The Defeat of Jesse James Days (DJJD) annual celebration in Northfield would have been this weekend.  Due to COVID-19 there were no community celebrations, county fairs or even a state fair in Minnesota this year.

Like many of those groups the DJJD Committee wanted to do something for the community.  Committee Chair Galen Malecha and Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism President Lisa Peterson told KDHL AM Minnesota listeners about their excitement for this Saturday's food event.

The show was taped Wednesday at Professional Pride Realty in Northfield and will air Friday beginning 9:30 a.m.

From 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. food booths will be set up in Ames Park and the Water Street parking lot. Organizers are calling it the Great Northfield Minnesota Take Out.    Nine booths have agreed to be there but Malecha pointed out some others could show up.  Included are:

  • Temple Concessions, Cheese Curds, Corn Dogs, and more!
  • John Herron- Fresh fries
  • CakeWalk-  Sweet Treats
  • Maria's Taco Hut- Tacos, Burritos, and more!
  • Schroeder Concessions- Footlong Hot Dogs, Blooming Onions, Old Fashioned Lemonade, Cheese Curds and more!
  • Twisted Chicken food truck
  • Jacob's Cotton Candy
  • Sorland Concessions- A variety of fine fair food!
  • Fischer Family Farms Pork-  Selling packaged Jerky, Stix, Bacon, Chops and other Pork products.

Buttons are still for sale for those who collect them.  There are limited quantitites.

Wednesday the usual kick-off to DJJD was held at the gravesite of Joseph Lee Heywood, the man who refused to open the safe when the James-Younger gang tried to rob the First National Bank of Northfield.  Each year a solemn open to the annual celebration is held at Heywood's gravesite.  Traditionally a community member is also honored with a Joseph Lee Heywood award for their service to the community.

Virtual bank raid reenactments will be at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Saturday on the DJJD.org website.  There will be a car cruise around Northfield Saturday beginning 4:00 p.m. featuring classic vehicles.  It starts at Northfield High School.

The Northfield Fire Department duck race is right after the cruise.  Ducks will be dropped into the Cannon River off the 4th Street bridge.  First place is $1,000.  Second place $300 and third place $150.

September 12 and 13 is the "Virtual" Riverfront Fine Arts Festival sponsored by the Northfield Arts Guild.  It features a variety of local and regional artists offering their works for sale, accompanied by online artist interviews, art-making demonstrations and studio tours.

Noon Saturday there will be a Community Parade which winds through Northfield.  More information can be found including a map of the route on the DJJD website.

Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield, Mn. is the state's largest all-volunteer celebration.  Peterson says Northfield non-profits raise between $300,000 and $500,000 each year during the community celebration.  Obviously those organizations in addition to DJJD are being greatly impacted.

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