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.

 

2018 & 2019 Festivals and Major Events:

 

Winter 2018 & 2019:

March 2nd, 2019 – Annual Trout Derby at West Bearskin Lake, Gunflint Trail

March 9th, 2019 – Snowmobile Drag Races at Poplar Lake, Gunflint Trail

Spring 2019: 

April 4 – 6th, 2019 – Sweetwater Shakedown Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains

April 12-14th, 2019 – Mountain Meltdown, Lutsen Mountains

April 27-28th, 2019 – Midwest Extreme Snowmobile Challenge, Lutsen Mountains

May 18th, 2019 – Superior Spring Trail Races, Lutsen

May 24-27th, 2019 – Art Along the Lake Spring Gallery Tour , Cook County

May 25th, 2019, Le Grand Du Nord, Grand Marais & Gunflint Trail

June 7-9th, 2019 – Grand Marais Block Party, 1st Avenue, Grand Marais

June 8, 2019 – Voyage North 5&10k, Voyageur Brewing Co., Grand Marais

June 8-9th 2019 – BWCA Expo, Bearskin Lodge, Gunflint Trail

Summer 2019: 

June 21-23rd, 2019 – Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival, Grand Marais

June 29th, 2019 – Lutsen 99er Mountain Bike Race, Lutsen

July 2019 – Stars of the North Music Festival, Grand Marais : Dates TBA

July 19-August 11th, 2019 – Biggest Blueberry Contest, Gunflint Trail

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

July 13-14th, 2019 – Grand Marais Arts Festival, Grand Marais

July 17th, 2019 – Gunflint Trail Canoe Races, Gunflint Lodge

July 20-21, 2019 – North Shore Water Festival, Stone Harbor, Grand Marais

July 31 – August 4th, 2019 – Fisherman’s Picnic, Grand Marais

August 9-11th, 2019 – Rendezvous Days and Celebration Pow-Wow, Grand Portage

Fall 2019: 

September 6-8th, 2019 – WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival, Grand Marais

September 6-7th, 2019 – Superior Fall Trail Races, Lutsen

September 6-13th, 2019 – Plein Air, Grand Marais

September 13-15th, 2019 – Unplugged and Folk Artisan Marketplace, Grand Marais

September 27th-October 6th, 2019 – Art Along the Lake: Fall Studio Tour, Cook County

October 2019 – Sawtooth Mountain Bike Challenge, Gunflint Trial: Date TBA

October 2019 – Inuit Premiere, Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais: Date TBA

October 17-20, 2019 – Moose Madness Family Festival, Grand Marais

Winter 2019 & 2020:

November 8-10th, 2019 – Lake Superior Storm Festival, Cook County

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

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

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

February 16th, 2020 Pincushion Mountain Winter Family Festival, Pincushion Mountain Trails, Grand Marais

DATES TBA:

Snowball Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains

Ski Party Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains

Norpine Fat Bike Classic, Lutsen

Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race, Trail Center Lodge,  Gunflint Trail

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

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, Cook County

Snowmobile Fun Run, Gunflint Trail

Cloud Cult, Lutsen Mountains

Northern Fibers Retreat, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

Hygge Festival, Cook County

Snowmobile Drag Races at Hungry Jack Lodge, Gunflint Trail

 

 

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