Last week friends from out-of-town came for a visit. We had a great time showing them our new home, the thriving, yet quaint town of Northfield, and some southern Minnesota landscapes.
I noticed this “new to me” mosaic art installment on Bridge Square. From this angle, it frames the original Ames Mill and the dam on the Cannon River.
One of the evenings we were sitting out on our patio enjoying dinner and summer offerings…comfortable weather, sunny, blue skies fading into dusky skies, and no mosquitos!
My friend and I gazing up at the night sky.
My friend and I even laid down on the grass for a while, to watch the stars come out.
Gary and the beanstalk!
This seemed to be a good time to pull up a soybean stalk from the field behind us. I’ve been waiting to do this. I have never seen a soybean plant up close. All summer we have been watching fields of soybeans grow in our “backyard” and I was curious what they looked like.
A soybean stalk up close.
So, Gary climbed down the small incline and pulled up a plant, roots and all. It was about three feet tall and had several fuzzy little bean pods hanging on the stem.
Fuzzy bean pods.
We put it in a vase of water and stuck it in the corner of our patio for future reference, and for decoration. It’s slowly fading away, but the crop of soybeans in the field behind us is thriving.
Last Saturday, at the Vintage Band Festival in Northfield, I wanted to go up to the several young people who were dancing in the street, and tell them to never stop dancing…dance as much as you can…all your life.
I didn’t.
I so enjoyed watching these young folks dancing in sync, not just moving around like we do sometimes. They definitely brought a smile to my face, and many other onlookers (I could tell by their looks!)
Program for the 2025 Vintage Band Festival.
The Jack Brass Band.
The Vintage Band Festival is a free, annual event, that started in 2006. It alters from a one-day to four-day event. Multiple vintage bands come from all over the Midwest to play on the outdoor stage on Bridge Square.
The Sheldon Theatre Brass Band.
It’s a very enjoyable event, and last Saturday was a lovely weather day in Minnesota. Prime for an outdoor concert. Folks bring lawn chairs and sit a while (or all day) and listen to the music. Or, it’s great background music for walking around the River Walk Market Fair to shop for locally-grown produce or locally-made handcrafts.
Lovely Bridge Square in Northfield.
This past Saturday I did both; set up my chair to sit and listen to the music for a while, and I got up in between bands to shop the farmer’s market.
The River Walk Market Fair extended over the 4th Street bridge.
I went home for a break, then Gary and I came back in the afternoon to listen to more music. The festival began at 9 am, and a new band started every hour, on the hour, until 9 pm Saturday night. It’s a popular event in Northfield, and always well attended.
On a warm, summer’s evening in Northfield, Bridge Square and the Riverwalk draw a lot of people. It is a nice place to stroll along the Cannon River, to look at the water falling over the dam, to see people fishing off the bridge, or just sitting and visiting or eating ice cream.
The log jam at the dam in Northfield.
The other night we took our ice cream treat down to Bridge Square and looked out on the river. To our surprise there was a log jam.
Another view of the messy log jam.
A couple big tree trunks were stuck in the dam and hundreds of branches and sticks have accumulated at the blockage. We’ve never seen it backed up so much.
There are always many folks fishing along Bridge Square.
It was a sight to see. Hopefully it will be cleaned up soon.
The Minnesota Explorer is a magazine that highlights different events throughout our state. Recently, it featured an article on Christmas shopping in historic small towns. I love exploring different small towns and this sparked my interest, so I did a little research. I didn’t really need to shop for anything…much of my Christmas shopping was done…but the idea of walking in and out of stores, gazing at window displays, seeing Christmas lights light up the streets, was appealing to me.
A sign outside the Northfield Library. Inside the library were some model train displays. Not as many as in the past, but still fun to see.
After checking out a couple different towns I realized all I wanted was right here in my hometown of Northfield….and…the organized Winter Walk made it even more festive.
Bridge Square at dusk, the beginning of the Winter Walk.
I love to see the white-lit Christmas tree on top of the Malt-O-Meal hot cereal building at Christmastime. When we drive into town it always welcomes me home.
The Winter Walk happened last week on a beautiful evening. The weather was mild, stores were open late, luminaires lined the closed-off main street, Christmas lights lit up Bridge square and there are some fun window displays.
The streets were filled with many folks out enjoying the activities. It was a wonderful sight.
Colorful tree on Bridge Square…Santa’s small chalet in the background.
Fun necklaces were given away, until they ran out.
Walking along the street, tasting sweet treats, drinking cider and hot chocolate, smelling the wood burning fires in fire pits – offering warmth along the way,
There were multiple fire pits along the street for people to warm themselves by a fire. The aroma of the wood burning fires added to the ambiance.
watching the horse-drawn wagons full of people go by,
One of the horse-drawn carriages.
looking in the store windows and occasionally going into a store.
A window display.
It was delightful.
Donning our Santa’s hats.
Olaf made an appearance too!
Maybe I’ll visit a different small town next year but for now, Northfield’s Winter Walk was what I was looking for.
