September 9–13, 2026
Events Calendar
Events

Ambassador Coronation

Ambassador Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser

Ambassador Reception

Annual Arts, Crafts & Gift Show – Sunday

Annual Arts, Crafts and Gift Show – Saturday

Antique Tractor Pull

Bank Raid Reenactments – Friday 6pm

Bank Raid Reenactments – Friday 7pm

Bank Raid Reenactments – Saturday 11am

Bank Raid Reenactments – Saturday 1pm

Bank Raid Reenactments – Saturday 3pm

Bank Raid Reenactments – Saturday 5pm

Bank Raid Reenactments – Sunday 11am

Bank Raid Reenactments – Sunday 12:30pm (Limited Seating)

Bingo On Bridge Square – Friday

Bingo On Bridge Square – Saturday

Bingo On Bridge Square – Sunday

Bingo On Bridge Square – Thursday

Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra presents “Immigrant Memories”

Carnival Rides – Friday

Carnival Rides – Saturday

Carnival Rides – Sunday

Carnival Rides – Thursday

Classic Car Cruise

Cornhole Tournament

Defeat of Jesse James Days Car Show

DJJD 5K and 15K Run

DJJD Beard Contest

Entertainment Center – Friday

Entertainment Center – Saturday

Entertainment Center – Sunday

Entertainment Center – Thursday “The Original DJJD Townie Night”

Golf Tournament at Willinger’s Golf Course

Grand Parade

Horseshoe Hunt

Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award Banquet

Joseph Lee Heywood Graveside Memorial Service

Kiddie Parade

Live Music: Legacy of the Loud

Live Music: Russ Franek & The Biscuits Tribute Show

Live Music: Smokescreen

Meet the Candidates Forum

Northfield Arts Guild Riverfront Fine Arts Festival – Saturday

Northfield Arts Guild Riverfront Fine Arts Festival – Sunday

Northfield Fire and Rescue Duck Race

Northfield History Center Townie Night Reception

Northfield Rotary Bike Tour

Pedal Tractor Pull

PRCA Professional Rodeo – Friday

PRCA Professional Rodeo – Saturday 2pm

PRCA Professional Rodeo Saturday Night

Raider Derby Car Races

Thursday Night Thunder
Celebrating the heroes
The celebration is held to honor the townspeople who defeated the James-Younger gang. Up to this historical day on September 7th, 1876, no one had even stood up to these brutal outlaws.
Joseph Lee Heywood
In addition to the gunfight outside the bank, on the street, the head cashier, Joseph Lee Heywood would not open the safe during the robbery. While the safe was unlocked, and the door closed, Heywood told the bandits it was locked and could not be opened because of the new “Time Lock” system that had been installed in the bank. In frustration, Frank James shot him in the head before fleeing.
The Townspeople
It was the Northfield townspeople that stopped the James-Younger gang. We celebrate Joseph Lee Heywood and the locals in the streets who would “defeat” them. The chase would continue for several days when eventually four of the six are captured or killed near Medelia, Minnesota by a posse of seven on September 21st. The James brothers successfully retreated to Missouri, but would never again join up with the Younger Brothers. The three Younger brothers were sentenced to life in prison in Stillwater, Minnesota.
The Northfield Posse

