This Minnesota Festival ‘Celebrates’ A Charming Small Town’s Rail History

The charming Lake Minnetonka community of Wayzata has hosted James J. Hill Days since the 1980s. This small-town Minnesota festival celebrates Wayzata’s rail history, which included a somewhat contentious relationship with man of honor, rail magnate James J. Hill.

The railroad came to Wayzata in 1867. St. Paul rail and timber magnate James J. Hill took control of the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railroad in 1878, and the tracks running through Wayzata became part of Hill’s Great Northern Railroad.

In 1883, Wazayta incorporated, and one of its first orders of business was to sue Hill and his railroad to move the tracks off the town’s main street and away from downtown.

When the town won the suit, Hill responded by moving the tracks off the street - but closer to Lake Minnetonka - and moving the depot a mile out of town.

Hill buried the hatchet, so to speak when, in 1906, he ultimately commissioned construction of the Wayzata Depot along the tracks and on the shore of Lake Minnetonka.

Hill’s railroad eventually merged into what became the Burlington, Northern, and Santa Fe - now known as BNSF.

When passenger traffic ceased in 1971, and Burlington Northern gave the depot to the city of Wayazata.

It’s now a museum operated by the local historical society. Trains still pass by on occasion.

But the only one that stops with any regularity is the scale model in the museum’s garden railroad.

In the 1980s, it occurred to some folks that without James J. Hill thumbing his nose at Wayzata, and moving the tracks toward the lake, the people of the town would not enjoy the expansive views of the lake or the handsome historic depot that they have today - and Hill should, therefore, be celebrated.

And James J. Hill Days were born.

The festival takes place every September on the weekend after Labor Day. And of course, there’s a parade.

The streets are lined with vendors and food merchants.

A carnival with the usual assortment of games and rides dominates one end of the street.

Some events are less typical. The Rails and Ales Craft Beer Festival ensures that you won’t go thirsty during the festival.

And you may be presented with your first opportunity to cheer on a racing Dachshund.

The races are an annual event, and the victors are lauded in the Wiener’s Circle.

As Minnesota festival, there is, of course, music and street dancing.

And the festival hosts a dramatic fireworks displays that lights up the night over Wayzata Bay.

And occasionally during the festival, a BNSF train rolls down the tracks to remind everyone why they’re celebrating.

I always enjoy Wayzata’s James J. Hill Days and make a plan to visit every couple years or so. Pro tip: Bring along some of your own snacks, so you don’t overindulge on all the tempting festival foods.

Have you been to James J. Hill Days? Tell us about it in the comments!