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 Amidst
this natural beauty many families have made the
Grand Rapids area their Minnesota vacation choice.
Sandy beaches decorate shorelines as eagles glide
overhead. Whatever your preferences, there's
a Minnesota family vacation waiting for you.
As if we need more reasons to have fun, special
events run throughout the year in the Grand Rapids
area. Your family can enjoy the singing and
dancing of a Showboat performance or celebrate the
rich history of the logging industry during Tall
Timber Days. From culture to community
get-togethers, it's easy to have a great family
vacation in Grand Rapids! The opportunity to be
together with family away from the rigors of the
daily routine in such a natural setting is what a
Minnesota family vacation is all about. |
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Voyageurs Classic Sled Dog Race
January
13-15, 2012
It's a go for the third annual
Voyageurs Classic Sled Dog Race!
It will be a dog sled event that includes a
separate race for classic fur trade dogs.
All events will start at the White Oak Fur
Post in Deer River, MN. Check points
this year include Gosh Dam Place, Squaw
Lake, Northome, besides the Deer River area.
We expect entries to increase to at least 90
teams. Races now include: |
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A 120 mile race
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A 60 mile race
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A 40 mile race for
recreational mushers
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A 40 mile race exclusively
for the large dog breeds
This third year will include purses for
prizes along with the many
prizes .
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North
Central MN Farm and Antique Assn. Swap Meet
On Memorial Day weekend the NCMF&AA
presents a swap meet (Saturday & Sunday) and
a consignment auction (Saturday only). These
events provide a chance to sell and buy a
large variety of items, with an emphasis on
older farm and rural collectibles. Food and
refreshments are available.
For Information, call (218) 326-8254
or (218) 752-6592 |
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Boundary Waters Blues Festival
The Itasca County Fairgrounds will
be the host site for the 12th annual
Boundary Waters Blues Festival. Blues fans
will enjoy three days of incredible blues
performances and fun sideline entertainment
in the beautiful lakeside setting in Grand
Rapids.
Onsite camping is available under the
pine covered campsites immediately adjacent
to the performance area or there are many
hotel options in Grand Rapids, there will be
plenty of food options, and most of all - great blues performers over the three days.
More information about advance ticket deals,
after-party events, sponsoring hotels, and
transportation can be found at rangeblues.com.
(Blues Fest Preview Video)
For Information or tickets in advance, visit
www.rangeblues.com |
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91.7 KAXE Radio Mississippi River Music
Festival
Rotary Tent/KAXE Amphitheater, 260 Northeast
2nd Street, downtown Grand Rapids
Always the 3rd weekend of
July. Mark your
calendars for the
91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival.
The area’s community public radio station
presents this showcase of regional and
national musical acts in the Americana,
folk, rock, and blues genres. Handmade art and
craft items will also be on display along
with a silent art auction. Food concessions
will also be on site. For more information
or to order tickets by phone, call KAXE at
(218) 326-1234.
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Mississippi
Melodie Showboat
P.O. Box 321
Grand Rapids
Relive the excitement of days past when
the showboat came rounding the bend of the
Mississippi River to bring entertainment to
the towns on its shores. Our
colorfully costumed performers entertain you
with song, dance and comedy. This is
truly entertainment for the entire family -
no matter what the age. It's loved by
children and seniors alike. Your
family will love sitting outdoors in our
comfortable stadium seating on the banks of
the river. This is such a unique
experience you will talk about it for years.
Beverages and snacks are available. The show is brand new each year, so make
this an annual event for you and
yours. Performances are July 12-14,
19-221, and 26-28 of 2012. All
performances are held outdoors at 8:30 p.m.
at the Showboat landing.
General
admission seating sold onsite beginning at 7:00 p.m.
the days of the performance.
Call 866-336-3426 for questions or group
reservations.
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Northern Minnesota Vintage Car Show
Itasca County Fairgrounds
Dust off and crank up those collector cars
for the largest car show and swap meet in
the North Country! The glamour and
excitement of antique classics, hot rods,
and street machines come together in Grand
Rapids the last weekend of July at the
Itasca County Fairgrounds. While
admiring vehicles of the past, take
advantage of a giant swap meet outdoor
shopping. Sponsored by the Itasca
Vintage Car Club.
More info at (218) 326-0234, (218) 326-3565
or billandpat@usfamily.net |
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Northern Cruisers Weekend of Wheels Car Show
IRA Civic Center Parking Lot
Annual car show the last Saturday of July.
The word for this show is FUN! It's
all about the cars - from the oldest
antiques & collector cars to street rods,
street machines, and special interests.
The day starts with registration at 7:00
a.m. Enjoy a pancake breakfast, view
the vehicles, eat lunch at the concessions,
and vote for your favorite. Free
parking, If you wish to visit the Swap
Meet at the Fairgrounds, Northern Cruisers
provides free bus service from the Civic
Center and back every 15 minutes until 3:00
p.m.
Participants in the show will be judged by a
committee, and trophies are awarded for each
class. The club hosts their famous
Chicken & Corn Feed and Poker Run Cruise on
Saturday evening so plan to stay overnight.
The Itasca Vintage Car Show is held on
Sunday at the Fairgrounds; take advantage of
two car shows on one big weekend. For
more information contact Tammy Elich at
218-492-4201 or email the club
weekendofwheels@hotmail.com. |
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Tall Timber Days Festival
Downtown Grand Rapids
PO Box 134
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Reserve the 3, 4 & 5th of August, 2012 for Grand Rapids' biggest celebration of the year. Check out the lumberjacks as they climb 40-foot logs
or as they compete to stay afloat during the
log rolling exhibition. Chainsaw carving
demonstrations with many pieces available
for sale. An arts and craft fair showcases local
and regional talent, while a footrace draws
runners from all over northern Minnesota.
Children's street games, bingo tent, food
booths and musical entertainment are for
the whole family! A parade culminates a weekend of fun on Sunday afternoon.
Tall Timber Days is hosted
by an all-volunteer local
committee. If you
would like to help as a
volunteer, or are interested
in being a vendor, contact
information is located
below.
General information
inquiries can be sent to:
talltimberdays@yahoo.com,
or Tall Timber Days, PO BOX
134, Grand Rapids, MN
55744
Arts & Crafts: Gina Schaar,
244-1515 or
artscommittee@rocketmail.com
Food Booths: Judy Felix,
999-5989,
talltimberdays@yahoo.com
Parade: Victoria Kragthorpe,
999-7118,
grandrapids_mn@justforkix.com
Entertainment: Dolores Bretti, 326-4297,
brettid@yahoo.com
Co-Chair: Ellyn Kohut,
326-3231 work
Co-Chair: Dr. Lee Jess,
326-3231 work |
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White Oak Society Rendezvous
Deer River
The living history of the fur trade is featured in a 1798 Northwest Company Fur Post on Highway 6 near Deer River. The Rendezvous is conducted the first
full weekend of August and includes more than 200 tents and 1,000 re-enactors. Food items, music and crafts portray the lives of America's most free men -- the fur trapper. Blackpowder
shooting competitions run all
weekend.
For questions, call (218) 246-9393. |
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North Central MN Farm & Antique Assn Threshing Show
On the second weekend of August the
NCMF&AA sponsors a show which provides a
wide variety of opportunities to observe
vintage farm related activities and displays
including harvesting, sawmill,
blacksmithing, household activities, a
school, a post office, small engines,
miniatures, as well as huge diesel,
gasoline, and steam engines. The local
Draft Horse association joins in the
presentation. Historic displays and
activities are added each year. Food
and refreshments are available.
For Information, call (218) 326-8254
or (218) 752-6592 |
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Itasca County Fair
Come enjoy an old-fashioned county
fair, with cattle and farm animal barns and 4-H
competitions, food and high-flying fun on
the midway. Children's barn, daily
entertainment schedule, Friday night stock
car races, and full schedule of fun
activities offer something for everyone. The
Itasca County Fair generally runs the third
week of August in Grand Rapids. |
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Goods From the Woods
IRA Civic
Center, September 17, 2011
This unique regional
"Up North" Arts & Crafts Show
celebrates Minnesota's northern forests and
the artisans who use forest material to
create a wide variety of products. You'll
find everything from finely turned wood
vases to one-of-a-kind rocking chairs to
home and cabin decor. The Saturday event
features over 60 exhibits along with
northwoods foods and snacks. The show is
held at the IRA Civic Center on Highway 38
from 9a-4p.
For questions, call (651) 223-5629 |
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Nordic
Ridge Gardens
19147 County Rd. 434
Bovey, MN 55706
Beginning the last week of September
through mid-October, Nordic Ridge features a
splendid panorama of thousands of bright
orange pumpkins, as well as more than 20
varieties of squash, preserves and fall
decorations, nestled in the coziness of a
delightful farm full of surprises for young
and old. Old-fashioned fun abounds at the
farm in the Pumpkin Barn, at the Petting
Farm, or out in the four-acre
cornfield maze.
In the
summer, Nordic Ridge is known for the
succulent berries it produces on the
largest strawberry farm in the county.
Farm owners, Pat MacDonell and Gene Elkin,
will offer pickers and buyers fruit from
10 acres of berries from late June through
late July. The farm provides picking
containers and berry boxes, playground and
picnic areas, and restrooms.
For questions: call (218) 247-7726 |
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Bargains are
Great on Highway 38
Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic
Byway
Annual garage sales held each September
along the 47 mile route of the Edge of the
Wilderness National Scenic Byway.
Check the September calendar of events for
the exact dates. |
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Hunter's Widow
Craft Sales
Town-wide shopping event held every year
on the opening weekend of the deer hunting
season. Over 100 crafters and artists
display their wares at a variety of
locations including hotels, churches,
private homes, area businesses, malls and
other buildings. Check the November calendar
of events a few weeks prior to the hunting
opener for a complete list of crafter
locations. |
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Audubon Christmas
Bird Count
Grand Rapids, MN
On Christmas Day 1900, 27 conservationists
in 25 localities, led by ornithologist
Frank Chapman, initiated an alternative to
the traditional holiday "side
hunt", in which teams competed to see
who could shoot the most birds. Instead of
hunting, the group counted the birds they
saw and founded a century-old institution.
The Christmas Bird Count is the longest
running ornithological database. All
counts are open to birders of all skill
levels. The count is always held
between December 14 and January 5.
For more information on the local count,
contact Ken Zimmer: (218)327-0911 or
consult the Audubon website at
www.audubon.org/bird/cbc |
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Grand Rapids Farmer's Market
*New location in downtown Grand
Rapids
Corner of First Ave & Highway 2
Grand Rapids, MN
Local farmer's market featuring locally
grown fruits, vegetables and fresh farm
products from growers within 50 miles of
Grand Rapids. Fresh farm-raised
meats, syrups, honey, vegetables and
produce, cut flowers, homemade baked goods,
jams & jellies, and handcrafted items.
Open every Wednesday and Saturday from May
3rd and continuing into October with
seasonal items. Hours: 8a - 1p (unless
sold out); come early for best selection. |
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Grand Rapids Speedway
West Range Racing Association
PO Box 424
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: (218) 326-4437
Thunder in the Pines! Enjoy dirt track
racing at the Grand Rapids Speedway located
at the Itasca County Fairgrounds.
Racing generally every Thursday night at 7p,
with pits opening at 4p. Concession
stands on-site. Check the calendar of
events for additional race nights and times
to coincide with special events. |
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