Get ready for Waconia’s most anticipated event of the year—Nickle Dickle Day! Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 13, as downtown Waconia transforms into a bustling hub of festivities, community spirit, family fun, and, of course, great local deals.
It’s the festival's 64th year, and boy, has Nickle Dickle Day evolved from its humble origins. This event has a rich history rooted in local entrepreneurship and community camaraderie. In an interview by Christine Fenner, President of the Waconia Chamber of Commerce, with Paul Melchert, one of the original founders of Nickle Dickle Day, Paul shares that the initial idea originated at a meeting of local business people at the Waco Café, which we now know and love as the Iron Tap. Paul says that at those meetings, business owners were trying to brainstorm ways to bring more foot traffic to Waconia businesses. With that goal in mind, the group decided to offer great promotions, setting up a few card tables on the sidewalk and laying the groundwork for a festival that now draws more than 30,000 people.
The festival’s name is also steeped in history. While other cities were hosting “Crazy Days,” the business community of Waconia wanted something that better fit with the charm of the Waconia community. That’s when the idea for “nickel” promotions first took shape. The town came together around this idea, with bars serving beer for just a nickel and churches joining in selling Sloppy Joes for five cents. The “Dickle” portion of the name comes from the German word "dicker," which means "bargaining." And so, the name Nickle Dickle Day was born.
Christine also chatted with Kim Mackenthun, another key figure in Nickle Dickle Day’s history, about her favorite memory of those early Nickle Dickle Days. Kim shares that one of the most memorable moments was the ping pong ball prize drop, where ping pong balls were dropped from a plane, and each ball had a prize printed on it. The chaos that ensued was a sight to see, with people scrambling onto rooftops to collect ping pong balls that had landed in gutters or on roofs.
While there’s no more ping pong drop, since the festival first began over six decades ago, Nickle Dickle Day has grown, with day-of events also evolving. The festival has since added a Nickle Dickle Eve to kick off the festivities the night before with an epic street dance. This year, you can show off your best moves to a great performance by the band IV Play.
The next day starts with the Nickle Dickle Run, where you can race in a 10K run or a 5K walk/run. Kids in grades five and under can participate in a Tickle Run. After the run, fuel up with great food vendors, shop over 140 vendor booths, brimming with handmade jewelry, paintings, and unique treasures, check out the Classic Car Show with nearly 500 antique and collector cars lining the streets, or join in on the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament hosted by St. Joseph Catholic School.
Another crowd favorite is the Book Sale at the Waconia Public Library, where hundreds of books are available for purchase, or flock to the Duck Races where kids and the kids-at-heart cheer on 80 brightly-colored rubber ducks as they race down City Square Park’s makeshift river.
Nickle Dickle Day isn’t just another festival; it’s Waconia at its best. It’s where the whole town comes together to celebrate community, support local shops, and just have a blast. From duck races and handmade crafts to music and good eats, the day is packed with all the things that make Waconia feel like home: fun, friendliness, and a whole lot of local pride.
Check out the full festival schedule: https://www.destinationwaconia.org/events/chamber-hosted-community-events/nickle-dickle-day/