Festivals and Major Events | Things to Do in Minnesota

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.

 

2019:

Winter:

November 14, 2019 – Empty Bowls, Fundraiser for the Cook County Food Shelf,  St. John’s Catholic Church, Grand Marais

November 21 – 22, 2019 – Winter Kickoff Block Party, Downtown Grand Marais

November 22-24th, 2019 – Winterers Gathering & Arctic Film Festival, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

November 28, 2019 – Thanksgiving Dining Hours, Cook County

November 29, 2019 – Oh Ole Night Parade, Tree Lighting and Fireworks, Grand Marais

November 29, 2019 – Light Up Lutsen, Downtown Lutsen

November 29, 2019 – The New Standards Holiday Show, Lutsen Mountains

November 29 – December 29, 2019 – Annual Holiday Art Underground Show, Betsy Bowen Studio, Grand Marais

November 30, 2019 – Annual Cook County Community Center Holiday Craft Show, Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais

November 30, 2019 – Hovland Art Festival Holiday Show, Hovland Town Hall, Hovland

November 30, 2019 – Return to Send’er | Movie Premiere, Lutsen Mountains

December 6 – 7, 2019 – In the Spirit of Giving, Downtown Grand Marais

December 6 – 8, 2019 – Snowball Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains

December 7, 2019 – Northwoods Fiber Guild Open House & Holiday Sale, Grand Marais Art Colony

December 13-14th,  2019 – Dark Sky Festival, Cook County

December 20 – 21, 2019 – Alexa Can’t Save You Now!, Downtown Grand Marais

December 24 – 25, 2019 – Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining Hours, Cook County

2020:

Winter:

January 10 – 11, 2019 – Ski Party Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains

January 10 – 12, 2019 – Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race, Trail Center Lodge,  Gunflint Trail

January 11, 2019 – Norpine Fat Bike Classic, Lutsen

January 26 – 28, 2020 – John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, Cook County

February 7 – 16, 2020 – Hygge Festival, Cook County

February 8, 2020 – Cloud Cult, Lutsen Mountains

February 11 – 17, 2020 – Fiber Week, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

February 16, 2020 – Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe, Oberg Mountain Trailhead, Lutsen

February 16th, 2020 Pincushion Ski Festival, Pincushion Mountain Trails, Grand Marais

Spring:

March 3 – 9, 2020 – Wood Week, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

April 17 – 19, 2020 – Volunteer and Service Learning Weekend, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

May 16, 2020 – Superior Spring Trail Races, Lutsen

May 22 – 25, 2020 – Art Along the Lake Spring Gallery Tour , Cook County

May 23, 2020 – Le Grand Du Nord, Grand Marais & Gunflint Trail

May 29 – 31, 2020 – Northern Landscapes Festival, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

Summer:

June 6, 2020 – Grand Marais Block Party, 1st Avenue, Grand Marais

June 6, 2020 Voyage North 5&10k, Voyageur Brewing Co., Grand Marais

June 6 – 7, 2020 – BWCA Expo, Bearskin Lodge, Gunflint Trail

June 19 – 21, 2020 – Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

June 27th, 2020 – Lutsen 99er Mountain Bike Race, Lutsen

July 4th, 2019 – Fourth of July, Tofte, Grand Marais, Grand Portage

July 11 – 12, 2020 – Grand Marais Arts Festival, Grand Marais Art Colony

Fall:

September 11 – 12, 2020 – Superior Fall Trail Races, Lutsen

September 18 – 19, 2020 – Unplugged and Birch Bark Bash, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

Winter: 

Dates TBA:

Drag Races at Devil Track Lake, Skyport Lodge,  Gunflint Trial

Snowmobile Fun Run, Gunflint Trail

Snowmobile Drag Races at Hungry Jack Lodge, Gunflint Trail

Biggest Blueberry Contest, Gunflint Trail

Gunflint Trail Canoe Races, Gunflint Lodge

North Shore Water Festival, Stone Harbor, Grand Marais

Fisherman’s Picnic, Grand Marais

Rendezvous Days and Celebration Pow-Wow, Grand Portage

WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival, Grand Marais

Plein Air, Grand Marais

Art Along the Lake: Fall Studio Tour, Cook County

Sawtooth Mountain Bike Challenge, Gunflint Trail

Moose Madness Family Festival, Grand Marais

Want to Receive the Monthly Events Newsletter in your inbox?

Then subscribe to our Event Newsletter by filling out the form!

Every month you’ll find the latest and greatest of things to do in Minnesota and Cook County in your inbox.