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When it comes to summer fun, Wayzata is the place to be. With music, fairs, an annual founders day celebration and even steamboat rides, Wayzata is the real deal.

The name Wayzata (pronounced Wise-etta) comes from the American Sioux word Waziyata. "Waziya" was their god of the North, a giant who blew the cold winds from his mouth. With the suffix "ta" added, the name meant "North Shore." In 1852, two pioneer families settled on the present site of Wayzata. In 1857, James J. Hill brought his Northern Railroad to the village. Daily runs from Minneapolis left passengers at the gangplank for the waiting Lady of the Lake, a 50-foot side-wheeler steamer which carried them to other villages and summer homes on Lake Minnetonka. People from Minneapolis and St. Paul began to make Wayzata their weekend retreat. The Wayzata Depot stands as a symbol of the village's glory years. It is now home to the Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wayzata Historical Society.

The town's annual celebration, James J. Hill Days, is held the weekend after Labor Day every year. A trip to Lake Street brings a parade, fried fair food, face painting, art and hula-hooping. The main event, however, was the annual dachshund races. These proud pooches run, jump and hurdle through the cheering crowd. There is also a costume and pet tricks contest. In addition to the dog show, the Wayzata Historical Society sponsors passenger steam train rides on Locomotive 261. 

Steamboat Minnehaha's boating season starts in April and goes until October. Sponsored by the Museum of Lake Minnetonka, travelers can enjoy a leisurely cruise around Big Island and the Lower Lake's peaceful bays. Learn about the place in history the Steamboat Minnehaha held in the lives of people in the early 1900's. Boaters can meet at the James J. Hill Depot in Wayzata.

Stability is the name of the game in Wayzata. The 2000 Census put the city's population at 4,113. By 2005 that had dropped 4.2 percent to 3,941. While the median household income was $65,833 in 2000, the median house value was $281,700.

In addition to James J. Hill Days and Steamboat Minnehaha, Wayzata's summer fun almost never stops. Here are some of the city's events:

-- The Chilly Open Golf Tournament, played on frozen Lake Minnetonka, is a two-day event that starts with dinner and entertainment on Friday. On Saturday more than 1,000 golfers hit the "links" on the lake with two ten hole courses. The event is the first weekend in February.

-- All summer long, the Wayzata Towne Trolley provides free public transportation around downtown Wayzata. The trolley makes 18 stops in the city and runs from mid May until early October.

-- The Wayzata Art Experience in May is three days of art, live music and food. The Art Experience is an invitational and juried event that includes the culinary and the performing arts. Artists come from around the Midwest and represent media including painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics, metals, beads, fiber art and glass.

-- The Summer Concert Series is one of the most popular events at the Wayzata Depot. The series is every Wednesday night from mid-June to early August.

The series features a variety of styles, including polka, big band, blue grass, rock, celtic and jazz

-- The year comes to a close with the Enchanted Wayzata holiday experience, followed by the annual Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting ceremony at the Wayzata Depot. The event is in mid-November. Attractions include shopping by twinkle light, horse drawn carriage rides and roasted chestnuts all followed by the Chamber's Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting. Revelers at the tree lighting will sing carols, light the town trees and have an exciting kickoff to the Holiday Season.

Contributed by John Fitzgerald. John is a freelance writer based out of Buffalo Hills, MN.