TURTLE RACES

The 61st year of the Nisswa Turtle Races kicks off on Wednesday, June 5!

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, Cabin Race and Locals Race.

These are all included in your $5 feelots 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! The last race of the season is Wednesday, August 14.

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 2024, 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 on Saturday, September 21, in downtown Nisswa!

The Nisswa Fall Festival has been a community tradition for 49 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, 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 29, with the 43rd 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, wagon rides 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 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, February 3, 2024

Head outside to spend a few hours on the ice on Hole in the Day Bay on Gull Lake for the 34th 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, February 3, 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.

Nisswa Winter Jubilee

Friday-Sunday, February 16-18, 2024

Continue your celebration of winter and the outdoors by venturing to Nisswa for the 51st 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. 18, on Nisswa Lake. The cost is just $5 per hole - a perfect family friendly fishing contest!

Brainerd Jaycees Run For The Lakes

Friday-Saturday, May 3-4, 2024

If you like running, consider participating in the 17th 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

Thursday-Saturday, June 27-29, 2024

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 Jake Owen and Tyler Hubbard on the country side. Other country acts include Joe Nichols, Conner Smith, Deana Carter, Mark Chesnutt, Chayce Beckham, George Birge and more! Visit lakesjam.com to find the rock performers.

Nisswa Firecracker Run Up North

Saturday, July 6, 2024

The Nisswa Firecracker 10K, 5K and Kids Run will wrap up Nisswa’s celebration of Freedom Days on Saturday, July 6. Known for its laidback 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

July & August 2024

The Lakes Area Music Festivalestablished in 2009 by area resident Scott Lykins - returns for its 16th annual season in July 2024. 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 9-10, 2024

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 15-18, 2024

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 26-September 1, 2024 - Cragun’s Legacy Courses

For the third 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.