Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield

Head to Northfield the first weekend after Labor Day for the Annual Defeat of Jesse James

Have you visited Northfield yet? It’s a super cute town less than an hour south of the Twin Cities. There’s so much to do over September 4th through September 7th for the Defeat of Jesse James Days, but a big highlight of the festival is the Bank Raid Reenactment.

The Bank Raid Reenactment takes place on Friday, September 6th at 6pm and 7pm. The event takes about 30 minutes. It’s a narrative description to honor the townspeople who defeated the James / Younger gang. Up to this historical day on September 7th, 1876, no one had stood up to or fought back when the James-Younger gang, but this would be the last time they would team up and rob a bank!

All the actors in the reenactment are volunteers and many wear authentic 1876 costumes! Please note: there will be discharging blank rounds of ammunition during the raid reenactments. Please take the necessary precautions to protect your hearing.

In addition to the reenactment, there are a lot of other events going on in Northfield! There’s carnival rides, live music, a car show, art fair, professional rodeo, bike tour, kiddie parade and more. You can see the full list of events and locations on the event website.

Defeat of Jesse James buttons are required for several events during the festival. Buttons are $5 and can be purchased at the event. Kids under the age of 5 do not need their own button to participate!