Local Events
What's happening in Waconia — from lakeside festivals to weekly markets.
Annual — every May
Sister Saturday
📍 Downtown Waconia
Deals and steals all over downtown Waconia — a spring shopping celebration with specials at participating businesses.
Every Thursday, 4–7pm · June through September
Waconia Farmers Market & Flea Market
📍 Waconia Square Parking Lot
Fresh local produce, artisan goods, and flea market finds every Thursday evening all summer long.
Annual — every August
Carver County Fair
📍 Carver County Fairgrounds
114 years of agriculture and community — five days of livestock shows, live music, rides, and classic fair fun.
Seasonal — opens Labor Day weekend, runs until the trees are picked out (typically late October)
Apple Season at Deardorff Orchards
📍 Deardorff Orchards & Vineyards
Pick-your-own apples on an 1888 family farm — SweeTango, Honeycrisp, Zestar!, tractor rides, pumpkins, and Parley Lake Winery on-site.
Annual — every September
Nickle Dickle Day
📍 City Square Park
Waconia's beloved annual street festival — free fun for all ages in the heart of downtown.
Annual — the last weekend of September
Edge of the Big Woods Art Wander
📍 Studios across Carver County, including Waconia
A self-guided studio tour across Carver County — over 15 art studios and 40+ artists, including stops in Waconia.
Annual — late September
Fall on the Farm
📍 Historic Andrew Peterson Farmstead
A free family day at the Historic Andrew Peterson Farmstead — farmyard animals, outdoor cooking demonstrations, and a look at 19th-century farm life.
Annual — every October
Scarecrow Tour
📍 All around Waconia
Creatively crafted scarecrows placed all over Waconia — tour them all and vote for your favorite.
Annual — the Saturday of Minnesota deer opener, every November
D.E.A.R. Hunting Shopping Day
📍 Downtown Waconia
Divas Enjoying Awesome Retail — Waconia's deer-opener shopping day, with deals all over downtown and a Basket of Waconia drawing.
Annual — the Friday before Black Friday
Pink Friday Shopping
📍 Downtown Waconia
A nationwide shop-small day, the Friday before Black Friday — specials at downtown Waconia boutiques and shops.
Annual — Black Friday evening
Tree Lighting in the Park
📍 City Square Park Gazebo
Kick off the holiday season at the City Square Park Gazebo — family fun, cocoa, warm fires, and the official tree lighting.
Annual — the Saturday after Thanksgiving
Small Business Saturday
📍 Downtown Waconia
Shop small in downtown Waconia the Saturday after Thanksgiving — specials and promotions at independent local businesses.
Annual — typically the first two weekends of December (2026 dates not yet announced)
Waconia Christkindlsmarkt
📍 City Square Park
A free German-style open-air Christmas market in City Square Park — Glühwein, live reindeer, a lantern parade, Krampus, and the Christkind.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is Nickle Dickle Day in Waconia?
- Nickle Dickle Day is held annually on the third Saturday of September at City Square Park in downtown Waconia. The main event runs 9am to 5pm, and the Nickle Dickle Street Dance kicks off Friday evening at 7pm.
- When is the Carver County Fair?
- The Carver County Fair is held annually for five days in mid-August at the Carver County Fairgrounds in Waconia. The 2026 fair runs August 12–16. The fair has run for over 114 years.
- When does the Waconia Farmers Market run?
- The Waconia Farmers Market & Flea Market runs every Thursday from 4–7pm, June through September, in the Waconia Square parking lot at 224 First Street.
- Are Waconia events free?
- Most signature Waconia events are free, including Nickle Dickle Day, the Farmers Market, the Scarecrow Tour, Sister Saturday, the Tree Lighting in the Park, and the Christkindlsmarkt holiday market. The Carver County Fair charges admission.
- Where is the Tree Lighting in the Park?
- The Waconia Tree Lighting is held at the City Square Park Gazebo on the Friday after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) at 6pm. Free hot cocoa, fire pits, and the official lighting of the community Christmas tree.