Happy Hour sessions start at 5pm each day! Grab a drink (use your drink card or cash!) and unwind with fun, light tech sessions focused on soft tech skills. It's the perfect relaxed way to wrap up your day—informative, engaging, and a great change of pace!

For 2026, we're likely to have larger sessions Monday and Thursday evenings, but still a variety of offerings.

We're approving more happy hour sessions this year than ever, with Thursday evening starting with the Big Brother Big Sister raffle where you could win a Bose Earbuds or a Fold 7 phone.

We're excited to announce the expanded reception is back for 2026! All ballrooms will again be buzzing with unique themes—from live music to games. When you register, you'll get a passport: visit each themed room, collect stamps, and earn a drink card for Happy Hour. Check out sched for full details on room activities.

This interactive setup helps you network, explore, and get comfortable with the venue ahead of tomorrow's sessions. Where should you start? Anywhere you like—jump right in and mingle!

Highlights this year:

• Catch our own Steve Jesok and his band performing live in Lakes A.

• Announcements in Lakes at 5:30

For 2026, drink coins become drink cards. You'll receive a card when you pick up your badge at the registration table which can be exchanged for a free drink during Happy Hour. They can be redeemed for sodas and non-alcoholic beverages as well.

It's all about networking! MMS is as much a networking event as it is a technical event.

MMS Cards Explained

Drink Cards

How to earn: Receive one when you check-in Sign up for a Fishing Session Do a video interview with Sam Ask questions in a session Talk to a speaker Turn in your Welcome Passport How to redeem: Exchange at evening bars in Lakes or Minnetonka foyer.

Prize Cards

How to earn: Talk to a sponsor! How to redeem: Turn in your Prize Card at the Registration Desk at 4:30 PM daily to win prizes, including: $15 FireLake Gift Card Portable Laptop Monitor 100W Battery Power Packs Extra Fishing Session And more!

For 2026, to help encourage networking with your peers and speakers, we've acquired tickets for:

• The Great Big Game Show
• Escape Rooms

These will be available Sunday and weeknights. They won't show in Sched until Sunday. Sign up in Sched and be there 15 minutes early (up on the 3rd floor of MOA).

Note: no cost to speakers or attendees. You may sign up for one session only. Users found signing up for more than one will be removed from all.

• Great Big Game Show is an immersive game show experience! Two teams go head-to-head in a series of classic game show mini-games, on a studio set, with a live host! It's like all game shows you love, but this time, you're the contestant. Play through rounds of strategy, chance, and knowledge, surrounded by spotlights, buzzers, a giant spinning wheel, and a confetti-filled celebration at the end!
• The Escape Game is an immersive 60-minute adventure! Your team will choose from 7 themes: escape prison, explore space, take part in a heist & more. You'll have 60 minutes to crack codes, uncover clues, solve puzzles & complete a mission.

Career Connections are relaxed, private, one-on-one conversations for anyone wanting to talk about their career. You'll meet with a Career Guide — a conference speaker or community member happy to share real perspectives. Not coaching or consulting, just an honest conversation. Bring whatever's on your mind: questions, next steps, or uncertainties. You'll have 20 minutes to talk it through and leave with a fresh perspective.

Several guides have signed up and are ready to meet with you. Sessions appear in Sched just like Fishing Sessions — sign up through Wally or the registration desk. Sessions will be held in the back of FireLake (enter through the back near the Foyer restrooms).

New this year: the Sponsor Spotlight! We've added two dedicated spaces in the Lakeside Foyer, each with a large monitor and speakers, giving you a quieter, focused setting to catch demos and see what sponsors are showcasing.

Sponsors present once per day across five time slots (see the session list). No sign-up needed, just show up! Two sponsors run simultaneously, so there's always something to check out.

Note: the fishing tents have moved to the far side of the Minnetonka Foyer. See Map.

New this year: the Sponsor Spotlight! We've added two dedicated spaces in the Lakeside Foyer, each with a large monitor and speakers, giving you a quieter, focused setting to catch demos and see what sponsors are showcasing.

Sponsors present once per day across five time slots (see the session list). No sign-up needed, just show up! Two sponsors run simultaneously, so there's always something to check out.

Note: the fishing tents have moved to the far side of the Minnetonka Foyer. See Map.

Sign up for our newsletter. We'll send them only every 4-6 weeks or in case of some major alert. You can unsub at any time.