Rainy Lake, MN

Voyageurs Star Party
2026-09-11 00:00 - 2026-09-12 23:59 (America/Chicago)
Join us to explore the cosmos and celebrate the importance of preserving our dark skies. The Star Party offers a stellar opportunity to connect with our awe-inspiring universe.

Friday, September 11 – Rainy Lake Visitor Center

Saturday, September 12 – Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center

Enjoy special speakers, a film showing, telescope sessions, campfire s’mores, guided constellation tours, and more.

Labor Day Picnic
2026-09-07 15:00 - 18:00 | Smokey Bear Park, 214 6th Ave #2336, International Falls, MN 56649
Celebrate Labor Day with the 15th annual picnic at Smokey Bear Park! Enjoy hot dogs, corn & ice cream provided by the Labor Assembly, City of International Falls and generous donations. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy this community event. It’s the perfect way to spend time with family and friends while making the most of the long holiday weekend.

RLMC Color 5k
2026-08-29 08:00
Add a splash of color to your summer at the local Color 5K! Participants of all ages can run, walk, and enjoy a fun-filled route featuring colorful bursts along the way. It’s the perfect event to gather friends and family while celebrating fitness and community.

International Falls Bass Tournament
2026-08-27 00:00 - 2026-08-29 23:59
the International Falls Bass Championship features exciting public weigh-ins at Smokey Bear Park, where anglers bring in their catches and spectators can watch the action, cheer on competitors, and see impressive bass pulled from the Rainy River and Rainy Lake. The tournament includes a boat parade and events all weekend long, making it a fun experience for visitors and the community.

Hike with a Geologist
2026-08-15 09:00 - 13:00
Pack a picnic and hit the trails with local educator and geologist Chris Hemstad for a hike through the geologic formations of Voyageurs National Park. The day includes a short presentation on the park’s formation nearly 2.8 billion years ago, along with several brief walks to view examples of its most common geologic features.

35th Annual Sturgeon Championship
2026-08-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Nelson Park – Birchdale, MN
Save the date and join us Saturday, August 15th, 2026 for the 35th Annual North American Sturgeon Championship & the 12th Annual Youth Sturgeon Championship at Nelson Park in Birchdale, MN!

Youth Championship: 12PM–2PM

Championship Tournament: 3PM–7PM

Door Prizes • Food & Refreshments • Fun for All Ages

Bring the kids, the boat, and your lucky fishing pole for a day full of Up North tradition, big fish stories, and community fun!

VERGE Live @ Ranier Days
2026-08-08 20:00 - 23:30 | Ranier Muni, 2094 Spruce St, Ranier, Minnesota, 56649
Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to ROCK OUT with MINNESOTA’S HOTTEST ROCK SHOW with VERGE outdoors at Rowdy Ranier Days

Live music by David Franklin & Friends
2026-08-07 16:00
Get ready for the best weekend of the year! Join us for Ranier Days on Friday, August 7th, as we kick things off with an incredible musical performance by David Franklin & Friends. Quench your thirst and satisfy your cravings at Woody’s Walk-Up Bar, serving up refreshing cocktails on tap and delicious eats. Don’t forget to bring your own chair for ultimate comfort and enjoy the show!

Ranier Days
2026-08-07 00:00 - 2026-08-08 23:59 | Ranier, MN
The annual weekend of festivities celebrating our great community of Ranier!Parade and events – more information to come!

Conservancy Summer Social
2026-08-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Ranier Community Hall, 2099 Spruce St, Ranier, MN 56668
Spend a summer afternoon with Voyageurs Conservancy at a laid-back gathering celebrating Voyageurs National Park. Bring a friend, enjoy seasonal summer treats and good company at the Ranier Community Hall, and hear a trio of short, inspiring stories from people connected to the park from young field fellows to author Graham Lee, great-nephew of acclaimed photojournalist Jun Fujita. It’s a chance to slow down, connect, and be part of the community that cares for our incredible national park.

Birchdale Music Fest
2026-08-01 11:00 - 21:00
Spend a summer evening enjoying live music and community spirit at the Birchdale concert. Gather with family and friends as talented musicians fill the air with great music in a relaxed, welcoming setting. It’s the perfect opportunity to unwind, connect with neighbors, and enjoy an evening of local entertainment while creating lasting summer memories.

INaturalist BioBlitz
2026-08-01 00:00 - 2026-08-09 23:59
Be part of a weeklong BioBlitz at Voyageurs National Park and help document the incredible diversity of life found throughout the park. Using iNaturalist, visitors, volunteers, and staff will explore trails, shorelines, and visitor areas to record observations of plants, animals, fungi, and more. Along the way, participants will build identification skills, connect with the natural world, and contribute valuable data to ongoing citizen science efforts.

Live Music by Clay Fulton
2026-07-18 00:00 - 23:59

Live Music by Colton Dawson
2026-07-09 19:30 - 22:00
Some stories come full circle… and this is one of them.

Long before the bright lights and sold-out shows, Colton Dawson’s love for Rainy Lake began while fishing with his family aboard our Chairman II. As a young boy, he shared his passion for music, giving everyone a glimpse of the incredible talent that was already shining through.

After long days on the water, our guides, Bill Dougherty and Jon Balaski, would come back to the dock and say, *”That kid is going to be a country music star someday.”*

Well… that day has arrived.

We’re incredibly proud to welcome Colton back to where so much of his journey began. Join us for an unforgettable evening as one of country music’s rising stars performs at Thunderbird Lodge.

Thursday, July 9, 2026

7:30 PM

The Thunderbird

Presented by Rainy Lake Houseboats & Thunderbird Lodge

Northern Minnesota District Fair
2026-07-09 00:00 - 2026-07-11 23:59
Fun for the whole family.

Beer gardens, rides, food trucks, vendors, exhibits

Grindstone Boat Parade on Rainy
2026-07-04 18:00 - 19:30
One of the most anticipated events of the holiday weekend is the 13th Annual Grindstone Island Boat Parade on Rainy Lake. Boats of all sizes cruise across the lake decorated in patriotic red, white, and blue, creating a festive display of community spirit and Fourth of July pride. The parade will be weather permitting.

4th of July in Birchdale
2026-07-04 07:00
Celebrate the Fourth of July in Birchdale with a day of small-town fun, community spirit, and family-friendly activities. This annual tradition brings residents and visitors together to enjoy local festivities, great food, entertainment, and a welcoming atmosphere in the heart of northern Minnesota.

Live Music: performed by Uncle Chunk
2026-07-03 20:00 - 23:00
Enjoy an evening of live music and community fun at a concert in Smokey Bear Park and make lasting memories.

4th of July weekend in Big Falls
2026-07-03 18:00 - 2026-07-05 12:00
Join the Big Falls Fourth of July celebration for a day of family fun, community pride, and small-town tradition. With local events, entertainment, food, and festive activities, it’s a great opportunity to gather with friends and neighbors and enjoy a classic northern Minnesota Independence Day.

4th of July weekend in International Falls
2026-07-03 12:00 - 2026-07-04 22:15
Celebrate Independence Day and America’s 250th anniversary in International Falls with a weekend of family-friendly fun. Highlights include the Kiddie Parade, Main Parade, 5K Run/Walk, Kids Fun Run, Stars & Stripes Pickleball Tournament, and vendor booths in Smokey Bear Park. With activities for all ages, it’s the perfect way to enjoy community spirit and patriotic celebration.

Canada Day: Live Music by Mark Josephs
2026-07-01 00:00 - 23:59

Chamber Fest
2026-06-25 12:00 - 18:00

Solar Storms & Cosmic Colors: Explaining the Aurora Borealis
2026-06-18 10:00 - 11:30
Voyageurs is one of the best places to view the aurora borealis in the whole country! Start your morning with a drop-in solar viewing from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., where Voyageurs Conservancy’s dark sky specialist & NASA Solar System Ambassador will guide you in safely observing the sun through a solar telescope. At 11:00 a.m., dive into a 30-minute program exploring the science behind northern lights.

Thursdays at RLVCFridays at KLVC

Bourbon, Bluegrass, & BBQ: Live Music by Sloughgrass Band
2026-06-13 00:00 - 23:59
Get ready to celebrate National Bourbon Day at Cantilever Distillery! Join them for an unforgettable day of bourbon, delicious BBQ, and live music by Sloughgrass Band on our outdoor stage. Fun kicks off at 2 pm with Woody’s Walk Up Bar + BBQ, followed by live music from 4-7 pm.

MN Fishing Opener
2026-05-09 00:00 - 23:59
Fishing Opener is a popular spring weekend in northern Minnesota. Visitors planning to fish Rainy Lake or the Rainy River are encouraged to book lodging and guides in advance.

Power of the Purse
2026-05-08 00:00 - 23:59 | Elks Lodge #1599, 215 3rd St, INTERNATIONAL FALLS, mn, 56649-2341
MN Elks Lodge #1599

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) is preparing for the exciting return of our Power of the Purse fundraising event to Koochiching County! The Wicked! –themed event will take place May 8, 2026, at Minnesota Elks Lodge #1599 in International Falls. Emcee Julie Ehrman will be joined by keynote speaker Maria Vollum and auction leader Erik Strand!

All proceeds from this event will support the youth programming UWNEMN operates directly in Koochiching County communities. Hundreds of local youth and their families benefit from these programs, including Buddy Backpacks (weekend meal kits for students at-risk of hunger), Imagination Library (free monthly books to children ages 0-5), Lunch Buddies (pairs screened, trained mentors with elementary age students), Meet Up and Chow Down (free summer lunch program), Step Into School (back-to-school shoe shopping), and Youth United (scholarship contest).

Get tickets here

Voyageur Country ATV Spring Ride
2026-05-02 00:00 - 23:59
Goldmine Pit

Lunch 11-1:00

Chamber's Annual Award Gala
2026-04-23 17:00 - 20:00 | Thunderbird Lodge, 2170 County Road 139, International Falls, Minnesota, 56649, United States
The Chamber’s Annual Award Gala will be held Thursday, April 23rd at Thunderbird Lodge, to celebrate and recognize the volunteers, businesses and organizations that exemplify the quality and character of what makes our communities amazing places to live, thrive and prosper.

2026 Award Nomination Form

Hospitality Excellence Award Nomination Form

All community members are encouraged and invited to attend and support the efforts of the Chamber and lavish praise and thanks to the recipients of these coveted honors.

VNP Boat Tour Tickets Go Live
2026-04-15 09:00 - 23:59
Summer and Fall Programs

Voyageurs National Park offers a wide range of guided boat tours and ranger-led programs during the summer and fall, typically mid-June through the end of September. Programs take place throughout the park, with boat tours departing from the Rainy Lake, Kabetogama Lake, and Ash River Visitor Centers. Stop by a visitor center or check out our events calendar for a schedule of ranger programs. Tour offerings and program schedules vary from year to year, with the final schedule being made available on recreation.gov by April 15th annually.

Reservations

Boat tour reservations can be made at recreation.gov’s VNP Boat Tours page.

Reservations for special programs like the North Canoe Voyage experience can be made on recreation.gov’s VNP Special Interpretive Programs page.

Need-to-Know Information

Weather conditions can vary greatly; jackets, sunscreen, and bug spray are recommended.

Reservations/tickets are available starting at 9am on April 15th, annually, online at the links above or by telephone at 1-877-444-6777.

All tours are subject to change, please call ahead for schedule changes.

Reservations are strongly encouraged as boat tours and programs do fill up. Walk-in tickets are sometimes available, but sales stop 30 minutes prior to tour departure.

No pets are allowed on tour boats unless they are properly documented service animals that are marked accordingly.

Food may not be eaten on the vessels, but drinking water is allowed. No smoking on the tour boats.

International Dark Sky Week
2026-04-14 20:30 - 2026-04-18 22:00 | Rainy Lake Visitor Center, 1797 Ut - 342, International Falls, Minnesota, 56649
8:30-9:00 p.m: (Indoor) Dark Sky Presentation at Rainy Lake Visitor Center

9:00-10:00 p.m: (Outside) Guided constellation tour and telescope session

Join Voyageurs for an incredible weeklong celebration of International Dark Sky Week! Led by Jesse Gates, a NASA Solar System Ambassador and Education Specialist with Voyageurs Conservancy, we’ll explore the wonders of northern Minnesota’s night sky and learn about Voyageurs National Park’s role in combating light pollution and protecting our dark skies.
