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.

2020:

Winter:

February 1, 2020 – Snowmobile Fun Run, Gunflint Trail

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

February 7 – 8, 2020 – Snowarama, Grand Portage

February 8, 2020 – Cloud Cult, Lutsen Mountains

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

February 15, 2020 – Snowmobile Drag Races at Hungry Jack, Gunflint Trail

February 15, 2020 – Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe, Lutsen

February 15th, 2020 – Pincushion Ski Festival, Pincushion Mountain Trails, Grand Marais

February 22nd, 2020 – Vintage Snowmobile Ride, Lutsen

February 29th, 2020 – Snowmobile Drag Races at Poplar Lake, Gunflint Trail

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

March 7, 2020 – Dog Days of Winter, Gunflint Trail

March 7, 2020 – Annual Trout Derby, Gunflint Trail

Spring:

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 – 7, 2020 – BWCA Expo, Gunflint Trail

June 13, 2020 – Grand Marais Block Party, 1st Avenue, Grand Marais

June 13, 2020 Voyage North 5 & 10k, Grand Marais

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

July 15, 2020 – Gunflint Trail Canoe Races, Gunflint Lodge

July 17 – 19, 2020 – North Shore Water Festival, Stone Harbor, Grand Marais

July 17 – August 9, 2020 – Biggest Blueberry Contest, Gunflint Trail

July 30 – August 2, 2020 – Fisherman’s Picnic, Grand Marais

August 7 – 9, 2020 – Rendezvous Days and Celebration Pow-Wow, Grand Portage

Fall:

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

September 11 – 13, 2020 – WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival, Grand Marais

September 11 – 18, 2020 – Plein Air, Grand Marais

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

September 25 – October 4, 2020 – Art Along the Lake: Fall Studio Tour, Cook County

October 16 – 18, 2020 – Moose Madness Family Festival, Grand Marais

Winter:

November 6 – 8, 2020 – Storm Festival, Cook County

November 20 – 22, 2020 – Winterers Gathering & Arctic Film Festival, North House Folk School, Grand Marais

November 26, 2020 – Thanksgiving Dining Hours, Cook County

November 27, 2020 – Oh Ole Night Parade, Tree Lighting and Fireworks, Grand Marais

December 11 -12, 2020 – Dark Sky Festival, Cook County

Dates TBA:

Sawtooth Mountain Bike Challenge, Gunflint Trail

Empty Bowls, Fundraiser for the Cook County Food Shelf, Grand Marais

Winter Kickoff Block Party, Downtown Grand Marais

Light Up Lutsen, Downtown Lutsen

The New Standards Holiday Show, Lutsen Mountains

Annual Cook County Community Center Holiday Craft Show, Grand Marais

Hovland Art Festival Holiday Show, Hovland Town Hall, Hovland

In the Spirit of Giving, Downtown Grand Marais

Snowball Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains

Northwoods Fiber Guild Open House & Holiday Sale, Grand Marais Art Colony

Annual Holiday Art Underground Show, Betsy Bowen Studio, Grand Marais

Alexa Can’t Save You Now!, Downtown Grand Marais

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining Hours, Cook County

Ski Party Music Festival, Lutsen Mountains

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

Norpine Fat Bike Classic, Lutsen

Snowmobile Drag Races at Devil Track, Gunflint Trail

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, Cook County

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