About Farmington Dew Days
Mission Statement
The Dew Days Committee is a volunteer led sponsorship based organization committed to promoting the community of Farmington by highlighting our quality of life through a variety of family oriented fun-filled experiences.
Our annual community festival, Dew Days, highlights the unique qualities of the community of Farmington to visitors and residents in order to promote the city and surrounding townships as an excellent community for families and businesses. The festival will provide a variety of activities for all ages by exploring the local and regional music and arts, history, culture and natural surroundings of Farmington in an entertaining atmosphere.
Dew Days Motto
HOMETOWN PRIDE. FAMILY FUN. HOW DO YOU DEW?
Vision Statement
The Dew Days Festival will:
- Create opportunities for businesses and non-profit organizations to support the community, thereby helping develop the growth and vitality of the Farmington Community and surrounding areas.
- Be recognized as a premier community celebration
- Be respected as a vital civic event that provides significant economic benefits throughout the Farmington community and beyond
- Create a diversified portfolio of quality events and programs that is financially sustainable
Core Values
- Strive for excellence in everything we do
- Respect the history and heritage of the Dew Days celebration, the Farmington Community, and the surrounding townships
- Practice teamwork with passion
- Build open and honest relationships
- Pursue growth and learning
- Promote volunteerism and community support
- Demonstrate environmentally sound practices
- Embrace and deliver change
- Communicate clear and consistent information
Have you ever wondered how Dew Days got its name?
Yahoo! The citizens of Farmington drink more Mountain Dew per capita than any other city announces Pepsi Cola in 1979.
A city festival was planned to celebrate and the citizens of Farmington have continued to support a festival for the past 41 years. Life changes and so did the festival, from its name, to its location, to its sponsors and the activities. The one thing that has not changed is the citizens of Farmington, who love to celebrate each summer.
These are activities which the festival has included through the years:- The Dew Run: There in the beginning and still going strong.
- Miss Farmington and now the Farmington Ambassadors.
- The Dew Days Parade.
- The Dew Days Medallion Hunt.
- The Taste of Farmington now called "Flavors"
- The Classic Car Cruise and Exhibit.
- The Bed Races.
- The Kiss the Pig fundraiser.
- Go Cart Races.
- The Dewey Duck Races.
- Hot Air Balloon Races.
- Swimming Competitions.
- Baseball and other sports tournaments.
- Walking and bike history tours.
- Kiddie Parades.
- Library children's actives.
- Time Capsule buried in 1997. (125 years)
- Quilt Show.
- History Exhibits at Ahlberg Hall by Dakota City Heritage Village.
- Games by the Business Community.
- Sidewalk chalk drawing contest.
- Many contests were tried such as the Keg Toss, Newspaper Toss, and more.
- Church Services.
- Children's games by the Girl Scouts.
- Crafters Market.
- Bingo. Now with BEER and BRATS.
- Pie & Ice cream fundraiser at the Senior Center.
- Model Train Exhibits.
- Dakota Valley Arts Council Art Exhibit.
- Pizza eating contests.
- Pie Eating Contests.
- Big Wheel Races.
- Live Bands.
- Concessions.
- Carnival Rides & Activities.
At the 125th city celebration in 1997 Mountain Dew Days was renamed to "Founder's Days". A play was written and performed portraying real events of Farmington. Following the Founder's Day renaming the festival was again renamed and shortened to "Dew Days" which continues to the present.
In addition to name changes, the festival has also had a number of locations through the years which included events happening all through the city, on the fairgrounds, Rambling River Park and the area around the Farmington Ice Arena. It is now back to downtown Farmington.
Dew Days is a volunteer-led; sponsorship-based event. It cannot happen without the many people that put in countless hours to plan and execute the event or without the financial support of our area businesses, organizations, and individuals. Thank you to Pepsi Cola for its sponsorship support for many years. Thank you to CEEF (Castle Rock, Empire & Eureka townships and Farmington) as the nonprofit group which oversees the Dew Days festival.
Thank you to the many, many volunteers who have given of their time and talents to make the festival great! Thank you to the business, organizations, and individuals who financially support the festival through sponsorship donations, equipment and more.
Thank you to the Dakota County Fairgrounds and its staff for the use of the grounds for parade lineups which include the classic car cruise and the Dew Days parade. Thank you to the present and past members of the Dew Days committee and all they have done to plan and create a wonderful event each year!