View Committee Contact Information Here

This festival is an annual heritage event which began in 1948 as the “Fall Festival” with Saturday’s theme being “Jesse James Day”.  It is held the weekend after Labor Day and is among the largest outdoor celebrations in Minnesota and is organized and managed by a true all-volunteer organization. Thousands of visitors witness reenactments of the robbery, which is staged on Division street, outside of the First National Bank of Northfield. Other activities during the festival include: a championship rodeo, carnival, car show, and parade, horseshoe hunt, as well as arts and crafts expositions, and musical performances. Many food stations are set up in Bridge Square, and during the evenings live music is played in a “Entertainment Center” on Water Street.

Start time is at 2pm on Sunday.

View Parade Route (PDF)

Important parade information for PARTICIPANTS only

Step #1

Download these documents

View Parade Invitation Letter Here

If you’d prefer, you can print out and mail parade application here

Step #2

Each participant is required to submit a waiver form.  Get this download here.

…And Insure information.  That form is here!

Step #3 (if you want to apply online)

Fill out the online application here.

Performance Schedule

• Friday 6pm and 7pm (ASL & Spanish interpreted at 7pm)
• Saturday 11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm (ASL at 11,1,3)
• Sunday 11am & 12:30pm (ASL 11)

The Raid Re-Enactment takes about 30 minutes to complete. There is a narrative description of the events that took place in 1876 which is promptly followed by the appearance of the James/Younger Gang and the re-enactment.

All participants in the re-enactment are volunteers and are not paid for their performances. Many of them own the authentic 1876 costumes they are wearing, while others are provided by the Northfield Historical Society. For more information, here is a historical account of the bank raid.

Please note that the James/Younger Gang does re-enact the raid with Horses and Pistols and the Towns People are also armed. They will be discharging blank rounds of ammunition during the raid re-enactments. Please take necessary precautions with children and pets.

Bleachers are set up on Division Street across from the Historic First National Bank Museum, where the raid re-enactment takes place. You are welcome, at no additional expense, to use the bleachers if you are wearing a current year Defeat of Jesse James Days button. Sorry, but we do not take reservations for the bleachers – First Come First Served.

The DJJD Committee is not responsible for any personal injury incurred while participating in or attending this event. This is not a button event nor is there an admission fee, but usage of the bleachers directly across from the event requires a celebration button.