Kenyon, Minnesota · the third weekend of August · since 1968
RoseFest
Next: August 18–22, 2027
In 1962 a city employee named Lloyd Jystad planted ten tree roses on the boulevard of 2nd Street. By June 1968 there were a hundred bushes and a dedication, and the town has thrown a five-day party in their name every August since.
The fire department cooks the pancakes. The booster club runs the 5K. The council approves the whole package in one July motion: dance permit, parade route, street closures, the fire department's beer license. It is a town doing something on purpose, together, and the parade comes down the Boulevard of Roses on Sunday at one.
Five days, 35 events
The 2026 schedule as printed on the committee's official flyer, with the posters for each event. Every line opens its own page. Garage sales run all day Friday and Saturday; the medallion clues post on the four Wednesdays before; a sober cab runs Friday and Saturday nights.
- Grand Marshal announcementFirst Lutheran Church, 309 Forest Street
- Town CruiseFirst Evangelical Lutheran Church parking lot, 309 Forest Street
- Free outdoor movie: The Sheep DetectivesFirst Lutheran Church lawn, 309 Forest Street
- Historical Society garage saleGunderson House, 107 Gunderson Boulevard
- Bike RodeoKenyon Police Department parking lot
- Field of FlagsKenyon Veterans Memorial Park
- Gopher State Garden Tractor PullLangford Avenue, behind the CFS elevator
- City-wide garage salesAcross town; map on the city website
- Public Library book saleCity Council Chamber, City Hall, 709 2nd Street
- K-W Athletic Booster Club golf tournamentKenyon Country Club, 46000 Highway 56
- Gunderson House toursGunderson House, 107 Gunderson Boulevard
- Hog roast at the VFWKenyon VFW, 601 2nd Street
- Rose Fest Ambassador programUnder the Muni tent, 645 2nd Street
- Live music at the VFWKenyon VFW, 601 2nd Street, indoors
- KVFD pancake feed and Bloody Mary barBetween the Muni and Lunch Ladies, 2nd Street
- Grab & Go breakfast at the VFWKenyon VFW, 601 2nd Street
- Old Car & Truck ShowForest Street by the VFW; park off 2nd Street on Forest
- Vendor and craft marketForest Street by Security State Bank
- K-W Athletic Booster Club 5KK-W High School, 400 6th Street
- Tractor pullHamilton-Maring Auction Lot, Highway 56 north of Kenyon
- Kids pedal tractor pullSt. Michael's Catholic Church parking lot
- Road rallyLine up at the CFS elevator
- VFW Auxiliary lunchKenyon VFW, 601 2nd Street
- Viking All-School ReunionK-W High School, 400 6th Street
- Family Fun Day at Depot ParkDepot Park, 55 Washington Street
- Rose Fest RegattaKenyon Municipal Swimming Pool, 304 1st Street
- Church luncheonKenyon United Methodist Church
- Euchre tournamentKenyon Muni, 645 2nd Street
- Bean bag tournamentKenyon Muni, 645 2nd Street
- Family Bingo NightKenyon VFW, 601 2nd Street
- Street dance at the MuniKenyon Muni, 645 2nd Street
- The Grand Parade5th and Spring Street to Langford Avenue, down the Boulevard of Roses
The parade
Sunday, 1 p.m. Registration and line-up along 6th Street and Spring Street at the K-W Middle/High School lot, 400 6th Street.
- Starts at 5th Street and Spring Street, east to Forest Street
- North on Forest to 3rd Street
- West on 3rd to State Street
- North on State to 2nd Street, Gunderson Boulevard
- East down the Boulevard of Roses to Langford Avenue, the end
No parking on the east side of Forest, the north side of 3rd, or the east side of State on parade day. Route as mapped by the city; the council approves it each July with the street closures. Enter a float, vehicle, band, walkers or a candidate.
The city's own route map
The roses, and the years
- 1962
City employee Lloyd Jystad plants ten tree roses on the 2nd Street boulevard.
- 1968
About a hundred bushes; the Boulevard of Roses is dedicated in June.
- 2019
Lost Highway plays the Muni; the committee asks the council for more than its $1,000 donation.
- 2022
The Dads, $2,000 plus half of ticket sales over 400; attendance up, per the administrator.
- 2024
MTVs on Saturday, August 17; the Muni's Rose Fest line spends $17,744 against a $10,000 budget.
- 2025
Rose Fest Ambassador program; Fire Relief Association gives $3,000; the city's donation set at $2,000.
- 2026
August 19–23: 40-some events from the Town Cruise to the Regatta; Chad Johnson Band at the Muni.
- 2027
August 18–22, the third weekend. Committee meets monthly at Cahill Bistro; new members welcome.
More: the Boulevard of Roses and why Kenyon is the rose town.
By the numbers
Figures from the council packets: monthly Muni budget reports 2023–2026, the April 8, 2025 budget transfers, the October 14, 2025 donation resolution, and the February 8, 2022 band contract.
The 2026 posters
Everything the committee, the VFW, the fire department, the library and the churches put out for 2026, largest first.
Take part
The committee
Volunteers, meeting monthly at Cahill Bistro; the next meeting is Monday, September 21, 2026 at 6 p.m. and new members are welcome. Council member Kim Helgeson runs vendors; Mary Klatt runs the medallion hunt prize. The committee posts day-to-day on the Kenyon Rose Fest Facebook page.
- Email kenyonrosefest@hotmail.com
- Vendors Kim Helgeson, 507-210-1595
- Medallion Mary Klatt, 651-380-1751
- Flags Mac or Paul Senjem, 507-330-3050 / 507-254-8302
- City Hall 507-789-6415
Getting here, staying here
Kenyon is where Highway 60 meets Highway 56, about 50 miles from St. Paul and 40 from Rochester. The whole parade route is walkable from anywhere in town. Depot Park has the pool, the playground and the picnic shelters. On 2nd Street: the Muni, the VFW, Cahill Bistro & Bar and Angie's for meals.
Sources: cityofkenyon.gov Rose Fest, parade route and community pages; 2026 posters from the VFW, library and committee; council minutes and packets 2019–2026; Minnesota Prairie Roots (July 8, 2024) on Lloyd Jystad; photo of 2nd Street by Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.