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September 9–13, 2026

Events Calendar

Events

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Today

  • Joseph Lee Heywood Graveside Memorial Service

    Northfield Cemetery 1425 Division Street S., Northfield, MN, United States

    Since 1990, the Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee has begun the week of the celebration by giving tribute to the two brave men that gave the ultimate sacrifice of […]

  • Bingo On Bridge Square

    Bridge Square 408 Division Street S, Northfield, MN

    Thursday 6:00 pm to Midnight Friday 6:00 pm to Midnight Saturday Noon to Midnight Sunday Noon to 8:00 pm Button Event: No Location: On Bridge Square All proceeds to benefit the Northfield […]

  • Carnival Rides

    Ames Park 300 5th Street W, Northfield, MN, United States

    Thursday: 6pm – 10pm (wrist band night). Carnival opens at 5pm. See below for details. Friday: 5pm- Close Saturday: 11am to Close Sunday: Noon-6pm On the corner of 5th and […]

  • Classic Car Cruise

    Division Street 400 Block 408 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States

    5pm line up on Division St. between 2nd and 4th streets 6:00pm 1-hour cruise begins. Free-will donation welcome. See for route instruction.

  • Pedal Tractor Pull

    Division Street 400 Block 408 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States

  • Thursday Night Thunder

    Division Street 1400 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States

    Meet local motorsport racing teams, family fun with autographs and games.

  • Friday Entertainment Center

    Entertainment Center - Water Street Tent 500 Water Street S., Northfield, MN, United States

    Click the "Event-Link" below or HERE for "Entertain Center" (Tent) Live Music details.

  • Bank Raid Reenactments – Friday 6pm

    Division Street 400 Block 408 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States

    Please click the event link below for full details.

  • Bank Raid Reenactments – Friday 7pm

    Division Street 400 Block 408 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States

    Please click the event link below for full details.

  • PRCA Professional Rodeo – Friday

    Jesse James Arena - Rodeo Grounds Highway 3 South, Northfield, MN, United States

    See event link for complete details!

  • Northfield Rotary Bike Tour

    Memorial Park Field Duds Dukes 214 1st Street S, Dundas, MN, United States

    The Northfield Rotary Club has organized and operated the Bike Tour as a fundraiser since 1995, 100% volunteer run. Net proceeds raised at this event support Rotary’s local and international […]

  • Raider Derby Car Races

    Third and Plum Street 500 Third Street West, Northfield, MN, United States

    Button Event All races check-in and weigh in at 7:30am All race/driver meeting 8:30am sharp. Youth race immediately follows Adult and Youth Trophy presentation follows youth race Located at 3rd […]

  • Defeat of Jesse James Days Car Show

    Riverside Park 710 Poplar Street S, Northfield, MN, United States

    BUTTON EVENT Admission $2.00 plus button, Kids 15 and under free with paid adult Sponsored by Sundowners Car Club.

  • Annual Arts, Crafts and Gift Show – Saturday

    Central Park 421 Fourth Street E, Northfield, MN, United States

    Central Park, 4th and Winona Street, Northfield Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Button Event: No This annual event features over 100 artists. Open […]

  • Kiddie Parade

    Family Fare Kiddie Parade Line up 601 Division St S, Northfield, MN, United States

    Saturday – 9:30 am – 6th and Division Street (Line-up near Family Fare Supermarkets, Formerly Econo Foods.) Line-up starts at 9:00 AM Parade starts at exactly 9:30 AM Join the […]

  • Northfield Arts Guild Riverfront Fine Arts Festival – Saturday

    River Walk - Cannon River 13 Bridge Square, Northfield, MN, United States

    Saturday, 10 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, 10 am to 5:00 pm. Button Event: No Riverside Commons, On the river walk along the Cannon River in historic downtown Northfield. Sponsored […]

  • Cornhole Tournament

    Entertainment Center - Water Street Tent 500 Water Street S., Northfield, MN, United States

    See event link for details. Must pre-register.

  • Saturday Entertainment Center Schedule

    Entertainment Center - Water Street Tent 500 Water Street S., Northfield, MN, United States

    Click the "Event-Link" below or HERE for "Entertain Center" (Tent) Live Music details.

Ambassador Coronation

Ambassador Coronation

September 13. 5:00 pm
Northfield Middle School2200 Division St S, Northfield, MN, United States
Ambassador Reception

Ambassador Reception

September 13. 9:30 am
Northfield Middle School2200 Division St S, Northfield, MN, United States
Antique Tractor Pull

Antique Tractor Pull

September 13. 7:00 am
Jesse James Arena – Rodeo GroundsHighway 3 South, Northfield, MN, United States
Carnival Rides

Carnival Rides

September 10
Ames Park300 5th Street W, Northfield, MN, United States
Classic Car Cruise

Classic Car Cruise

September 10. 5:00 pm
Division Street 400 Block408 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States
Cornhole Tournament

Cornhole Tournament

September 12. 12:00 pm
Entertainment Center – Water Street Tent500 Water Street S., Northfield, MN, United States
DJJD 5K and 15K Run

DJJD 5K and 15K Run

September 13. 8:00 am
5K and 15K Run Starting Point201 E 4th St, Northfield, MN, United States
DJJD Beard Contest

DJJD Beard Contest

September 12. 6:00 pm
Division Street 400 Block408 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States
Friday Entertainment Center

Friday Entertainment Center

September 11. 4:00 pm
Entertainment Center – Water Street Tent500 Water Street S., Northfield, MN, United States
Grand Parade

Grand Parade

September 13. 2:00 pm
Division Street1400 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States
Kiddie Parade

Kiddie Parade

September 12. 9:30 am
Family Fare Kiddie Parade Line up601 Division St S, Northfield, MN, United States
Pedal Tractor Pull

Pedal Tractor Pull

September 10. 5:30 pm
Division Street 400 Block408 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States
Raider Derby Car Races

Raider Derby Car Races

September 12. 7:30 am
Third and Plum Street500 Third Street West, Northfield, MN, United States
Sunday Entertainment Center

Sunday Entertainment Center

September 13. 12:00 pm
Entertainment Center – Water Street Tent500 Water Street S., Northfield, MN, United States
Thursday Night Thunder

Thursday Night Thunder

September 10. 6:00 pm
Division Street1400 Division Street S, Northfield, MN, United States

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.

Historical Account

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.

Joseph Lee Heywood

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