James J. Hill Days is a festival held in downtown Wayzata that’s been popular for 50 years. But what makes this annual celebration so special, and why do we hold it anyway?
The festival isn’t just a weekend full of fun and community; it’s a tribute to James J Hill and all the hard work he did for the town of Wayzata. The event helps us honor the deep-rooted history of the town, and helps us bring our community together with a fun festival that includes entertainment and festivities for all to enjoy.
James J. Hill himself was an important figure in the history of Wayzata. He was known as the “Empire Builder” because he helped shape Wayzata (and many other towns) into a tourist attraction with his Great Northern Railway, which was a transcontinental train line that reached from the Upper Midwest to the Pacific Northwest. James J. Hill Days is a way for the people in Wayzata to show our appreciation for him, and bring the town together as a whole.
In 1975, The Wayzata Chamber of Commerce started the James J. Hill Days to honor the legacy of James J. Hill. The event started off as volleyball tournaments and foot races at Wayzata beach, but eventually turned into the large rides and countless booths spanning throughout the Wayzata streets. It’s held on the first weekend of September, from Friday to Sunday in downtown Wayzata.
At James J. Hill Days, there’s an activity for everyone no matter your age, whether it’s the live music throughout the festival or the fun carnival games. A lot of people from around Wayzata, and even some outside the district, come to enjoy the games, rides, and countless food options. Rides and games include: Hook-a-duck, The Goldfish Game, and many rides like bumper cars and the Ferris wheel. At James J. Hill Days there are many food trucks and stands to get a bite to eat. Some fan favorites are deep fried Oreos, egg rolls, cheese curds, and many others.
This year, the festival was a complete success. An estimated 80,000 people came to celebrate the 51st annual James J. Hill Days. The usual festivities were held such as the carnival and the street vendors, as well as full blown Dachshund Races and other dog park activities. There was also a showing of Cars on the Great Lawn for families to enjoy. To end the weekend, there was, of course, the annual James J. Hill Parade featuring a marching band. Even the Wayzata Dance Team, Showstoppers, danced at the parade, which was a perfect way to finish the 2025 James J. Hill Days.
James J. Hill Days also provides residents of Wayzata a fun place to connect.
Wayzata student Eva Neunsinger says, “One thing that surprised me was that I didn’t know it would be so much fun. I thought it would just be like a block party but instead it was a full on function. It can make a big area feel really small. You can connect with a lot of people and it overall brings so much happiness and a great start to the school year. I look forward to it every year because it’s the one day I get to see all of my friends in Wayzata,” proving that the event can bring a sense of community and belonging to Wayzata’s big and diverse crowd.
Another big impact James J. Hill Days is that it affects local businesses. At the event itself, there are many booths and stands filling the walkways from small businesses to promote and sell their products. There’s Wayzata booths as well, such as the volunteer club booth and a few others, including The Makers Den, a 3D printing company. When asked about how the festival impacts them, they said, “We love James J Hill Days! The people and the traffic is always great, and we get to meet some locals. We are able to get to know people and talk to them about their needs and how we can help. We love how there is something for everyone,” which shows that small businesses and the customers can benefit from the festival in more ways than one.
Wayzata.com
Although James J. Hill Days is a major successful festival, there’s always room for improvement. Students around Wayzata say that the festivities are fun, but are repetitive. Although the rides, games, and food are successful, it lacks variety through the many years James J. Hill Days has been operating. This could possibly make people draw away from it as they age, because they already know what’s to come. If James J. Hill Days started implementing different activities throughout the years, it could attract more people and bring old festival-goers back to the event.
Another suggestion from the Wayzata community is that there aren’t many healthy food options. Zara Munoz, a fellow Wayzata student says this: “Most food trucks or stands have fried and sugary foods and drinks, making people who are on diets or struggle with health concerns turn away from that side of the festival.” This fact ultimately limits the experience for some people, which could affect their enjoyment of the festival. Instead, some suggest that The Wayzata Chamber of Commerce could introduce healthier and more diverse food options during the festival, which can bring new customers to businesses and make the weekend a fun experience for everyone, no matter your food preferences.
All in all, James J. Hill day is a perfect opportunity for the people in and outside of Wayzata to come together for a weekend to enjoy fun festivities and appreciate the sense of community, and learning more about the history and culture of the festival can help boost enjoyment of the event.
