Nisswa Minnesota Events for 2023

The Nisswa 100 is part of the COR Powersports national crosscountry snowmobile race circuit. It starts and ends just 6.5 miles west of downtown Nisswa and takes racers through a mixture of ditches, woods and fields. Voted 2022’s Venue of the Year, the racers enjoyed the challenging course conditions and the endless options for lodging, dining and shopping nearby. Local racers are encouraged to participate. Spectators of all ages will enjoy the fact-paced racing action and excitement of the position changes that keep everyone on their toes. This is a new Nisswa tradition, but certainly a can’t-miss. •

The 60th year of the Nisswa Turtle Races kicks off on Wednesday, June 7! Registration starts at 1 p.m., and racing starts at 2 p.m. - rain or shine! For $5 you get to race a turtle and keep your commemorative Turtle Race button! The Official Turtle Track is located just behind the Chamber Welcome Center along the Paul Bunyan State Trail in downtown Nisswa. The day starts with heat races, and those winners move on to race for the Grand Champion medal! All the winners receive great prizes from our fantastic Turtle Race sponsors. After the championship race, there are several specialty races: Resort Race, Tiny Tots Race, Out-of-State Race, Grandparents Race, and Locals Race. These are all included in your $5 fee - lots of fun to be had!

Mounted Eagles Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, a local nonprofit, provides the Turtle Wranglers and takes great care of our turtles throughout the season.

Make sure you mark Turtle Races on your calendar - it’s one you don’t want to miss! •

Nisswa is the place to be for the Independence Day holiday! July 3 brings Freedom Days, Nisswa’s annual celebration of the red, white and blue. Throughout the day you can enjoy shopping, food, Water Wars, Turtle Races and much, much more.

The highlight of the day is the Freedom Days Parade at 7 p.m. Visitors line both sides of the streets to watch the best parade around! Over 10,000 people come to Nisswa to celebrate with us. In 2023, we again are extremely excited to bring you FIREWORKS! Come for the parade, and stay for a great fireworks show to celebrate the USA. •

Fall in Nisswa is always spectacular, with the ever-changing leaves, warm sunshine and crisp air. Celebrate the change in seasons with the Nisswa Fall Festival & Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge on Saturday, September 16, in downtown Nisswa! The Nisswa Fall Festival has been a community tradition for 48 years. The day kicks off with a delicious pancake breakfast fundraiser put on by the Nisswa Fire Department. The activities throughout the day include a medallion hunt, petting zoo, cornhole tournament, kid’s activities, a craft sale and live music.

Enjoy the scents of delicious BBQ wafting through town as the competitors in the Smokin’ Hot BBQ Challenge prepare their best ribs for the judges and the public to taste. Get your VIP tickets to enjoy a great meal along with your ribs, or enjoy single ribs. It’s a great day to enjoy Nisswa with the whole family! •

Experience the magic of the holiday season in Nisswa! The Christmas season kicks off on Friday, November 24, with the 42nd annual Nisswa City of Lights Festival. Transport yourself into a holiday movie scene while you take in the sights and sounds of downtown Nisswa. There are hundreds of thousands of beautiful Christmas lights strung throughout town from the storefronts, trees, gazebo, park and beyond. Bonfires are lit along the Paul Bunyan Trail to keep you warm, horse-drawn wagons take you around town to enjoy the sights, Santa is ready to hear your wishes and his live reindeer are ready to meet you! Listen to a reading of “The Polar Express,” enjoy hot cocoa, take in a live nativity scene, and experience carolers throughout town.

The crown jewel of the evening is a fireworks show at 7:30 p.m. There isn’t a bad place to view the show downtown! Turn your eyes to the sky as the dazzling colors explode against a dark sky over a blanket of fresh snow. Cold weather fireworks are a must see!

The Nisswa City of Lights Festival is always held the Friday after Thanksgiving.

BRAINERD JAYCEES ICE FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Head outside to spend a few hours on the ice on Hole in the Day Bay on Gull Lake for the 33rd annual Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Thousands of anglers will again claim a hole in the ice off Highway 371 just south of downtown Nisswa from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, with hopes of catching a fish that will net them a big prize. Proceeds from the contest benefit area charities, most notably Confidence Learning Center. The Jaycees will again hold their virtual event a week later in 2023 - America’s Ice Fishing Tournament will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, from any publicly accessible and ice-covered body of water in the United States.

NISSWA WINTER JUBILEE

Friday-Sunday, February 17-19, 2023

Continue your celebration of winter and the outdoors by venturing to Nisswa for the 50th annual Nisswa Winter Jubilee! Enter the snow sculpture contest, search for the medallion, try your hand at the wood splitting contest, gather your friends for smoosh racing - the fun never ends! If outdoor winter fun isn’t for you, check out the cornhole tournament, live music and dancing at The Pickle Factory and the Nisswa American Legion. The Nisswa Fire Department hosts its annual fishing derby from noon-2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, on Nisswa Lake. The cost is just $5 per hole - a perfect family friendly fishing contest!

BRAINERD JAYCEES RUN FOR THE LAKES

Friday-Saturday, April 28-29, 2023

If you like running, consider participating in the 16th annual Brainerd Jaycees Run for the Lakes, which offers a marathon, half marathon, relay marathon, 10K and 5K races, as well as a 1K kids run. The full marathon course is certified by US Track and Field and is a Boston Marathon qualifier. No matter the length of race you choose, the route will take you through the beautiful scenery that Nisswa has to offer. All proceeds from the volunteer-run race are donated to nonprofits in the Nisswa area.

LAKES JAM MUSIC FESTIVAL

Wednesday-Saturday, June 22-24, 2023

Country and rock fans alike will flock to Brainerd International Raceway for Lakes Jam, an annual outdoor music festival that unites fans of both music genres and of all ages for three days of great music. BIR, located between Nisswa and Baxter on Highway 371, is an excellent venue for this event. Headliners this year include Hardy and Dustin Lynch on the country side and Skillet on the rock side. Other acts include Mitchell Tenpenny, Sara Evans, Chris Lane, Black Stone Cherry and more!

NISSWA FIRECRACKER RUN UP NORTH

Sunday, July 1, 2023

The Nisswa Firecracker 10K, 5K and Kids Run will kick off Nisswa’s celebration of Freedom Days on Sunday, July 1. Known for its laid-back atmosphere, the Nisswa Firecracker Run Up North boasts a Slip n’

Slide, a bubble machine, crawfish boil and free PBR at the finish line. The race starts on Main Street in Nisswa and weaves through town on a scenic tour along Lower Cullen Lake, finishing at the Nisswa Community Center. A great race for the whole family!

LAKES AREA MUSIC FESTIVAL

August 2023

The Lakes Area Music Festival - established in 2009 by area resident Scott Lykins - returns for its 15th annual season in August 2023. The music festival connects the performers and audience through classical music and inspiring education. Performances range from chamber music and symphonic orchestra to productions of opera and ballet. Artists from the top orchestras and opera companies in the world, including the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Metropolitan Opera, travel to central Minnesota. Concerts are scheduled over the first three weeks in August. More information can be found at lakesareamusic.org.

NISSWA CRAZY DAYS

Friday-Saturday, August 11-12, 2023

Nisswa retailers go a little crazy and offer crazy discounts during Nisswa Crazy Days. Merchandise lines the sidewalks and spills out onto the street as shoppers pack the town to browse for good buys. Whether you are looking for home decor, clothing, artwork, toys or shoes, there’s something for everyone! Come early to get the best deals before they are gone. This long-standing tradition is a can’t miss for locals and visitors alike!

LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS AT BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Thursday-Sunday, August 17-20, 2023

The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will attract thousands of race fans to Brainerd International Raceway, located just minutes from Nisswa. This event features the world’s best drag racers, fastest cars, the most loyal race fans and an experience like no other. At center stage are four days of groundpounding, lightning fast, blow your mind drag racing at BIR - the fastest drag strip in the country.

PGA TOUR CANADA CRMC CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT

Monday-Sunday, August 28-September 3, 2023 Cragun’s Legacy Courses

For the second year, Cragun’s Legacy Courses will host the PGA Tour Canada CRMC Championship Golf Tournament. This is a part of a series of tournaments played across Canada, and for the second year in Minnesota, with the top 10 money-winners at the end of the season earning Korn Ferry Tour status, which is a step below the PGA Tour. More information and tickets can be found at crmcchampionship.com.

LAKES AREA FOOD SHELF NISSWA CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR

Thursday-Saturday, October 19-21, 2023

The Lakes Area Food Shelf will host the 32nd annual Nisswa Christmas Home Tour to raise funds to meet growing needs in the Brainerd lakes area. Tour participants are shuttled to two private homes elaborately decorated for the holidays. Upon return to Nisswa, they can get a meal at a restaurant and shop at the stores. Ticket proceeds benefit the food shelf. Tickets and additional information are available at lafshometour.com. Nisswa shops that have donated their time and expertise to decorate the tour homes in the past include Anchored In, Buffalo Plaid, Chocolate Ox, Double T Acres, Found: A Curated Life, Lark and Olde Crow Gatherings.