Grand Marais singer/songwriter Michael Monroe plays at Harbor Park on Friday and Saturday. Photo by Diane Weber.
Fisherman’s Picnic is this weekend, if anyone who has tried to drive downtown today has discovered. Wisconsin Street was closed this morning as everybody began setting up for the the four-day event.
And the weekend is just jam-packed with events. All kinds of contests, fishburgers, award ceremonies, a wonderful parade, fireworks, a gigantic used book sale (at the Community Center), log-rolling demonstrations, tennis tournaments, softball games, a walk/run at Pincushion, a craft show, Crazy Days sales, bingo and lots and lots of live music as well as street dances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
In general, the fishburger stand opens daily at 11 a.m., for those who want to make sure they sample this traditional Fisherman Picnic fare.
On Friday, minnow races, World’s Best Donut race, the hotdog eating contest, and loon calling contest will be held.
On Saturday: minnow races, logs contest, 3-point shooting contest, pickled herring eating contest, pizza eating contest, kid’s tractor pull, rock skipping contest, loon calling contest, and cutest puppy contest.
On Sunday, the fish toss will be held and raffle drawings, including the raffle for $10,000 in cash. That’s at 5 p.m.
Here’s the link for the complete schedule.
There are other events scheduled as well.
The Lionesses kick of Fishesrman’s Picnic with a fishcake fundraiser in the basement of St. John’s Catholic Church from 5-6:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday. There will also be a silent auction and a bake sale.
The First Congregational Church holds its annual Cajun Shrimp Boil Dinner from 5-7 on Saturday at the church. This is always seems to be an all-you-can-eat event, so drop by this year.
The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a Clothesline Sale and art bazaar and silent auction on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be a chance to paint a car and other arts activities, so stop by.
Library Friends holds its annual Used Book Sale over Fisherman’s Picnic weekend at the Cook County Community Center. The sale opens for members only on Thursday night at 5-7 p.m. Memberships ($5) can be purchased at the door. The sale opens to the public at 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Friday. Get there early to join the line, which often snakes across the parking lot. The sale continues through Saturday with the early bird bag sale from 7-10 a.m. Fill a bag with books for $3.
Also, the Grand Marais Playhouse’s production of Cole Porter’s musical “You Never Know” at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts concludes this weekend. Show times are at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. This is a well-produced show and the last weekend to see it.
"Yum" by Emily Ulhorn.
An art exhibit, “Sun-Kissed Paintings” is being held in conjunction with the show in the lobby of the ACA featuring the workd of artists Emily Ulhorn, Jan Attridge, Alice Powell and Carolyn Sevareid. Prints and cards are also available at this fun exhibit.
The Garage will hold a Fisherman’s Picnic Auction on Saturday at 3 p.m. There will be lots of different items including a painting by Howard Sivertson. an antique organ, a kayak and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan. Check this one out. It should be lots of fun, and you might find some bargains.
The Garage also has a great selection of antiques and works by local artists including paintings by Tom McCann, handmade pins by Nancy Haarmeyer and Joan Beard’s bead bracelets. Other artists exhibiting their work at The Gararge are Kathy Peterson, Marsha Zafft, Mary Brislance, Mary Jo Flack, Nancy Backlund, Nedetta Buchheit, Sharon Eiliasen, George Bloomquist, Shelly Alvin, Sheri Bichel, Judy Steinbrecher, Carol Harris and Jim Miller.
There will also a Boat Parade in the harbor this year, featuring the mariners and their crafts. It’s always fun to see all the boats on display as they drift by. The Boat Parade is from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Also, starting at 10 p.m. on Saturday night, Stephan Hoglund will host the Annual Outback Bash in the courtyard behind Superior Design Jewelry featuring the Kent Johnson Band with Kent Johnson, Jonathon Steckelberg, Ramone (drummer extraordinaire coming in from Florida) and guest stars who will ghost thru until the wee hours.
Cook County's Most Wanted (aka Rod N Real) play for the street dance on Friday night.
Music during Fisherman’s Picnic is always great with two stages and lots of music scheduled throughout the weekend. Check out the schedule here to find out who is playing where.
Bands playing for the street dances are:
Thursday: Kcastle Danger DJ on the Park Stage, 8-11 p.m.
Friday: Cook County’s Most Wanted, aka Rod N Real, Park Stage, 9-midnight. Listen here.
Saturday: Bicycle Army, Park Stage, 9-midnight. Listen here.
So enjoy yourself this weekend! The weather should be just about perfect.
