In The Heart of Grand Marais
Fisherman's Picnic
Event Details
First full weekend in August ~ Downtown Grand Marais - Visit Website
Small Town Summer Celebration
Looking for the quintessential small town celebration? Fisherman's Picnic, or Fish Pic as the locals say, is it. Hearkening back to the days when much of the area's economy was based on logging and commercial fishing, Fish Pic is a summer celebration of life on the shore. In the early years, the entire community gathered for a shoreline potluck picnic featuring a fish fry of fresh Lake Superior herring. That tradition continues with the Lions Club's Famous Fishburger Stand. Herring, still provided by local commercial fisherman, is dipped in coating, fried golden brown and served piping hot on a hot dog bun. Tartar sauce is up to you.
Street Vendors, Competitions, Fireworks & A Parade
Street vendors and local restaurateurs offer everything from kettle corn to fry bread to gyros to pizza to fresh lemonade to brats to veggie burgers to, well, you get the idea. Intermixed among food stands are shops' Crazy Days sales tables and crafts peoples' wares. Most of the downtown streets are closed off providing room for kiddie rides, street dancing, log rolling, kids' tractor pulls, the fish toss, live music through the day, log sawing, the fish toss, the loon calling contest, bingo under the big top, minnow races, Hoopin' on the Harbor, the Sunday afternoon parade - Shriners, clowns, flatbed trucks toting graduating classes, old cars, cool cars, floats, and Smokey the Bear, all tossing an endless supply of candy to the onlookers - and, general ambling, eating and goofing off. Head to the harbor for rock skipping, float plane rides, and Saturday night fireworks. At the edges of town you'll find the library friends' massive book sale, a softball tournament, a tennis tournament, a trail run and walk, and a big fish contest.
It's the biggest party this little town throws.
