Tag: James J. Hill Days

Since 1975 the weekend following Labor Day in Wayzata has been dedicated to honoring James J. Hill, Minnesota historic figure and once owner of the Great Northern Railroad Company.

Hill, builder of the present train depot in 1906, contributed significantly to transform Wayzata into the beautiful tourist location and friendly community we know today.

James J. Hill Days is Lake Minnetonka’s favorite community tradition, as highlighted by the “Best Of” Lake Minnetonka award. For the last 49 years this annual festival has brought the community together to celebrate Wayzata, while enjoying food, fun & family festivities!

Don’t miss the Wayzata Beach Bash; also Minnetonka travels to Wayzata High School for the best rivalry in high school football in the state, the Battle for the Bay Bell!

If you are thinking about buying or selling in the area, please plan to stop at 126 Benton Ave. in Wayzata from 1-5 on Saturday and 11-3 on Sunday to visit with myself and Elisha.

This will be a fantastic opportunity for you to view our next (under construction) new construction project with Custom One Homes & David Charlez Design. We would also be interested to discuss any real estate plans you may have.

Go Wayzata football, beat Tonka for the Bay Bell!

Dan, Elisha, Nikki, Jenny, & Katie

We kick off the weekend with FREE LIVE MUSIC & STREET DANCE featuring Alex Rossi + Band from 6–10 p.m. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes, grab a beverage from the Beer + Wine Tent and tell your friends to meet you at the Sandvold Stage off of Minnetonka/Lake Street! Our live music line-up is one to celebrate.

For the craft beer lovers, get your tickets to RAILS & ALES CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL. This year’s line-up is stacked! Enjoy unlimited samples from 20+ breweries, live entertainment by John Whitekar and DJ Souzo, delicious food from Soul to Soul BBQ, and some games to wind down from the week (5-9 PM). Tickets available at JamesJHillDays.com
Step right up! The Lake Minnetonka CARNIVAL (5-10 p.m) will be in full force with ride after ride offering fun for all ages. Purchase presale discounted tickets at Lunds & Byerlys Wayzata and also available at the gate.

Get ready for big name headliners to take the stage for WAYZATA BEACH BASH (6-11 p.m). Country Star, Brad Paisley, comes to town Friday with special guest Tenille Arts. The fun doesn’t stop there! Cody Jinks takes the stage Saturday with special guests The Steel Woods. Tickets available at WayzataBeachBash.com

New this year! Don’t miss a pop-up performance by the feel-good, New Orleans style sounds from JACK BRASS BAND (5:30-7 p.m) at Panoway on Wayzata Bay.

Shop local vendors (5-9 PM) at the outdoor NIGHT MARKET, enjoy 20+ food trucks along Lake Street under the twinkling lights. Bring the kids to the Great Lawn to catch a MOVIE ON THE LAWN (7:30 p.m) hosted by Wayzata Sailing. Enjoy the hilarious adventure of Disney’s Zootopia with the family. A perfect end to summer.

Find that special something as you SHOP 175 VENDORS (10 a.m–7 p.m) at the open-air street market. Sip and stroll from 21 food trucks, beer + wine tents or grab a fresh lemonade as the CARNIVAL continues all day Saturday (10 a.m–10 p.m).

Attention dog lovers, this one’s for you! Grab a hot dog and watch wiener dogs race, jump hurdles and dress up in costume at the ever-popular DACHSHUND RACES (12 p.m). Bring your pup and get ready for your close-up as you pose for pictures in the DOGGY KISSING BOOTH (10 a.m). Create a great memory with your furry friend with our PET CARICATURE ARTIST. Enjoy pupperific treats and register to win prizes (10 a.m–2 p.m). If cute animals are your thing, make sure to stop by Depot Park to take selfies with the LLAMA SQUAD and enjoy PONY RIDES (12– 4 p.m).

New this year! Take your weekend to new heights with the ZIP LINE (10 a.m – 10 p.m). We are excited to partner with Holiday Glow Festival and have the Mobile Fly Wire zipline tower over our grand festival and offer incredible thrills to attendees. Soar and enjoy the view of beautiful Lake Minnetonka all weekend long!

Take a break from all the activities and enjoy incredible FREE LIVE MUSIC, dancing and fireworks! The Sandvold Stage will feature local band favorites including – High & Mighty, Powertap, Sam Graber, and Gas Station Turkeys (10 a.m-10 p.m). Stick around for the WAYZATA BAY FIREWORKS (8:45 p.m) bursting over Wayzata Bay in celebration of all the fun.

Several of the weekend’s activities stretch into Sunday, including logrolling, open air street market, pony rides, carnival, food trucks, beer + wine tents and James J. Hill Days Dog Park activities.

New this year! SKOL Vikings fans! Get ready to cheer on the Vikings lakeside at the VIKINGS SEASON OPENER WATCH PARTY Sunday, September 10 at James J. Hill Days. Drop the kids off at the carnival, grab some food from the food trucks, a cold one from the beer tent, and head on over to see our guys in purple take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the Xfinity BIG screen in the Depot parking lot.

If you haven’t noticed, it’s all about the dogs in Wayzata. So, you and your pup are challenged to join the DOGGY OLYMPICS! Bring your pup and participate in a series of engaging games that will show off your pup’s skills and earn the winners pup-tastic prizes (12–2 p.m). Get some quality time with Officer Gehrman and view impressive skills during DEMOS WITH WAYZATA PD K9 TEAM (12 pm).

Learn about the history of Wayzata and the many changes it has seen over the past 150+ years during the GUIDED HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR (11 a.m–12 p.m). See historic sites such as the Wayzata Depot and Great Northern Section House. The Wayzata Depot Museum will be open to the public during James J. Hill Days from 10 a.m – 4 p.m. Model Train Railroad will run both days from 1–4 p.m.

Other activities special to Sunday, include the T-6 THUNDER AIRSHOW a fascinating display of WWII planes swiftly flying over Lake Street and Wayzata Bay (2:45 p.m). The same afternoon features the hometown PARADE (3 p.m). Special thanks to all the sponsors who keep this event on the tracks. We will see you at James J. Hill Days!

MAJOR SPONSORS: Sandvold Financial Group, Lunds & Byerlys Wayzata, 6Smith, Youngstedts, THN Enterprises, Your Boat Club, Presbyterian Homes & Services Folkestone, Ulrich Real Estate | Regency Homes, Union Home Mortgage, RE/MAX Results

SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Colonial Square/Regency Centers, Next Move Twin Cities | Keller Williams Realty, The International School of MN, Erickson Outdoor Lighting, Mediacom, Renewal by Andersen, Trails of Orono, New Spaces, All Energy Solar, BNSF, Elite Spine Chiropractic, The Brost Clinic, Wings Financial Credit Union, Lakeside Decking Co., Wings for Widows, Coldwell Banker Realty, Xfinity, Face Foundrie, Abra Kadabra Environmental Pest & Wildlife, idc-Automatic, Realia by Jen, MN Inboard Water Sports, Monarch Wealth Advisors, Kraus-Anderson, Petsuites Plymouth, Old National Bank, UPS Store Wayzata, Lake Minnetonka Magazine, Ben & Jerry’s