Crane Island image was provided by the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society.
The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society will host its final history cruise event of the season Sunday, Oct. 4, with a three-hour trip exploring the historic shores of the Upper Lake.
“The Historic Shores of the Upper Lake” will depart aboard Paradise Charter’s Destiny II from the Port of Excelsior at 1 p.m. and return at 4 p.m.
Historians will narrate the cruise as it follows a route similar to those once traveled by Lake Minnetonka steamers Belle of Minnetonka and City of St. Louis. The route will pass through the Narrows and include the sites of the Halsteads’ “Hermitage,” Casco Point and the Upper Lake islands.
Tickets begin at $44.52. A cash bar with spirits and soft drinks will be available aboard the boat.
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The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society was formed in 2023 through the consolidation of the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, Museum of Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata Historical Society and Westonka Historical Society. It maintains museums in Wayzata, Excelsior and Mound, along with its Research Archives in Wayzata.
Tickets are available through the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society’s online event listing. For additional information, contact the society at info@LakeMinnetonkaHistory.org or 952-474-2115.
The Wayzata Fire Department will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 20, at Wayzata City Hall, 600 Rice St. E.
Firefighters will serve pancakes, French toast and sausage, along with coffee and juice. The morning will also include a raffle and an opportunity for visitors to see fire trucks and meet members of the department.
The breakfast is free and open to the public. Free-will donations will be accepted, with proceeds benefiting the Wayzata Fire Relief Association, which supports department equipment needs and firefighter retirement benefits.
Wayzata’s Big Woods Preserve will receive national recognition Sept. 24 when the 14-acre woodland is formally inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network.
The preserve will become the first site in Minnesota to receive the organization’s “Community Forest” designation, reserved for forests with particularly close ties to their surrounding communities. Eight other Minnesota forests are already part of the broader network.
A public ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. at the Big Woods Preserve trailhead, 1223 Wayzata Blvd. E., just east of Colonial Square. Remarks from City of Wayzata and Old-Growth Forest Network staff will be followed by a half-mile, family-friendly interpretive hike.
“It’s hard to overstate the significance of these woods,” said Wayzata City Forester Bennett Myhran. “An intact Big Woods ecosystem is a rare thing today, especially within a developed area. It’s incredible to see what’s become of this community conservation effort.”
The preserve is one of the remaining pieces of the hardwood forest that once covered a large portion of central Minnesota. Sugar maples and basswood dominate the woods, with native wildflowers appearing in the spring and a dense canopy covering much of the property during the summer.
The name has deep roots in Wayzata history. Early accounts of the community describe settlers making their way to Lake Minnetonka through the heavily wooded country known as the Big Woods. Much of that forest was later cleared as settlement and development spread across the area.
The surviving Wayzata property faced a different future in the early 2000s. The land was part of the former Sisters of the Cenacle property, and preservation efforts followed plans to sell the larger site. Fourteen acres were ultimately protected in 2004 through an effort involving Wayzata residents, private donors and The Retreat, which occupies the Tudor-style former Cenacle building surrounded by the preserve.
Today, the Big Woods is a Wayzata city park with a rustic walking trail tucked between Wayzata Boulevard, Colonial Square and the development surrounding Interstate 394.
The Old-Growth Forest Network is working to identify and recognize protected forests throughout the country, with a goal of having at least one in every forested county in the United States. The organization now includes more than 350 forests nationwide.
Parking at the Big Woods trailhead is limited. Additional parking for the Sept. 24 ceremony will be available at Colonial Square on Wayzata Boulevard.
Three-day festival will bring live music, carnival rides, street vendors, dachshund races, an airshow and the annual parade to downtown Wayzata.
WAYZATA, Minn. — One of Wayzata’s largest annual traditions returns Sept. 11–13 as James J. Hill Days marks its 52nd year with three days of music, food, family activities and community events throughout downtown.
Organized by the Wayzata West Metro Chamber, the festival is expected to draw approximately 80,000 visitors over the weekend. Events will stretch along Lake Street, Panoway on Wayzata Bay, the Great Lawn and the Wayzata Depot area.
Live Music Opens the Weekend
The celebration begins Friday evening with free live music on the Sandvold Stage near Minnetonka Avenue and Lake Street.
The Alex Rossi Band will perform beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the 10-member cover band Powertap at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup includes High & Mighty, The 70’s Magic Sunshine Band, and Taylor Robert with Roll N Soul. Sunday entertainment includes ACES & 88’s Dueling Pianos and Dance Esteem. Beer and wine tents will also operate near the stage throughout the weekend.
Also returning Friday is the Rails & Ales Craft Beer Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. The ticketed event will feature samples from more than 20 breweries, games and live music from country and rock group Coyote Wild.
Approximately 20 food trucks will be located within walking distance of the festival grounds.
Movie on the Great Lawn
Families can head to the Great Lawn Saturday evening for a Live Music & Movie on the Lawn hosted by Wayzata Sailing.
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature The Wild Robot, the animated story of a robot stranded on an island who forms relationships with its animals and cares for an orphaned goose.
Carnival and Street Market Return
The Lake Minnetonka Carnival will operate throughout the weekend, with rides, games and traditional carnival food.
Carnival hours are:
Friday, 5–10 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Discounted advance tickets will be available at Lunds & Byerlys Wayzata through Thursday, Sept. 10. Full-price tickets will be available during the festival.
The James J. Hill Days Street Market will feature approximately 175 vendors lining Lake Street. The market will be open Friday from 5–9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Dachshund Races, Doggy Olympics and New Games
One of the weekend’s longtime traditions, the 42nd Annual Dachshund Races and Costume Contest, returns Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.
On Sunday, dogs of all breeds can participate in the Doggy Olympics from noon to 2 p.m.
Retired Wayzata Police Officer Jason Gehrman and MinnSARDA will also present a search-and-rescue demonstration Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
New this year is Paws & Play Games, featuring short dog-themed activities for children, adults and their dogs, with prizes available to participants.
Coaster Cart Derby and Historical Walking Tours
Saturday morning will also feature the Coaster Cart Derby from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society will lead guided historical walking tours Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 11:30 a.m., giving festival visitors an opportunity to explore Wayzata’s history while walking through the community.
Airshow and Parade Close the Weekend
The celebration builds toward two of its signature Sunday traditions.
The T-6 Thunder Airshow is scheduled for 2:45 p.m., with World War II-era aircraft flying above Wayzata Bay and Lake Street.
The James J. Hill Days Parade follows at 3 p.m., bringing community organizations, businesses and participants through downtown Wayzata for the festival’s traditional finale.
James J. Hill Days began in 1975 and has grown into one of Wayzata’s defining annual celebrations. The festival commemorates railroad entrepreneur James J. Hill and Wayzata’s long relationship with the railroad, which helped establish the community as a gateway to Lake Minnetonka.
The Wayzata Depot, completed in 1906, remains one of the most visible reminders of that railroad heritage.
Additional information, advance tickets and event details are available through JamesJHillDays.com.
John Colby Sr. of Excelsior, at right, enjoys games with friends around the turn of the 20th century. Courtesy of the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society archives.
The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society will take history onto the water this September with a Fall Fun and Games Cruise aboard the Lady of the Lake in Excelsior.
The cruise is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature an evening of games, Lake Minnetonka scenery and a little local history along the way.
Passengers can take part in history trivia, bingo and other games of skill and chance. No background in local history is needed, and organizers say participants may simply leave the boat knowing a little more about Lake Minnetonka than when they stepped aboard.
A cash bar offering spirits and soft drinks will also be available during the casual two-hour cruise.
Tickets are $25 for Lake Minnetonka Historical Society members and $37 for nonmembers. Tickets are available through gamescruise.eventbrite.com.
Preserving Lake Minnetonka History
The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society was formed in October 2023 through the consolidation of four organizations: the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, Museum of Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata Historical Society and Westonka Historical Society.
The combined organization maintains an extensive collection documenting communities and life around Lake Minnetonka. Its facilities include the Research Archives in Wayzata and museums in Wayzata, Excelsior and Mound.
The Society also presents public programs and historical experiences, publishes books about the Lake Minnetonka area and continues efforts to return the historic 1906 streetcar steamboat Minnehaha to active operation as a floating museum.
For more information about the Fall Fun and Games Cruise or the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, visit LakeMinnetonkaHistory.org, email info@LakeMinnetonkaHistory.org or call 952-474-2115.
The Wayzata Depot in 1907. Image courtesy Lake Minnetonka Historical Society.
A century-old railroad landmark welcomed visitors Sunday with cake, memories and a look back at the building that helped shape Wayzata
WAYZATA, Minn. — There was a birthday celebration at the Wayzata Depot on Sunday, but the guest of honor was 120 years old.
The Wayzata Depot Museum, located at 402 Lake Street East along the shores of Lake Minnetonka, welcomed visitors Sunday afternoon as the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society marked the 120th anniversary of the historic Great Northern Railway depot.
The celebration was well attended, with visitors stopping in to tour the depot, learn more about Wayzata’s railroad history and enjoy a special sheet cake prepared for the occasion.
Sue Sorrentino, Sarah Dibble, and Liz Vandam pause for a moment for a photo during the celebration.
Three volunteers from the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society were on hand to welcome visitors and share stories about the building and the history preserved inside it: Secretary Sarah Dibble, Co-President Liz Vandam and Co-President Sue Sorrentino.
“Happy Birthday to us! The depot is looking as good as it ever has,” Liz Vandam stated.
The Tudor Revival-style depot was built in 1906 for the Great Northern Railway and was designed by St. Paul architect Samuel L. Bartlett. A historic architectural survey of Wayzata describes the building as an important example of the Tudor Revival style and notes that it was designed to reflect both the prestige of the Great Northern Railroad and Wayzata’s economic and social character.
Original Wayzata Depot plans by Samuel L. Bartlett, 1905. Image Courtesy Lake Minnetonka Historical Society.
When the depot opened, it was considered an exceptionally modern railroad station for its time, featuring amenities including steam heat, electric lights and indoor bathrooms. Wayzata’s 2004 community history records that railroad magnate James J. Hill described the new station as “the handsomest and best built structure of its kind in the entire Great Northern system.”
A building tied to Wayzata’s transformation
The depot represents more than the history of one building. The railroad played a central role in transforming Wayzata from a lakeside settlement into a destination connected to the Twin Cities and beyond.
The first passenger train reached Wayzata in August 1867, when the Saint Paul & Pacific Railroad connected the community with Minneapolis. Passengers arriving by train could transfer to steamboats serving Lake Minnetonka, while farmers could use the railroad to move agricultural products to larger markets.
The relationship between Wayzata and the railroad continued to evolve over the following decades. In 1906, construction of the present depot marked another chapter in that relationship.
For generations, trains stopped at the station, bringing visitors to Lake Minnetonka and connecting residents with communities throughout the region.
Scheduled passenger service continued until 1958, when the depot became a “flag stop,” meaning trains stopped only when requested. Great Northern ultimately ended the depot’s official service in 1971 and donated the building to the City of Wayzata the following year.
Rather than disappear, the depot entered a new chapter as a place where Wayzata’s railroad and community history could be preserved.
The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Today, it houses the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society Museum and the Wayzata West Metro Chamber of Commerce.
History that remains on display
Inside the depot, visitors can see artifacts connected to the era when the building was an active railroad station. Among them are original benches, a telegraph, telephone and safe, along with other objects donated over the years.
The depot’s exhibits help illustrate how railroads operated before modern communications. One display explains how railroad employees could use a yellow signal to indicate that a train needed to slow down so a waiting message could be picked up by the crew.
Outside, the Depot Garden and its model railroad provide another connection between Wayzata’s present and its railroad past. The outdoor garden railroad recreates elements of the community’s history in miniature and has become a popular attraction for families visiting the depot.
For a community that was profoundly shaped by its connection to the railroad, the depot remains an unusually tangible link to that past.
Wayzata’s historic architectural survey calls the depot historically and architecturally significant and recommends its designation as a local Heritage Preservation Site. The survey also notes that, in its restored condition, the building continues to impress both visitors and residents.
On Sunday, however, the focus was less on architectural significance and more on simply celebrating an old building that continues to have a place in the life of the community.
A 120-year-old depot may no longer serve the passengers who once arrived by train, but it continues to welcome visitors through its doors.
And, at least for one afternoon, there was cake to prove it.
WAYZATA, MN — Neighbors across Wayzata will gather for block parties, cookouts and community activities tonight as the city celebrates its annual Night to Unite tradition.
Photos from Last years Night to Unite gathering.
The event runs from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at registered neighborhood gatherings throughout Wayzata and Long Lake. The community has participated in Night to Unite for more than 40 years, bringing residents together while strengthening relationships between neighborhoods and local public-safety officials.
Throughout the evening, representatives from the Wayzata Police Department, Wayzata Fire Department, city staff and elected officials will travel between participating block parties. Police cars and fire trucks will make appearances, with children receiving small giveaways and visitors sharing crime-prevention information.
The gatherings also give residents an informal opportunity to meet police officers, firefighters, city employees and local elected leaders, ask questions and learn more about the people serving the community.
Unlike a single citywide festival, Night to Unite takes place within individual neighborhoods. Gatherings may include shared meals, games, music and other family activities organized by residents and neighborhood hosts.
At its heart, the evening is about encouraging neighbors to know one another. Those relationships can help create stronger, safer neighborhoods by making it easier for residents to communicate, recognize when something is out of place and look out for one another throughout the year.
Residents with questions about Wayzata’s Night to Unite activities may contact the Wayzata Police Department at 952-404-5340.
Electronic music will fill the Wayzata lakefront tonight as HiFi on the Lake returns with an afternoon and evening of live performances near Macanda.
The ticketed event will be held Saturday, July 25, at 294 Grove Lane East, near the Wayzata Depot and Boatworks building. The outdoor program is scheduled to run from 3 to 10 p.m., followed by a separate indoor after-party at Macanda for guests age 21 and older.
The lineup includes Cole Knight, Hardt Antoine, Matillo, Johnny Whitaker and additional electronic dance music artists.
Macanda is a lakefront restaurant and vinyl lounge located at 294 Grove Lane East in Wayzata, Minnesota, offering a fusion of Latin American flavors and contemporary Japanese sushi.
Wayzata Mayor Andrew Mullin offered his support for the event in a Facebook post Saturday morning, wishing organizers Johnny Whitaker and Aaron Switz well as they prepared for the day’s festivities.
“I feel strongly that our community needs to support safe, positive opportunities for our youth and young adults to gather, connect, and have fun close to home even if the music gets a little loud for some of us every now and then,” Mullin wrote.
The mayor said providing welcoming local activities for younger generations is an important part of building an engaged community.
“Creating spaces where our younger residents feel welcome and engaged is important,” Mullin wrote. “Wishing the team a successful event and everyone attending a fun, safe time out on the lake!”
The Wayzata City Council approved a special-use permit for the event in June after organizers reduced an earlier proposal for two nights of music to a single Saturday program. Plans presented to the city included private security, police coordination, neighborhood notification and sound monitoring.
The outdoor portion of HiFi on the Lake is open to all ages and will proceed rain or shine. Ticket options include general admission, access near the stage and a 21-and-older premium area with elevated viewing, food, a private bar and indoor restroom access.
HiFi on the Lake brings a contemporary sound to one of Wayzata’s most familiar settings, offering younger residents and visitors an opportunity to gather along the shores of Lake Minnetonka while adding a different beat to the city’s summer calendar.
Wayzata’s Fourth of July morning will once again bring families to the lakefront for one of the community’s most cheerful holiday traditions: flying pancakes at the Depot, children on decorated bikes, patriotic characters, and a Mini Olympics for kids.
Revolutionary Flying Pancake Breakfast
The 20th Annual “Revolutionary” Flying Pancake Breakfast will be held Saturday, July 4, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Historic Wayzata Depot, 402 Lake Street E. The lakeside breakfast has been held since 2005 and is hosted by the young teen members of The Lake Minnetonka Society of the Children of the American Revolution.
The event is known for its flying pancakes, with guests using their plates to catch pancakes tossed from behind the griddle. Walk-up service is also available. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, coffee and cold drinks.
The breakfast is designed as a patriotic service project. Proceeds are granted each year to a veteran service organization, and U.S. veterans and active-duty service members eat free of charge. In 2024, the group donated $5,000 to the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans to support housing for homeless veterans in Minnesota.
Flag Raising and Rifle Salute
File photo.
A 10 a.m. program will include a flag raising and rifle salute. The 7th Pennsylvania Regiment of Revolutionary actors, the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard, and the Daughters of the American Revolution are expected to return for the celebration. Period-costumed participants will talk with visitors about uniforms, muskets, Independence Day history and the men and women who helped found the nation.
Children can also take part in a scavenger hunt around the displays, while families gather near the miniature railroad in the Depot Garden and enjoy views of Lake Minnetonka.
Declaration of Independence
And in honor of the founding document that gave rise to all this celebration, pick up a printed edition of Wayzata.com, available in select shops and our newspaper racks this week—it includes the full text of the Declaration of Independence. Take a moment to read the words that still echo across centuries and shorelines.
Wayzata Kiddie Parade
At 10 a.m., the annual Wayzata Kiddie Parade will begin at the corner of Broadway Avenue North and Park Street. The parade will include decorated bikes, free lemonade and popsicles, games, prizes and visits from familiar characters, including Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty and Betsy Ross.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Battery-powered, electric or motorized vehicles, bikes and scooters are not permitted.
Mini Olympics at Wayzata West
The holiday fun continues at 12:30 p.m., when the Wayzata Fire Department sponsors the annual Mini Olympics for kids at Wayzata West Middle School.
As night falls, many families take the short drive or boat ride to Excelsior for the region’s grand finale: Fireworks over Excelsior Bay, launched from The Commons at approximately 9:50 p.m. Bring a blanket and settle in for a spectacular show reflected in the lake’s dark surface.
Taken together, the Flying Pancake Breakfast, Kiddie Parade and Mini Olympics offer a classic Wayzata Fourth: civic pride, lakefront hospitality, children at the center of the day, and a reminder that Independence Day is both a celebration and a lesson in gratitude.
Wayzata’s summer season will take another graceful turn toward the lake this weekend as the Wayzata Art Experience returns June 27 and 28 along the shores of Lake Minnetonka.
The two-day festival, presented this year by Walser Kia Minnetonka, will bring more than 150 juried artists to downtown Wayzata, along with food trucks, food artisans, live music, a beer and wine garden, family activities, free sailboat rides and a Saturday evening boat light parade on Wayzata Bay.
Submitted photo.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 27, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 28.
For generations, Wayzata has known how to gather people at the edge of the water. In earlier days, visitors arrived by train and steamboat. Today, they come by car, bicycle, boat and on foot, but the draw remains much the same: Lake Street, the bay, the shops, the restaurants and the particular charm of a town that still knows how to make a summer weekend feel like an occasion.
The Art Experience will feature work in ceramics, drawing and printmaking, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, recycled and green art, sculpture and wood. Many of the artists travel from across the country to exhibit in Wayzata, giving visitors the chance to browse, meet artists and purchase original work in a walkable lakeside setting.
Food will be part of the weekend as well, with a lineup of food trucks and local food artisans offering everything from savory meals to specialty goods. The artisan market is expected to include items such as gourmet sea salts, jerky, barbecue sauces, bundt cakes, oversized cookies, maple syrup, sourdough and other handmade offerings.
Submitted photo.
Live music will be featured throughout the weekend on the Island of Music, sponsored by Sandvold Financial Group. Scheduled performers include Monica Livorsi, Tom Hunter, Tom Paquin, Benny Weinbeck and Taylor Robert.
Saturday night will bring the festival onto the water. The Boat Light Parade, presented by the Wayzata Yacht Club, is scheduled for 9:30 to 10 p.m. on Wayzata Bay. Spectators will be able to watch decorated boats pass close to shore from east to west, with viewing areas along the new Wayzata lake walk, Panoway on Wayzata Bay and Depot Park.
Submitted photo.
Wayzata Sailing will offer free sailboat rides Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving visitors another way to experience the bay during the festival weekend.
Submitted photo.
Families will also find an Activity Zone with offerings for art lovers of all ages, including face painting, Urban Boat Builders, Art Buddies and aerial performances by Eureka Aerial.
The Wayzata Art Experience has become one of the community’s signature summer weekends, blending fine art with the everyday pleasures of a lakeside town: strolling Lake Street, lingering over food and music, stepping into a boutique, meeting friends near the water and watching the evening light settle over the bay.
Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead by viewing the artist gallery and full schedule at WayzataArtExperience.com.
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