Jesse James Days is coming! June 17-19, the Garretson Commercial Club and local organizations have several events planned, including a parade on Saturday.
Local businesses will have events and sales, such as live entertainment, wine tastings, and a street dance. Several food options will be available throughout the weekend, including lunch and dinner specials at Big Erns, The Combine, and The Gulch along with wine tastings, food trucks, walking tacos, and a burger feed.
Events on Friday include the 11th Annual Garretson Community Scholarship Foundation's Golf Tournament, a Car Show, and Cornhole Tournament.
The Golf Tournament is a popular, yearly event hosted to benefit GHS seniors in their quest for further education. Since 2008, the GCSF has awarded 185 graduates with $178,150 total, and each year keeps getting better. Pre-registration is required as tee times fill quickly! If a registration form is needed, it can be downloaded at VisitGarretson.com/jessejamesdays.
The Garretson Museum is hosting two events this year. On Friday evening, they'll be bringing back their walking tacos starting at 5:30 until gone. These have always been popular, and will likely go quickly! On Saturday, they'll be holding a ribbon cutting for the new model railroad room in the museum at 10:30 a.m. right before the parade. The railroad room gives a view of Garretson in the 1960's and was designed by Rich Holzapfel after a generous donation by Sharon Kringen in memory of her husband Grant.
Saturday events will go from 7:00 a.m. until late, with the Garretson Fire Department Pancake Feed, the Jesse James Road Race, parade with a fly-over, inflatables, street dance, and more.
The library will be hosting author Arley Fadness, who wrote "Capturing the Younger Brothers Gang in the Northern Plains: The untold story of heroic teen Asle Sorbel." Fadness will be presenting on the book and doing an author signing beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The street dance brings back an oldie-but-a-goodie, recalling the years when Garretson held its yearly street dance with a live band. Undercover Band will be playing on Saturday evening in the intersection of Main and 3rd. The dance will begin at 9:00 p.m.
Attendees will be able to enjoy three baseball games over the weekend, one on Friday evening between the 14U team against Tea at 7:00 p.m., the second on Saturday between the 18U Legion team versus Dell Rapids at 3:00 p.m., and the third between the Blue Jays and Akron, IA at 5:30 p.m. The beginning of the Blue Jays game will also include Hall of Fame inductions.
On Sunday, a community-wide church service will be held on the lawn of Zion Lutheran Church, the FFA will host its annual Fishing Derby, and kayak rentals will be available at Split Rock Park.
At 3:00 p.m., the Palisades State Park naturalist will be hosting Crafts in the Split Rock Park, capping off a fun weekend for all.
Volunteers are requested for events such as walking with the plane train and helping out with the Road Race. To volunteer, contact John Brinkman at First Bank & Trust or Garrick Moritz at the Gazette, or head to the website and click Volunteer Now.
These are just the highlights! The full schedule can be found below. A downloadable schedule can be found on-line at VisitGarretsonSD.com/jessejamesdays.
Jesse James Days Schedule
Friday, June 17th – Sunday, June 19th, 2022
Fri. June 17th
All Day Self-Guided Hikes at Devil’s Gulch -Trail Maps available in Visitor Center
9:00 AM Registration for Golf Tournament www.visitGarretsonSD.com
10:00 AM 11th Annual GCSF Golf Tournament-shotgun start-dinner and awards follow
10:00 AM-6:00 PM Palisades Art Gallery open showcasing local artists
Noon – 6:00 PM Humble Hill Winery – wine tasting (¾ mile North of Garretson on Hwy 11)
1:00 PM – 8:00 PM Garretson Swimming Pool – open for family swimming
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Sports Cabin - Happy Hour
5:00 PM – 10:00PM Sports Cabin - Dinner Specials
5:30 PM Walking Tacos – Garretson Museum
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Registration for Bean Bag Tournament
6:45 PM Bean Bag Tournament begins
7:00 PM 14U Baseball vs Tea
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM V & A Food Truck – in or near the School’s East parking lot
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Running Model Trains Displayed at the School Commons – Model Trains HO Scale layout with lots of details. Kids will be allowed to run the train throttles.
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Car, Antique Tractor and Motorcycle Show - East Parking lot of the School
6:00 PM-9:00 PM Art Show Opening featuring Local Artists at Palisades Art Gallery
Sat. June 18th
All Day Self-Guided Hikes at Devil’s Gulch -Trail Maps available in Visitor Center
7:00 AM – 11:00 AM Pancake Feed at the Fire Department
7:30 AM – 11:30 AM All American Blood Drive sponsored by Garretson Fire Department
8:00 AM Jesse James Road Race begins – Pre-Registration required for a T-shirt, go to www.visitGarretsonSD.com
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Running Model Trains Displayed at the School Commons – Model Trains HO Scale layout with lots of details. Kids will be allowed to run the train throttles.
9:30 AM Parade Line-up begins at Essex Street & Center Avenue just North of Zion Lutheran Church.
9:30 AM Author talk and book signing at the library: Arley Fadness presents his new book, "Capturing the Younger Brothers Gang in the Northern Plains: The untold story of heroic teen Asle Sorbel."
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Arts and Craft Vendor Fair in the Legion building.
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Museum open: View the New 1960’s Garretson Train Room, Jesse James Robbery display, Town of Sherman display, Palisades Flour Mill display, 1st Telephone Co-op display. Garretson Pottery for sale. FREE popcorn, coffee and cider.
10:00 AM-6:00 PM Palisades Art Gallery open showcasing local artists
10:30 AM Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting for the New 1960’s Garretson Train Room at the Garretson Museum
11:00 AM Fly-over at beginning of parade.
11:00 AM PARADE BEGINS….Pre-Registration is preferred. The registration form will be on the website www.visitGarretsonSD.com/jessejamesdays under the links tab. Parade Line-up begins at 9:30 at Essex Street & Center Ave just North of Zion Lutheran Church.
Noon – 2:00 PM Kringen Horse ‘n Wagon Rides load at Softball complex
Noon – 3:00 PM Family Treats Ice Cream Truck at the softball field
Noon – 3:00 PM Cloud 9 – Cotton Candy truck
Noon – 3:00 PM Toddler Train Rides in the Zion Lutheran Church Parking lot.
Noon – 3:00 PM INFLATABLES at the Ball Field ($15 wristbands/$45 maximum per family)
Noon – 3:00 PM Black Hills Caboose – model train vendor - in the Garretson Museum
Noon – 3:00 PM Garretson Firemen offering Shuttle Fire Truck Rides to the Museum (the “1960’s Garretson Train” display), to the School (Model Train display) and to the Softball Complex (inflatables)
Noon – 3:00 PM The Silver Creek Mavericks Wild West Show at the softball field
Noon – 3:00 PM Food – Burger booth by Zion Lutheran Church and Food Trucks
Noon – 5:00 PM Garretson Swimming Pool open for family swimming
Noon – 6:00 PM Humble Hill Winery – wine tasting (¾ mile North of Garretson on Hwy 11)
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Humble Hill Wine Tasting at the Treasure Chest
3:00 PM Legion Baseball Game vs Dell Rapids - $2 Foul Balls
5:00 PM – 10:00PM Sports Cabin Dinner Specials
5:00 PM The Combine Sports Bar & Grill – food and beverages available
5:30 PM Hall of Fame Inductions and $5 Foul Ball night at the baseball field
5:30 PM Blue Jays baseball game vs Akron IA
9:00 PM – Midnight Undercover Band Street Dance sponsored by The Combine & The Gulch
Sun. June 19th
All Day Self-Guided Hikes at Devil’s Gulch -Trail Maps available in Visitor Center
10:00 AM Outdoor Community Church Service at Zion Lutheran Church
10:00 AM-6:00 PM Palisades Art Gallery open showcasing local artists
Noon – 5:00 PM Garretson Swimming Pool open for family swimming
Noon – 6:00 PM Humble Hill Winery – wine tasting (¾ mile North of Garretson on Hwy 11)
12:30 PM Registration for FFA Fishing Derby
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM FFA Fishing Derby below the Splitrock Park Dam
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM KING KAYAK Rentals - Kayaks available above the Splitrock Park Dam
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM V&A Concessions Food truck in the Splitrock Park
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Crafts in the Splitrock Park sponsored by Palisades State Park
*Food and beverages will be available throughout the weekend at the local restaurants, bars, food stands, ice cream truck and other food trucks.
