Lake Superior · July (confirm annual dates)

Grand Marais Arts Festival

A North Shore arts gathering rooted in Grand Marais's creative community.

Organizer website Plan a trip around it

Plan ahead

About Grand Marais Arts Festival

Each July, Grand Marais' harbor-front park fills with the tents of a juried show of painters, potters, jewelers and other artists, with Lake Superior as the backdrop. The festival is run by the Grand Marais Art Colony, Minnesota's oldest art colony, and the mood is unhurried: browse, talk with the makers and wander the harbor town.

This festival is a reason to experience the town's long-running arts culture as well as its harbor scenery. Explore exhibitions and artist activity at a pace that leaves time for waterfront walks and local studios. Check the Art Colony for the year's venue, participating artists and festival arrangements.

Typical timingJuly (confirm annual dates)
RegionMinnesota
LakeLake Superior
Nearby townGrand Marais

Highlights

What draws the crowds.

  • Browse a juried show of regional artists working in everything from paint and print to clay and jewelry.
  • Stroll from Harbor Park along Wisconsin Street, then out to the breakwall and Artist's Point.
  • Visit the Grand Marais Art Colony, which has drawn artists to the North Shore since 1947.

Know before you go

Make the day easier.

  • Grand Marais is small and lodging fills fast for festival weekend, so book early or camp at a nearby state park.
  • The North Shore can be cool and foggy even in July; bring a warm layer.
  • The festival is typically held the second full weekend of July; confirm dates before planning.
Great for Festivals & events Harbor towns & villages

Dates, venues and programs may change. Check with the event organizer before making travel plans. Organizer & current information

Nearby

Pair it with.

Minnesota · Lake Superior

Grand Marais

An artist's harbor at the meeting of Lake Superior and the Gunflint Trail.

Explore place

Minnesota · Lake Superior

Tettegouche State Park

Clifftop Lake Superior scenery and forested river country.

Explore place

Minnesota · Lake Superior

Split Rock Lighthouse

An iconic beacon perched above Minnesota's rugged North Shore.

Explore place

Plan the trip

Make a visit out of it.

Stay for the shoreline.

The event is only the beginning. Explore the towns, parks and maritime stories around Lake Superior.

Places on this lake

Build a trip around it.

Tell the trip planner what you love and when you can travel, and it will suggest a route that fits around the event.

Start planning

Think beyond the date.

Confirm venues, tickets, parking, access needs and weather plans with the organizer before booking.

Before you leave