The change of season brings a flurry of activity to the Northfield area. With historic events, outdoor recreation, art tours and fall festivals, autumn is a time when Northfield’s colors shine. Plan to attend these not-to-be-missed events:
Defeat of Jesse James Days
History comes alive in Northfield each fall as they pay tribute to Northfield townspeople who defeated the infamous James-Younger Gang during the attempted bank robbery on September 7, 1876. Witness re-enactments of the bank raid at the actual historic site; attend the rodeo, craft fair, parades, car show, arts festival, carnival, tons of food, classic car cruise participate in the run/walk and much more. September 8-12.
Riverfront Fine Arts Festival
Over 65 Minnesota fine artists display and sell their work along the beautiful Cannon River. September 11-12.
Sogn Valley Art Fair
Just a few miles east of Northfield, the rolling hills of the Sogn Valley become a magnificent backdrop to artists’ work on display. Offering fine crafts, art and local and artisanal foods, the fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Big Woods Run
Race through the scenic Nerstrand Big Woods State Park southeast of Northfield on October 14. Part of the MN Trail series, the races include a half-marathon, 10K, 5K, and 1K. After the race, stay for homemade soup and cookies.
Photos courtesy of Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Studio ArTour
Step inside artists’ personal studios and see inspiring art created in south central Minnesota, including watercolor, pottery, wood, ceramics, photography, glass, metal, fiber art and more. The two-day tour winds through the communities of Cannon Falls, Northfield and Faribault on Saturday and Sunday, October 9-10 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, contact 507-645-7445.
Riverwalk Market Fair
The weekly artists’ and farmers’ market is planning hands-on activities and games for kids, artists’ demonstrations and free food tastings by local, sustainable farms and food artisans. The market is held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Additional activities can be found at https://visitnorthfield.com/ where information on lodging, dining and shopping is also available. Plan to come and experience the Northfield area this autumn.
