It’s time once again for “Lake Minnetonka’s best festival”: James J. Hill Days in Wayzata! Friday, September 11th through Sunday, September 13th, take some time to celebrate Wayzata at the city’s largest annual community event.

For those who are unaware, James J. Hill is a Minnesota historic figure who once owned the Great Northern Railroad Company and, as the builder of the present train depot, helped transform the city of Wayzata into the lovely little town it is now. Since 1975, citizens of Wayzata have celebrated both James J. Hill and the city’s history with the annual James J. Hill Days festival.

And what a festival it is! Head down to Wayzata this weekend to enjoy an open-air street market, a carnival, dachshund races, a parade, fireworks, live music and more!

This year’s festival features Dierks Bentley, Maddie & Tae, Canaan Smith, Soul Asylum and BoDeans. You can purchase tickets to the concerts at http://wayzatabeachbash.com/.

If you’re a biker, you can also consider registering to participate in the MN Warrior Bike Ride taking place on Saturday, September 12th bright and early at 7:30AM. This is a brand new event for the James J. Hill Days and will raise money and awareness for veteran-facing organizations, including The Wounded Warrior Project. The ride will range between 20-100 miles along the beautiful Dakota Trail. Visit http://jamesjhilldays.com/mn-warrior-bike-ride/ for more information and to register for the ride!

Take a break from fast-paced city living, and head on down to Wayzata this weekend for the James J. Hill celebration!