Jesse James Days

Jesse James Days is three days of fun brought to you by the Garretson Commercial Club, with live music and entertainment, parade, a 5k/10k road race, vendor fair, inflatables, and much more!

Entertainment

Local businesses go all out for Jesse James Days, providing entertainment on Main on Friday and Saturday evenings, and specials all weekend long!

Inflatables, music, a fishing derby, and vendor fair along with many other activities are also offered throughout the event.

Parade

The highlight every year is the Parade that travels north on Main Avenue!

Local businesses, organizations, vintage vehicle enthusiasts, and more are encouraged to drive the parade, which is held Saturday mornings.

Fun for all ages

Whether young or old, Jesse James Days has something for everyone. We offer activities for the whole family!

From School reunions to family reunions, and from toddlers to seniors, all have options for a great time!

Featuring

Car & Motorcycle Show · Inflatables · Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast · Model Trains · Cornhole Tournament · Street Dance · All-Ages Street Dance · Glow Kayak · Parade with Flyover

And Live Music by

Driven · 280 FIFTH Band · Dealer’s Choice

and so much more!

June 13-15, 2025

Jesse James Road Race
Parade Info & Registration
Vendor Fair Registration
Event Submission
Volunteers Needed!

Jesse James Days Road Race

June 14 2025 | 8:00-9:00 a.m. Registration/Check in

9:00 a.m. Race Start

1 mi Walk/Run – 5k Run – 10k Run

Ready to Run/Walk?

1 Mile | 5k | 10k

The Jesse James Race Route will take you through a gorgeous park, up a few hills and down some of the most peaceful, invigorating city streets you’ll ever run. Whether you run to be the first across the finish line or walk for fun, the Jesse James Road Race is for you! Open to all ages. Bicycles for those age 12 or under allowed.

T-shirts will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to pre-registrants only, so don’t wait to sign up! Limited quantities available. Final pre-registration date is June 13, 2022.

Water and a banana will be offered at the finish line.

After the race, head to the Firehouse for a Pancake breakfast, then stick around for the parade! 

REGISTER NOW

Where to Meet

All participants will meet at the Garretson School Main Parking Lot (corner of Main Ave and 2nd St)

The race begins and ends here. Pick up your t-shirt, finish your registration, and warm up. At the end, enjoy a free water and banana. Race markers will be placed along the route to ensure ease of following. The 10K will run the 5K route twice. All ages welcome, including those in strollers! Bicycles allowed for those under age 12.

What to Expect

Runners, walkers, and youth bicycle race participants can begin final registration at 7:00 a.m. in the Garretson School Parking Lot on the day of the race. At the time of registration, those 5k/10k/1 mi participants who pre-registered will receive a t-shirt (size quantities are limited, best attempts will be made to match the requested size). Any t-shirts left over after the race will be available for purchase.

The race starts at at the corner of Main Ave and Second Street. All participants will be assigned a number and finishing times will be recorded as the finish line is crossed.

Direction signs will be placed along the route. Traffic control will not be provided. Please use safety measures to ensure a quality race.

The Route

The 5k/10k/1 mi route will traverse city streets and gravel. Be prepared for multiple terrains. The route will take you through Devil’s Gulch, and around back toward the school parking lot.

 

Registration

Registrations are $35 for all ages and include a t-shirt in the size(s) requested. Shirt quantities are limited and are first-come, first-serve to pre-registrations. Race pre-registrations due by June 12.

Check or Cash Registration Below


T-Shirt Included

All registrations come with a t-shirt celebrating your accomplishment!

Routes (1 mile | 5k)

1 mile walk route
1 Mile
5k | 10k

Parade Registration

Wanted! Parade Registrants

Parades are a great advertising source for local and regional businesses, and this one is no exception.  A few years ago we had close to 60 entries and the crowd was more than could be expected.  No doubt the good weather assisted, so hopefully we’ll luck out again this year with sunny skies.  There is no registration fee for this year’s parade, making it even easier to show off your products and/or services.  As you well know, Garretson is a growing and prospering community with young families.  A parade is a very simple and inexpensive means to market your business to these young families. 

The Garretson Commercial Club assists in the organization and handling of the parade during Jesse James Days.  Our goal is to have 80 businesses participate this year within Garretson and its region that may serve citizens of Garretson.  The parade will take an estimated 1.5 hours from start to finish. 

Sign in will begin at 9:30 am at 212 Center Ave (Zion Lutheran Church / Baseball field entrance).  We highly encourage your business to pre-register.

We highly encourage your business to pre-register. This will let you reserve a position in the parade route.   After you have submitted your entry, you will receive information including your parade position, the parade route map, and set-up time. There is no restriction for the size of your float (big or small). 

Register via the form below, or by phone or mail by the Thursday before Jesse James Days.

Fill out the form below and register online or print out the form and mail or drop off at Garretson Food Center or First Bank and Trust.

Contact: 

Ron Luke, Garretson Food Center

John Brinkman, First Bank & Trust – Garretson

Garretson Commercial Club, P.O. Box 445    Garretson, SD  57030

PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY!      No registration fee.  Registration deadline:  Thursday June 13th.

  • We are anticipating a large number of floats.  Early registration is encouraged.
  • You may distribute items safely along the parade route.  Please watch out for wandering children!!
  • You will be numbered and instructed where to line up at the registration table by Zion Lutheran Church.
  •  All groups from all of our local communities are welcomed.

Thank you for your support in honoring Garretson’s heritage!  If any questions please contact any chairperson;   Ron Luke 594-3420 or John Brinkman 595-2715.

In the event of extreme weather – contact any of the above listed numbers for information.

Sign in will begin at 9:30 am at 212 Center Ave (Zion Lutheran Church / Baseball field entrance) on Saturday morning of Jesse James Days. Parade start 11:00 a.m.

We highly encourage your business to pre-register.

Registration Form

Calling all crafters, small businesses, or farmers’ market-style vendors! The Vendor Fair is a great time to sell your wares.

Limited space is available, tables are provided. Cost: $15 per table. Pre-registration required. The vendor fair is held Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Garretson American Legion, 504 N Main Ave. For questions, call or text Laurie at 605-400-9102.


Events must be submitted prior to June 1 to be included on print schedules.

Brought to you by these Garretson Commercial Club businesses

3D Security · Alliance Communications · American Legion - Henry G Fix Post #23 · Avera Medical Group Garretson · Brandon Lumber · Carlson Flats · Central Valley Dairy Supply LLC · CHS Inc. · City of Garretson · Crete Pro's Inc. · Devils Gulch · DeWit Property Management LLC · Don's Auto · Ewe-Pullet Self-Service Auto Part · Extreme Heating & Cooling · Family Floors & Furniture · First Bank & Trust · Frontline Crop Solutions · Garbage N More · Garretson Ambulance · Garretson Area Historical Society · Garretson Economic Development · Garretson Food Center & Catering · Garretson Gazette · Garretson Insurance · Garretson School District · Garretson Self Storage · Garretson Sportsmen's Club · Garretson Volunteer Fire Department · Grace's Grooming · HEGG Realtors - Terry Johnson · Hose It Car Wash · Humble Hill Winery · Intellipro Security LLC · Jesse James Country Store · Jesse James Pontoon Rides · Kibble Equipment LLC · King Skull Metalworks LLC · Landmark Realty and Auction Inc. · Longhenry Custom Homes · Midwest Boring LLC · Minnehaha Funeral Home · Nordstrom's Automotive · Nordstrom's Installation and Diagnostic Center · Old Daddin' · Palisade Healthcare · Palisade Lutheran Church · Palisades Art Gallery · Palisades Chiropractic · Palisades Oil Co. and Palisades Propane, Inc. · Palisades State Park · Peoples Insurance · Performance Press · RC-3 Concrete Placement Inc. · Renovation Church · Right At Home · River Ridge Golf Course · Rodney Lowe Construction · Roll-Off Pros · Shear Magic · Sioux Valley Energy · Siouxland Libraries-Garretson Branch · Sports Cabin/ The Combine II · St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church · Steve's Electric & Plumbing Inc. · Storage on Depot · The Exercise Place · The Gulch Bar & Grill · The Treasure Chest · Two Little Bees Family Farm · Vandersnick Excavating LLC · VanDyke Sanitation · Village Caregiving · Xcel Energy Zion Lutheran Church