Faribault

Around Faribault

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Town and around · Minnesota · 69k people

Faribault

Locals say Rice County · “Cows, Colleges, and Contentment”

Faribault · Northfield

River towns, college spirit, and prairie calm.

Carleton BlueSt. Olaf GoldCannon River Green

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Welcome to Rice County, where the Cannon River runs through two classic college towns. Whether you're here for the Jesse James history or the small-town charm, you'll find a friendly wave and a good cup of coffee.

Clubs for Faribault

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The room

One room for everyone around Faribault. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Faribault. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Carleton College campus Liberal arts college with a scenic arboretum.
  • St. Olaf College campus Hilltop campus known for its choir and views.
  • Faribault Woolen Mill Operating since 1865, offering tours and a store.
  • Cannon River Flows through both towns, popular for paddling and fishing.
  • Northfield Historical Society Site of the 1876 Jesse James bank raid.
  • Paradise Center for the Arts Community arts venue in a restored opera house.
  • Outdoors Bike the Cannon Valley Trail
  • Outdoors Kayak or canoe the Cannon River
  • With kids Tour the Faribault Woolen Mill
  • With kids Visit the Northfield Historical Society
  • Evenings Grab a pint at a college-town pub
  • Evenings See live music at the Paradise
  • Locals love college-town coffee shops
  • Locals love riverfront parks

Through the year

  • Defeat of Jesse James Days September Reenactment of the 1876 bank raid, parade, and carnival.
  • Rice County Fair July Traditional county fair with 4-H exhibits and rides.

Rice County has a continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best: Late spring through early fall offers the most pleasant conditions.

Talk like a local

“Faribo”
Short for Faribault.
“Oles”
St. Olaf students or fans.
“Knights”
Carleton students or fans.
“The Cannon”
The Cannon River.

Getaways

  • Twin Cities Big city attractions, pro sports, and dining.
  • Owatonna See the Louis Sullivan bank and the arts center.
  • Red Wing Riverfront bluffs and historic downtown.
  • Rochester Mayo Clinic campus and civic attractions.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Carleton Knights NCAA Division III
  • St. Olaf Oles NCAA Division III

Also rooting for Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Wild (NHL), Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), Minnesota Lynx (WNBA), Minnesota United FC (MLS)

Eat and drink

  • Hotdish The quintessential Minnesota casserole, a potluck staple.
  • Walleye The state fish, commonly served fried or in sandwiches.
  • Jucy Lucy A Minnesota cheeseburger with the cheese inside the patty, popular across the state.
  • Cheese curds Squeaky fresh curds, often fried, a Midwest favourite.
  • Wild rice soup Creamy soup made with Minnesota wild rice, common in local cafes.
  • Kwik Trip Local convenience store chain with excellent bakery and coffee.
  • Culver's Midwest fast-food chain known for ButterBurgers and frozen custard.

Where people go

  • Historic downtowns Well-preserved brick main streets in both Northfield and Faribault.
  • Cannon River The winding river that connects the towns, popular for canoeing and fishing.
  • College campuses Carleton College and St. Olaf College, with their gothic towers and arboretums.
  • Small-town diners and malt shops Classic American diners and old-fashioned ice cream spots.
  • Defeat of Jesse James Days Annual festival in Northfield re-enacting the famous bank raid.
  • Faribault Woolen Mill Historic mill still producing wool blankets, a local landmark.

Heritage and traditions

Rice County is proud of its two historic liberal arts colleges, its Scandinavian heritage, and the legendary 1876 raid that put Northfield on the map as the town that beat Jesse James.

This time of year in Faribault

  • Leaf peeping along the Cannon Valley October Autumn colors draw drives and cyclists.

Say it like a local: “You betcha” — Yes, absolutely.

Festivals

  • Defeat of Jesse James Days September Reenactments, a rodeo, and a parade mark the 1876 bank raid.
  • St. Olaf Christmas Festival December A renowned concert of carols and orchestral music, held since 1912.
  • Northfield Art in the Park June Juried arts and crafts fair along the Cannon River.
  • Faribault RiverFest July Community celebration with food, music, and river activities.
  • Rice County Fair August Traditional county fair with livestock, rides, and exhibits.
  • Cereal Bowl May Annual baseball game between Carleton and St. Olaf, a friendly rivalry.

Landmarks with a story

  • Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour Historic Episcopal cathedral in Faribault, seat of the diocese since 1869.
  • Northfield Historic District Victorian-era storefronts and homes, including the site of the 1876 bank raid.
  • Faribault Woolen Mill Operating since 1865, one of the last vertical woolen mills in the US.
  • Shattuck-St. Mary's School A historic Episcopal boarding school in Faribault, founded in 1858.
  • Rice County Courthouse A Romanesque Revival building from 1918, listed on the National Register.
  • Northfield's Oaklawn Cemetery Final resting place of some who participated in the James-Younger raid.

Food traditions

  • Lefse and lutefisk at Christmas Norwegian flatbread and preserved fish are holiday staples among Scandinavian families.
  • Faribault blue cheese Aged in sandstone caves, this cheese is a local specialty with a century-old tradition.
  • Hotdish and tater tot hotdish The quintessential Minnesota comfort food, often served at potlucks and church suppers.
  • Walleye fish fries Fresh-caught walleye from area lakes, battered and fried, is a summer favorite.
  • Somali sambusas and tea Faribault's Somali community brings savory pastries and spiced tea to local gatherings.

Music and arts

  • St. Olaf Choir and music program World-renowned choral tradition, with annual tours and the Christmas Festival.
  • Northfield Arts Guild Community theater and arts education since 1959.
  • Paradise Center for the Arts Visual and performing arts venue in Faribault's historic downtown.
  • Scandinavian folk art Rosemaling and woodcarving traditions kept alive by local artisans.

A little history

  • 1876 James-Younger Gang raid on the First National Bank of Northfield
  • 1866 Carleton College founded
  • 1874 St. Olaf College founded
  • 1865 Faribault Woolen Mill established
  • Pre-1800s Dakota and Ojibwe peoples inhabited the Cannon River valley before European settlement

Rivalries

  • Carleton vs St. Olaf The 'Cereal Bowl' football game is a annual highlight.
  • Faribault vs Northfield Friendly competition over which downtown is better.
  • Game day Cereal Bowl
  • Game day College hockey and football rivalries
  • Outdoors Canoe or kayak the Cannon River
  • Outdoors Bike the Cannon Valley Trail
  • With kids Visiting the Faribault Woolen Mill
  • With kids The Northfield Historical Society

Locals speak with a classic Minnesota accent—long vowels and a friendly, polite tone. Norwegian and Swedish phrases like 'uff da' and 'you betcha' are common, and the pace is unhurried.

Only here

  • The town that defeated Jesse James—the only bank robbery where the James-Younger Gang was repelled.
  • Two prestigious liberal arts colleges in a town of 20,000 people.
  • The Faribault Woolen Mill, one of the last vertical woolen mills in the US.
  • The Cannon River runs through both towns and is a favorite canoe route.
New here? A few tips
  • Winter is long and snowy—invest in a good coat, boots, and an ice scraper.
  • The towns are small; you'll quickly get to know your neighbors, and 'Minnesota nice' means people are friendly but may take time to warm up.
  • Try the local blue cheese from Faribault—it's a regional treasure.
  • Plan around college schedules: the towns are quieter in summer and during breaks.
  • Don't miss Defeat of Jesse James Days in September; it's a big community event.

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Faribault-Northfield, MN. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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