Festivals & Events In Cook County

In Cook County, Minnesota, we know how to have a good time. And we have no shortage of fun things to do in Minnesota . Among the thousands–that’s not a typo–of happenings we host each year are over a dozen festivals and major events. Whether your definition of “good time” is discovering the vibrancy of Ojibwe culture, chowing down on fish burgers, or dancing the night away, we’ve got a big day for you.

We have things to do in Minnesota in all four of the seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall. Head north to experience a Naturally Unforgettable vacation in the arrowhead of Minnesota.  If you’re finally looking for that reason to head to up the shore to Lutsen, Tofte & Schroeder, or Grand Marais, or you’ve always had it on your Bucket List to see the BWCA up the Gunflint Trail for yourself, or maybe you’d like to poke around Grand Portage for the day, one of our events is sure to be a great start to the trip of a lifetime.

Please check the Event Calendar for the latest updates on event changes and cancellations. 

January:

• Ski Party Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains  | 1/6/2023 - 1/7/2023
• Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race, Trail Center Lodge, Gunflint Trail | 1/7/2023
• Norpine Fat Bike Classic, Lutsen | 1/7/2023
• Cook County Snowmobile Club-Ridge Riders Snowmobile Drag Races, Skyport Lodge | 1/21/2023
• John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, Cook County | 1/29/2023 - 1/31/2023

February:

• Cook County Fireplace Tour | 2/1/2023 - 2/28/2023
• Hygge Festival, Cook County | 2/4/2023 - 2/14/2023
• Family Festival, Lutsen Mountains | 2/4/2023
• Cook County Snowmobile Club-Ridge Riders Annual Fun Run, Gunflint Trail | 2/4/2023
• Snowarama, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino | 2/10/2023 - 2/11/2023
• Cloud Cult, Lutsen Mountains |
• Lutsen Trail Breakers Blast from the Past Vintage Snowmobile Ride, Cascade Lodge, Lutsen | 2/11/2023
• Fiber Week, North House Folk School, Grand Marais | 2/13/2023 - 2/20/2023
• Pincushion Winter Festival Ski Race and Tour, Grand Marais | 2/18/2023
• Best in Snow Skijoring Races, Grand Marais | 2/18/2023
• Cook County Snowmobile Club-Ridge Riders Snowmobile Drag Races, Hungry Jack Lodge, Gunflint Trail | 2/18/2023
• Sugarbush Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe, Lutsen | 2/18/2023 
• Grand Marais Ole Opry, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais | 2/25/2023

March:

• Annual Trout Derby, Gunflint Trail | 3/4/2023
• Charles J. Futerrer Memorial Open Bonspiel, Grand Marais | 3/10/2023 - 3/12/2023
• Cook County Snowmobile Club-Ridge Riders Snowmobile Drag Races, Poplar Haus | 3/11/2023
• Superior Timberwolves Annual Snowmobile Club Picnic, Tofte | 3/12/2023
• Dog Days of Winter Sled Dog Derbies and Skijoring Races, Gunflint Trail  | 3/12/2023
• Wood Week at North House Folk School, Grand Marais  | 3/13/2023 - 3/20/2023
• Family Festival at Lutsen Mountains, Lutsen | 3/25/2023
• Sweetwater Shakedown, Lutsen Mountains, Lutsen | 3/31/2023 - 4/2/2023

April:

• Sweetwater Shakedown, Lutsen Mountains | 3/31/2023 - 4/2/2023
• Mountain Meltdown Festival, Lutsen Mountains | 4/14/2023 - 4/15/2023
• Volunteer Weekend at North House Folk School, Grand Marais | 4/21/2023 - 4/23/2023

May:

• Superior Spring Trail Races, Lutsen | 5/20/2023
• Le Grand du Nord Gravel Cycling Classic, Grand Marais & Gunflint Trail | 5/27/2023

June:

• Northern Landscapes Festival at North House Folk School, Grand Marais | 6/2/2023 - 6/4/2023
• Gunflint Green Days, Gunflint Trail | 6/2/2023 - 6/4/2023
• SheRides Mountain Bike Clinic, Lutsen | 6/9/2023 - 6/11/2023
• Annual Pride Celebration, Grand Marais | 6/10/2023
• Boundary Waters Expo at Bearskin Lodge, Gunflint Trail | 6/10/2023 - 6/11/2023
• Wooden Boat Show at North House Folk School, Grand Marais | 6/16/2023 - 6/18/2023
• Lutsen 99er Mountain Bike Race, Lutsen  | 6/29/2024

July:

• Hovland Arts Festival, Hovland  |  7/1/2023 - 7/2/2023
• Tofte 4th of July Celebration, Tofte | 7/4/2023
• 4th of July Fireworks, Grand Marais, Tofte, Grand Portage | 7/4/2023 
• Grand Marais Arts Festival, Grand Marais Art Colony | 7/8/2023 - 7/9/2023
• Lutsong Music Festival, Ski Hill Rd., Lutsen | 7/13/2023 - 7/16/2023
• Annual Gunflint Trail Canoe Races at Gunflint Lodge | 7/19/2023
• North Shore Water Festival, Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, Grand Marais | 7/14/2023 - 7/16/2023
• Biggest Blueberry Contest, Gunflint Trail | 7/21/2023 - 8/13/2023
• Stars of the North Music Festival, Grand Marais | 7/28/2023 - 7/29/2023

August:

• The Fisherman's Picnic, Grand Marais  | 8/3/2023 - 8/6/2023
• Dark Sky Caravan & Star Parties, Cook County | 8/10/2023 - 8/12/2023 (Dates for Cook County Stops)
• Grand Portage National Monument Rendezvous Days, and Celebration Pow Wow, Grand Portage | 8/11/2023 - 8/13/2023 
• Cook County Higher Education Block Party, Grand Marais | 8/27/23

September:

• Superior Fall Trail Races, Lutsen | 9/8/2023 - 9/9/2023
• WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival, Grand Marais | 9/8/2023 - 9/10/2023
• Unplugged, North House Folk School, Grand Marais | 9/14/2023 - 9/16/2023
• Plein Air Grand Marais - Competition Week  | 9/15/2023 - 9/22/2023
• Plein Air Grand Marais - Exhibition | 9/22/2023 - 10/15/2023
• Art Along the Lake: Fall Studio Tour, Cook County | 09/22/2023 - 10/01/2023

October:

• Hide Week, North House Folk School, Grand Marais  | 10/2/2023 - 10/9/2023
• Gunflint Scramble Bike Race, Bearskin Lodge | 10/7/2023
• Moose Madness Family Festival, Grand Marais  | 10/20/2023 - 10/21/2023
• Family Weekend at North House Folk School, Grand Marais | 10/20/2023 - 10/22/2023 

November:

• North Shore Readers and Writers Festival, Grand Marais | 11/1/2023 - 11/4/2023
• Lake Superior Jazz Festival, Lutsen | CANCELED for 2023
• Murder Mystery on the North Shore | 11/10/23 - 11/11/23
• Empty Bowls, Fundraiser for the Cook County Food Shelf, Grand Marais | 11/26/2023
• Winterers Gathering & Arctic Film Festival, North House Folk School, Grand Marais | 11/16/2023 - 11/19/2023
• The New Standards Holiday Show, Lutsen Mountains  | 
• Oh Ole Night Parade, Tree Lighting and Fireworks, Grand Marais  | 11/24/2023
• Hovland Winter Art Show, Hovland Town Hall  | 11/25/2023

December:

• Holiday Harbor Village, Grand Marais | 12/1/2023 - 12/2/2023
• Northwoods Fiber Guild Open House & Holiday Sale, Grand Marais Art Colony Studio 21 | 12/2/2023
• Pots for Presents Sale, Grand Marais Art Colony Founders Hall | 12/2/2023
• Dark Sky Festival, Cook County | 12/07/2023 – 12/09/2023 
• Annual Cook County Community Center Holiday Craft Show, Grand Marais |  
• Snowball Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains |   
• Annual Holiday Art Underground Show, Betsy Bowen Studio, Grand Marais  |