Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic

August 3 - August 6

2023 Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic

Name: Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic
Start: 2023-08-03T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2023-08-06T23:59:59+00:00
Location: Grand Marais Harbor Park

Join us for the 2023 Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic on August 3-6, 2023 in Downtown Grand Marais, Minnesota. This is way more than just shore lunch! This Annual Fisherman’s Picnic is filled with fish burgers (those beloved deep fried herring filets served on a bun) and lots of daily games, activities and fun, like the Crazy Days Sidewalk Sales, Daily Contests and Prizes, Live Music outdoors and Kids Activities. The Lions Club BIG raffle includes a grand prize of $10,000 and lots of other great prizes for $5.00 a ticket. Get your collectible button, it’s your pass to participate in events all weekend long.

The annual Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic turns this small North Shore community into a bustling, fun-filled scene of families and folks of all ages. It’s both a celebration and observance of the past and the present – a coming together of the ‘locals’ who never forget how unique their North Shore hometown is. It’s also an event that draws visitors from all over back to Grand Marais each year to enjoy the event and town, and the natural surrounding beauty. Bring an appetite too. The very popular fish burgers that are on sale during the Picnic even have a song written about them: “They’re all red ready and they’re all red hot. Pickle in the middle and the mustard on top.” Stay for the parade of local businesses and organizations on the last day of the Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic as it moves down Wisconsin Street.

THURSDAY Events, August 3

9 am-3 pm: Crazy Daze Sales – visit local merchants around town
9 am-4 pm: Cook County Market – E. Wisconsin St.
10 am-5 pm: Kids Rides open – Senior Center Parking Lot – 10 N Broadway
11 am Fishburger Stand opens – Harbor Park
11 am- until found “DQ Medallion Hunt,” rules and new daily clues at Dairy Queen, $100 prize to the first person to find it – sponsored by Dairy Queen
11 am-12:30 pm – Rox ‘n Soul – Harbor Park Stage
1-2:30 pm – Live music with Kenna Rose – Harbor Park Stage
1-4 pm – Memories of Growing Up and Vacationing in Cook County-presentation by Dan Helmerson, Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, 115 W Wisconsin St.
2 pm Free Guided Tour of the Cook County School Campus (includes Elementary, Middle and High Schools). Meet at the Main Entrance. Alumni and visitors welcome.
3-6 pm – Live music with Common Ground – Harbor Park Stage
5 pm Dairy Queen Cornhole Tournament. Stop by Dairy Queen to sign up and see official rules.
7-10 pm Street Dance – 4 Shore – Harbor Park Stage

FRIDAY Events, August 4

9 am-3 pm: Crazy Daze Sales – all over town visit local merchants
9 am-4 pm: Cook County Market – E. Wisconsin St.
10 am-5 pm: Vendor and Craft Show – 1st Ave W.
10 am-5 pm: Kiddy Rides open – Senior Center Parking Lot – 10 N Broadway
11 am Fishburger Stand Opens – Harbor Park
11 am- until found “DQ Medallion Hunt”, rules and new clues daily at Dairy Queen, $100 prize to the first person to find it – sponsored by Dairy Queen
11 am-12:30 pm – Live music with Bug Lite – Harbor Park Stage
11 am-2 pm: Bally Blacksmith Demonstrations – Bally’s Blacksmith Shop, corner of Broadway and 1st
*11:30 am World’s Best Donut Bingo – Donut Shop – corner of Wisconsin St and Broadway Ave. – sponsored by the World’s Best Donut Shop
*Noon Minnow Races – Beaver House, Corner of Wisconsin St and Broadway Ave.
1-2:30 pm – Portage Band – Harbor Park Stage
2 pm Free Guided Tour of the Cook County School Campus (includes Elementary, Middle and High Schools). Meet at the Main Entrance. Alumni and visitors welcome.
3 pm-4:30 pm: CCHS Alumni Baseball Game registration, $30 fee includes jersey – Cook County High School Ball Field
3-6 pm –- Splints – Harbor Park Stage
5 pm: CCHS Alumni Baseball Game – Cook County High School Ball Field (behind the school)
*5 pm: DQ Upsidedownright Thick Blizzard Race, maximum of 10 teams with up to 4 racers each, register at Dairy Queen prior to race – 2nd Ave W. – sponsored by Dairy Queen
*6-6:30 pm: Minnesota State Loon Calling Championship – Prelim Round – Harbor Park Stage
7-10 pm: Street Dance – Pete K and Friends – Harbor Park stage

SATURDAY Events, August 5

Fisherman’s Picnic Trail Run. Pincushion Mountain Trails – 2mi. north of Grand Marais off the Gunflint Trail, Co. Rd 12. No race day registration. Pre-register at https://fishpicrun.brownpapertickets.com/ through Aug 6th until 6 pm. Registration Fees: Kids run – $10, Non-competitive 3-mile run or walk – $20, 5-mile run or race-walk $30
8:00 am: Packet pickup at Pincushion chalet
9:00 am: Kids Races : Age 8 and Under – 1/4 Mile, Age 9-12 – 1 Mile
9:45 am: 5-mile Run, 5-mile Race Walk
9:50 am: Non-competitive 3-mile run or walk
9 am-4 pm: Cook County Market – E. Wisconsin St.
9 am-10 am: Zumba Class – Harbor Park, Sponsored by YMCA
10 am-5 pm: Vendor and Craft Show– 1st Av W.
10 am-5 pm: Kiddy Rides open – Senior Center Parking Lot – 10 N Broadway
*10:30 am-12 pm: Kids Tractor Pull (ages 4-7) – Wisconsin St. – sponsored by Mike’s Holiday Station Store and Bernick’s Pepsi
11 am: Fishburger Stand opens – Harbor Park
11 am- until found: “DQ Medallion Hunt”, rules and new clues daily at Dairy Queen, $100 prize to the first person to find it – sponsored by Dairy Queen
11 am-12:30 pm: – Joe Paulik – Harbor Park Stage
11 am-2 pm: Bally Blacksmith Demonstrations – Bally’s Blacksmith Shop, corner of Broadway and 1st
*Noon: Minnow Races, Beaver House – Corner of Broadway Ave and Wisconsin St.
*12:00 pm: Cross Cut Saw Competition Registration – Lions info booth – Wisconsin St. & 1st Ave W
*12:30 pm: Cross Cut Competition – sponsored by Hedstrom Lumber Co – Wisconsin St.
1-2:30 pm: – Joshua Schmidt – Harbor Park Stage
2:30 am: Citizens of the Year Award – Harbor Park Stage
*2-3:30 pm: Kids Tractor Pull (ages 8-11) – Wisconsin St. – sponsored by Mike’s Holiday Station Store and Bernick’s Pepsi
3-5:30 pm: – Brother’s in Arms – Harbor Park Stage
*4:30 pm: Rock Skipping Contest (all ages) – Harbor Park
5 pm: Grand Marais Harbor Rock Painting Contest winners announced – sponsored by Joynes Ben Franklin – Harbor Park Stage
*5:30-6 pm: Minnesota State Loon Calling Championship Finals – Harbor Park Stage
*6:00 pm: Cutest Puppy Contest – Harbor Park Stage, sponsored by Lake County Veterinary Clinic
7-10 pm: Street Dance – The Evening Stars – Harbor Park Stage
9:45 pm: Fireworks over the Harbor

SUNDAY Events, August 6

9:30 am Waterfront Worship – Harbor Park Stage
11 am- until found “DQ Medallion Hunt”, rules and new clues daily at Dairy Queen, $100 prize to the first person to find it – sponsored by Dairy Queen
11 am Fishburger Stand opens – Harbor Park
11 am-5 pm Vendor and Craft Show – 1st Ave W
11:45 am – Fish Contest Winners Announced – Harbor Park Stage
Noon-1 pm – Briand Morrison – Harbor Park
1 pm Fisherman’s Picnic Parade, Downtown Grand Marais, Route starts at Elementary School Park Lot, down Broadway Ave. Right on Wisconsin St. and ends at Hwy 61.
2 -2:30 pm – Briand Morrison – Harbor Park
2:45 – 3:15 pm AAD Shrine Drum & Bugle Corps., Duluth.– Harbor Park
*3:30 pm Lion’s Fish Toss – Wisconsin St. (sign up at Lions information booth)
5 pm Grand Prize Drawing $10,000.00, Info Booth – corner of Wisconsin St. and 1st Ave W
6-7 pm Prize Winners Posted, Info Booth – corner of Wisconsin St. and 1st Ave W

Prizes can be claimed at Info Booth on Sunday night. Starting at 10 am Monday morning prizes can be picked up at the Cook County News Herald – 1st Ave W
July 30 – August 6: Buck’s & Northern Wild’s Big Fish Contest*
Check in at Buck’s Hardware Hank for rules and requirements
August 3–6: Lion’s Club Fishburger Stand
Opens each day at 11 am – Harbor Park; Features Lake Superior herring breaded and served on a bun. So good they have their own song. Beverages and hotdogs also available.
August 3-6: Live Music
Talented musicians from the North Shore will be performing on the Park Stage throughout each day.
Harbor Park dances each night at the Harbor Park stage.
11 am-12:30 pm ~ Thu: Rox n Soul ~ Fri: Bug Lite ~ Sat: Joe Paulik
1-2:30 pm ~ Thu: Kenna Rose ~ Fri: Portage Band ~ Sat: Joshua Schmidt
3-6 pm ~ Thu: Common Ground ~ Fri: Splints ~ Sat: Brother’s in Arms
7-10 pm ~ Thu: 4 Shore ~ Fri: Pete K and Friends ~ Sat: The Evening Stars
Sunday Live Music
12-1 pm ~ To be announced
2-2:30 pm ~ To be announced
2:45 – 3:15 pm ~ To be announced
Medallion Hunt ~ Thursday, August 3 until found
*11 am-until found “Medallion Hunt”, rules and new daily clues at Dairy Queen, $100 prize to the first person to find it – sponsored by Dairy Queen
Blacksmithing Demonstrations ~ Friday, August 4 – Saturday, August 5
11 am-2 pm Bally Blacksmith Demonstrations – Bally’s Blacksmith Shop, corner of Broadway and 1st St.
Daily Contests ~ Friday, August 4– Sunday, August 6
Fisherman’s Picnic activity button is required for all contests. All events that require a button are designated by an *. Stop by the info both for more details or to purchase button.
Kid’s Activities
Friday: *Minnow Races, World’s Best Donut Bingo, *DQ Upsidedownright Thick Blizzard Race, Kiddy Rides
Saturday: * Minnow Races, *Cross Cut Log Sawing Contest,, *Pickled Herring Eating Contest, *Rock Skipping Contest, *Loon Calling Contest, *Cutest Puppy Contest, Kiddy Rides, *Tractor Pull
Sunday: *Parade, *Fish Toss, Kiddy Rides, Raffle Drawing
Rock Painting Contest ~ Thursday, August 3 – Saturday, August 5
Joynes Ben Franklin Rock Painting Contest – rocks no larger than 7” x 7” painted with the theme “Grand Marais Harbor”. All entries must be brought to Joynes Ben Franklin by 3 pm, Saturday, August 5th. Winners will be announced at 5 pm on the Harbor Park Stage. Rocks will be displayed in Joynes Ben Franklin’s windows until picked up by owners after the contest.
Kiddy Rides ~ Thursday, August 3 – Sunday, August 6
Kiddy rides including a Ferris Wheel, Spinning Airplanes and Train Ride all located in the Senior Citizen parking lot on 10 N. Broadway Ave.
Minnesota State Loon Calling Championship* ~ Friday, August 4 – Saturday, August 5
Preliminaries on Friday 6-6:30 pm and Finals on Saturday 5:30-6 pm on the Harbor Stage.
Prizes awarded to first and second place in 15 and under and 16 and older.

Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic - Grand Marais MN Event Guide

Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic Gallery

Images courtesy of Grand Marais Lion’s Club

About the Grand Marais Lion’s Club
The history of the Grand Marais Lion’s Club is a long and proud one. For over 100 years, we’ve served with uncommon kindness, putting the needs of our neighbors, our communities and our world first. We look back at our storied past with pride, but we know it’s only the beginning. Every day, we’re building on our legacy with the goal of making an even greater impact in the future with such events as our annual Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic.

Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic in August in Downtown Grand Marais, Minnesota.

Tags: Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic, Fisherman’s Picnic, Grand Marais Annual Events, Grand Marais MN Annual Events

HOTELS IN GRAND MARAIS MINNESOTA

About Superior Inn and Suites
At the Best Western Plus Superior Inn you’re sure to find that little something extra. With our modern amenities and thoughtful design, the Best Western Plus Superior Inn will stand out among other hotels in Grand Marais,MN. For the business traveler, a spacious work desk and free internet access are included in all our guest rooms to ensure you don’t miss a beat while you’re away from the office.

For extended stays, each room provides a convenient in-room mini fridge that is ideal for drinks and snacks. We also have an in-house fitness room, so you can keep up your workout routine while you’re on the road. As always, the Best Western Plus Superior Inn will provide you with the superior customer service that you are used to at any Best Western hotel. Hotel Details