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Photos by Carl Foster
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During the annual Fisherman’s Picnic, the streets and waterfront in Grand Marais, Minnesota, bustle with activities, fish burger stands and spectators.2 of 3
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The log-sawing competition is one of many events that draws a crowd.3 of 3
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Singer Michael Monroe
There are myriad reasons to visit lovely Grand Marais any time of year, but the first weekend of August holds particular charm.
That’s the annual Fisherman’s Picnic, where you can find everything from minnow races to lumberjack exhibitions and a parade on Sunday. This is a classic local festival for which families often book hotel rooms a year in advance.
Grand Marais is a town of about 1,355 people, but it mushrooms during Fisherman’s Picnic weekend.
“I would say 10,000 to 15,000 people,” says Grand Marais Lions Club board member Mark Sandbo, offering his attendance estimate.
In 2011, the festival, sponsored and organized by the Lions Club, runs August 4-7, and the club expects the same number of visitors and local people.
Here’s another impressive figure: The Lions Club sells 1,200 pounds of its famous Fish Burgers at Fisherman’s Picnic. This tasty delight is made with Lake Superior herring, hand-breaded and served on a bun. It’s worth attending just for them. There’s even a song about fish burgers, which local musician and recording artist Michael Monroe sings every year at the festival.
In its 86th year, the picnic is the main fundraiser of the Lions Club, which typically nets up to $9,000 to donate to local charities, Mark says.
The festival lineup includes rides for the kids, a fishing contest, slow-pitch softball tournament, kiddie tractor pull, two stages of entertainment and fireworks. The “lumberjack camp” provides sawmilling demonstrations and contests in logrolling and crosscut sawing.
Among some of the wackier events are the fish-tossing contest (participants throw herring back and forth), a loon-calling contest, minnow races and pickled herring-eating contest.
Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic. gmlions.com.