Small-town festivals abound in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. They celebrate every aspect of Minnesota life, like catching ugly fish in the Eelpout Festival, or eating locally grown produce in the Hopkins Raspberry Festival. And then there are some festivals that are just a bit more unusual. Moose Lake celebrates the state gemstone with Agate Days, and Wabasha’s Grumpy Old Men Days celebrates the movie that put the town on the map. There’s another festival that fits into this unusual category. It celebrates a fascinating piece of Minnesota history, and it’s just plain fun. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Defeat of Jesse James Days:

As you probably know, Jesse James was a notorious outlaw who lived during the mid-to-late 1800s. He ran with a gang across the Midwest, robbing trains and banks, as well as committing other crimes.
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Most gave in to James and his gang, hoping to avoid bodily harm. But there was one town that stood up to the gang. In 1876, the James-Younger Gang attempted to hold up the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota.
First National Bank of Northfield/Facebook
But the town rallied against them. Several gang members were killed or captured. The rest were driven out of town. In just a few short years, it was all over. With his gang mostly gone, Jesse James died in 1882.
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Northfield's defeat of the James-Younger Gang has become a cause for celebration for the town. Every year, the Defeat of Jesse James Festival serves as a reminder for this fascinating piece of Minnesota history.
Defeat of Jesse James Days/Facebook

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The festival includes everything you would expect from a small-town festival in Minnesota.
Defeat of Jesse James Days/Facebook
There will be food, arts and crafts, and musical performances.
Defeat of Jesse James Days/Facebook
But the highlight of it all is even more special. Defeat of Jesse James Days includes a live reenactment of the famous botched robbery.
Defeat of Jesse James Days/Facebook
Costumed outlaws will descend on the town on horseback, but they will swiftly be driven out by townspeople.
Deafeat of Jesse James Days/Facebook
Attendees to the festival line the streets for this grand event, one of the biggest outdoor festivals in Minnesota. Make sure you get there early if you want a good view!
Defeat of Jesse James Days/Facebook

In 2019, Defeat of Jesse James Days will be on September 4-8. For more information about the festivities, check out the Defeat of Jesse James Days website. And for more unique festivals in Minnesota, check out our list of the 12 weirdest and wackiest festivals in Minnesota.

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