LAKE MINNETONKA
LAKE MINNETONKA
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025
James J. Hill Days: A celebration of Wayzata
One of Wayzata’ s most anticipated events of the year is the three-day lakeside festival known as James J. Hill Days. Offering loads of activities for people of all ages to enjoy, the 50th annual event held in 2024 brought many laughs and smiles to all who attended.
The popular community tradition invites visitors to downtown Wayzata to celebrate the city’ s past and recognizes James J. Hill’ s impact on Wayzata’ s history.
The village of Wayzata was excited by the arrival of the railroad in 1867. The William Crooks steam engine pulled two passenger cars down the main street of Wayzata. By 1878, Hill gained control of the railroad and renamed it The Great Northern Railroad. In 1883, after Wayzata’ s incorporation as a village, their first order of business was to move the tracks further north.
Hill was forced to move the tracks off the street, but instead of north, he moved them closer to the lake. He also removed the train station located on Broadway Avenue, and built a new depot east of town near Bushaway Road.
The“ feud” between Wayzata and Hill continued until
1906 when Hill built a new depot. Service continued out of the depot until 1971 and in 1981 it was placed on the National and State Register of Historic Places. Presented by the Wayzata West Metro Chamber of Commerce, the weekend-long festival invites residents and visitors to a celebration of tradition and fun for the entire family.
Each year, event organizers add to the growing and diverse list of entertainment options and activities.
New additions to the festival in recent years have included the Lake Minnetonka Carnival, Rails and Ales craft beer sampling and the sport of log rolling.
Festival-goers also enjoy food from street vendors, food trucks and local restaurants while shopping at the open-air street market.
The Lake Street parade, dachshund races and fireworks over Wayzata Bay also keep visitors returning each year.
Those who plan to attend James J. Hill Days are encouraged to check the festival’ s website, jamesjhilldays. wayzatawestmetrochamber. com, this summer for updated information.
LAKE MINNETONKA | COMMUNITY GUIDE | 2025 | 53