7818 Market Blvd.) for a free treat, and every bone you find earns an entry into a drawing for a $100 prize pack. More info
Friday Night Pickleball Parties
Fridays in October, starting Oct 2 · 6–9 PM · Chanhassen Recreation Center gym
Looking for something to do on a Friday night? The Rec Center is hosting pickleball parties every Friday this month. The Oct. 30 session is a costume edition, with prizes and food at a local spot afterward, and it's capped at 20 players. Register here
Apple and Pumpkin Harvest Day at the Arboretum
Sat, Oct 3 · Farm at the Arb
Hands-on fall activities for the whole family and a chance to taste-test Minnesota apples. If you're making the trip, Scarecrows in the Gardens is also on display through Nov 1. Read more
Lotus Lake Gifts 10th Anniversary Celebration
Sat, Oct 3, 10 AM–5 PM · Lotus Lake Gifts & Home Decor, 412 West 78th St
This Saturday! Lotus Lake Gifts turns 10, and they're celebrating with live music, a food truck, local vendors, special deals, giveaways, and more.
Oktoberfest at Lake Drive Tap
Sat, Oct 3 · Doors open at 11 AM · Lake Drive Tap, 18651 Lake Drive East
Food, music, and beer, all benefiting the Chanhassen Lions Club Foundation. Grab a 50/50 raffle ticket for a shot at half the pot, with consolation prizes of two bottles of bourbon and an hour on the golf simulator plus four beers. There's also a silent auction, and if you can't make it in person, you can bid online. Browse the silent auction
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
Elmer Kelm, and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). As head of the state's Democratic Party, the Chanhassen banker worked with Farmer-Labor leader Elmer Benson and a young Hubert Humphrey to bring the two parties together in 1944, then served as the DFL's founding chairman. Back home, though, plenty of longtime residents remembered him more for his love of ham radio than for his place in state politics.
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)
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