History:

Father Hennepin Days, after fifty years, came to life again in 1976.  The year of 1929 was the only celebration until 1976.The Bicentennial Committee decided it should be renewed as our heritage.  The last days of June were originally selected for the community celebration.The Father Hennepin Festival is a historic celebration of Champlin.The historic theme is the reenactment of the Crossing of Father Hennepin, who is a man from the community, chosen for his love of Champlin.

Original Bicentennial Committee Members were Gudrun Greenfield, June Tuzinski, Kay Chandler, Roger Olson, Louise Coler, Ambrose Johnson, Omar O'Connell, Ken Moehle, Pearl Mead, Harlan Mead, Ruth Stephens, Geri Nelson Gil Aguirre, Barbara O'Conners and Sylvial Hockel.

Today, the Father Hennepin Festival Committee is comprised of six community residents, recreation staff and a City Council representative.The committee strives to create a festival for the whole community to enjoy.