Things to Do in Northfield
Whether it’s a blustery February morning or a radiant July afternoon, Northfield has an undeniable charm. Its rustic, shop-lined downtown runs along the beautiful Canon River, offering opportunities to enjoy the natural surroundings and quaint shops within just a couple of blocks.
Northfield is a college town — Carleton and St. Olaf are both nearby — offering all the restaurants, cafés, breweries, and locally-owned shops the label implies. That’s a boon for visitors, because there’s plenty to do here, making Northfield a great small town for a quick weekend getaway or day trip.
Here are all the shops, dishes and sights Northfield has to offer.
Things to Do
No trip to Northfield is complete without exploring the city’s connection to notorious outlaw Jesse James. In 1876, the James-Younger Gang, led by Jesse and Frank James, attempted to rob the First National Bank. The robbery, which was chronicled in the 1972 western film “The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid,” resulted in the capture of the three Younger brothers, and another member of the gang was killed weeks later.
That famous incident can be explored through the Northfield Historical Society. Its small museum sits in the historic 19th-century Scrivner Building downtown, and is absolutely worth a visit, although it’s usually closed throughout January and February.
Alternatively, the Defeat of Jesse James Days festival is held each year on the weekend after Labor Day. Featured events at the downtown festival include a horseshoe hunt, classic car cruise, and a dramatic reenactment of the James-Younger Gang’s failed Northfield raid.
Read more about the Defeat of Jesse James Days festival.
Food & Drink
The Ole Store Restaurant comes up quickly when any Northfielder is asked where a visitor should eat. The Nordic-focused restaurant has the city’s best upscale-but-casual menu, which changes seasonally to take advantage of fresh produce and local ingredients, like the Jirk Family Farms maple syrup pictured on the pancakes above.
While the restaurant offers lunch, its dinner menu, in particular, features entrées that can make for a memorable night out, such as pork chop with braised apples, crusted salmon, or its popular "fisk fry" (fried walleye with malt vinegar aioli).
Tanzenwald Brewing Company sits a few blocks from downtown, with a cozy taproom featuring an alluring array of exciting beer styles, not just IPAs. Famished visitors don’t swing through for the beer alone, though. Its smash burgers feature house-ground beef from Sakura Wagyu Farms. They can be dressed up in a variety of ways, but The Tanzenwald, topped with white cheddar and tomato jam, is worth a visit all by itself. The brewery also serves non-alcoholic options if you’re passing through for burgers, not beer.
Another local favorite, Chapati, was lost in a 2020 fire. The same family that ran the restaurant recently opened Desi Diner, bringing authentic Indian dishes back to downtown. Hogan Brothers Acoustic Café is a popular lunchtime stop, whether you simply need a coffee break or are looking for one of its loaded hot hoagies.
Also keeping things caffeinated: Little Joy Coffee, the Instagram-famous café that went viral worldwide after posting the recipe for its labor-intensive raspberry Danish latte. Pair one of their specialties with a scratch-made riff on a Pop Tart or a pastry — a cardamom bun or a donut featuring locally sourced butter, oil and eggs — from the nearby bakery Bread People.
Cap your evening with a personal-sized pizza and a cocktail at Loon Liquors Distillery, which produces organic spirits from local grains. They are spun into classics like a perfect old-fashioned and adventurous new concoctions like a non-alcoholic Toasted Coconut Almond Horchata and the Lion’s Tail with Loonman Aquavit, allspice syrup, house bitters, and lime juice.
Another pizza option is the incredibly popular Red Barn Farm. Located on a picturesque, rural property just 10 minutes outside downtown Northfield, its seasonal pizza night runs from May through early fall and requires a reservation. Not because it has set, limited seating, but because they try to stagger all the pies that are slung in and out of its wood-fired oven every Wednesday night and the third Sunday of the month.
Other rules (no pets, cash or check only, BYO utensils, trash bags and blankets) keep things as casual as a backyard cookout, but the trade-offs are worth it. Aside from the scenery itself, Red Barn pours local drinks from Loon Liquors and Chapel Brewing alongside chewy, wood-fired pies. We love the Sour Pig, with sausage and sauerkraut, and the Firecracker, which combines salami, basil and feta with a drizzle of hot honey.
Read about more road trip-worthy pizza farms.
Shopping
Downtown Northfield is the place to go for window shopping. The district has everything you need for an afternoon out and about, with its endearing older buildings, some dating back to the 19th century.
The quaint stretch around Division St. is loaded with locally owned shops. Find quirky retro décor, jewelry, vinyl records, and used clothing that cuts across different eras at Vintage etc. Also worth a look: the women’s clothing at Mainstream Boutique, heritage-forward men’s fashion at Bearded Mermaid, chic house plants at Paisley Gardens, or any of the namesake products at the wonderfully aromatic Northfield Olive Oil & Vinegars.
After all that, you’ll probably need to make a quick stop at CakeWalk for one of its famous Black Velvet cupcakes.
Outdoor Activities
Northfield has so many options for spending time outdoors that it’s hard to get the same recommendation twice from residents. The Riverwalk, a scenic path along the Canon River, is just steps from downtown. During the warmer months, that stroll can include a pitstop at the Riverwalk Market Fair, a combination farmers market and craft fair along the river.
For larger outdoor spaces far from the sight of buildings, Carleton College’s Cowling Arboretum is a beautiful slice of nature. It contains roughly 800 acres of restored forest and prairie near the school. The Arboretum’s terrain includes oak savanna, a gorgeous habitat found mostly across the central U.S.
Where to Stay
While there are hotels like the Fairfield Inn & Suites right near the downtown district, a trip to a charming town deserves a charming stay. The city has bed-and-breakfast options like Contented Cottage that make going back to the room as appealing as going out. (Contented Cottage also runs a quaint tearoom in town if you'd like a B&B-style experience without spending the night.)
For the adventurous, the nearby Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and Lake Byllesby Campground both offer camping options in warmer months. Be sure to book yours in advance, as sites fill up quickly on popular weekends.
Find other things to do in the South Lakes region that Northfield calls home.
