St. Olaf and Northfield featured in ‘Midwest Living’
Midwest Living, a regional lifestyle magazine, featured St. Olaf College in a recent day-trip guide around Northfield. The author, Hannah Agran, notes that visiting Northfield is a rite of passage for high school students and their families.
“Just 45 minutes south of Minneapolis, the town of roughly 20,000 is home to two liberal arts colleges, Carleton and St. Olaf—a campus tour doubleheader,” she says.
Midwest Living highlighted St. Olaf’s internationally renowned music ensembles and programs, including the free musical performances hosted on campus and the nationally acclaimed annual Christmas Festival. Additionally, the magazine featured a number of local businesses — many beloved by students, faculty, and staff — including Little Joy Coffee, Northfield Yarn, Content Books, Red Barn Farm, and the Northfield History Center.
St. Olaf students, faculty, and staff regularly participate in internships, volunteer with local nonprofits and community groups, and engage with the community through class projects and the Academic Civic Engagement program. Members of the Northfield community also come to campus for athletic, art, and musical events throughout the year, nearly all of which are free and open to the public.
In 2025, a community and economic impact study found that St. Olaf generated $162.9 million for the local economy by stimulating local retail, service, and housing activity. This includes sustaining 1,071 full-time and part-time jobs across Northfield and generating $7.3 million in local and state taxes.
As Midwest Living mentioned, Northfield’s Defeat of Jesse James Days will be held in early September. Community members and visitors can anticipate seeing St. Olaf represented by members of the choir during the parade, a cherished annual tradition that gives first-year students an opportunity to experience the vibrancy of “Minnesota’s Stars Hollow.”