Late Night Thursdays begin this Thursday

Late Night Thursdays are back. Red Wing’s decades-long tradition that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s, was restarted in 2025, and is now fully up and running in 2026.

Beginning on May 28, and running through Dec. 17, Late Night Thursdays are a chance for Red Wing residents to support downtown businesses. Already, 42 businesses and organizations are participating, including stores, restaurants and salons.

Participating businesses will be open until 7 p.m. every Thursday between Memorial Day and Christmas.

The tradition began in the 1960s as an opportunity for local residents who worked 9-5 schedules to patronize establishments they were otherwise unable to visit. As big box stores, and later the internet, made shopping easier throughout the week, Late Night Thursdays faded away in the 1990s, and eventually ended completely in the early 2000s.

For the people of Red Wing who long to support downtown businesses, but find other options more convenient, Late Night Thursdays will offer a chance to make that support a reality.

To kick off the Late Night Thursday season, all of the participants will have extra events at their storefronts. For instance, Tootsie Too’s will have a make your own bubble wand station, Howe’s Diamond Jewelers will be offering chair massages, and the renovated former Chief Theater space will be open to the public.

The Chief space will soon be occupied by I Rise Café, a play café for children of all abilities. The café is part of The Achieve Collective, which also operates Achieve Health & Wellness clinic for children with neurological disorders. The clinic will also be in the newly remodeled building.

Many other stores will offer games, sidewalk chalk, and food for the community.

Future Thursdays will feature other events. There are plans for a Touch a Truck event where the Red Wing Fire Department, Police Department, and Public Works will park their most impressive vehicles downtown for families to see up close.

Throughout the rest of the year there will also be performances and movie screenings at the Sheldon on Thursdays. Similarly, on the first Thursday of every month, the train depot will host live music.

More information on upcoming events and participating businesses can be found at www.downtownredwing.org/late-night-thursdays. The calendar will be updated as further events are scheduled.

Any businesses or organizations that would like to participate in Late Night Thursdays can contact Andrea Hanson at director@downtownredwing.org for more information.

This story originally appeared in the Red Wing Republican Eagle.