Fisherman's Picnic 2024: Highlights from Thursday, August 1 & Friday, August 2
Aug 07, 2024 11:01AM ● By Content Editor
By Tryg Solberg - Boreal Community Media - August 7, 2024
To see coverage from Saturday, August 3, click here.
See highlights (including a full parade recap) from Sunday, August 4, here.
Thursday, August 1
Cornhole Tournament
Dairy Queen sponsored its annual Cornhole Tournament which had 26 teams this year. Chris and Bruce Smith won this year’s Cornhole Tournament and are the returning champions from the inaugural event. DQ also sponsors the medallion hunt where clues are posted from Thursday through Sunday and the winner gets $100 cash. Nick, Julie, and Ryan Silverberg were this year’s medallion finders. The medallion was hidden on a timber under the roof of the covered patio at Sawtooth Mountain Elementary School.
The DQ Cornhole Tournament brought together 26 teams on Thursday evening. Photo by Seth McDonald.
STORIES THAT MATTER
The Cook County Historical Society hosted its second annual STORIES THAT MATTER: Women of Cook County event at the Johnson Heritage Post on Thursday evening. The presentation highlighted stories from Darragh Aldrich, Andrea Peterson, and Betsy Bowen (who was in attendance). A recording of the presentation will be available soon. You can learn more at cookcountyhistory.org.
Over 60 people attended the second annual STORIES THAT MATTER: Women of Cook County event on Thursday evening. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow.
Around Town
Food vendors lined the street to welcome excited Fish Pic attendees. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow.
Live music filled the air as the sun cast a colorful glow on the Grand Marais Harbor. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow.
Friday, August 2
Donut Bingo
World’s Best Donuts hosted its “Donut Bingo” at midday on Friday behind the popular donut shop in Grand Marais. Dee Brazell, the organizer of the Bingo and the owner of World’s Best, said that there were about 75 people who filled tables on the lawn between the lake and the store.
Brazell mentioned that there were 17 winners throughout the bingo game and that some of the same families have attended the event for over 10 years. The winners of the bingo rounds were awarded a free donut coupon.
The lawn behind World's Best was filled with bingo competitors on Friday. Photo by Kalli Hawkins.
The lawn behind World's Best was filled with bingo competitors on Friday. Photo by Kalli Hawkins.
Minnow Races
The traditional Fish Pic minnow races, sponsored by Mike's Holiday Station Store in Grand Marais, kicked off on Friday afternoon at the corner of Wisconsin Street and 1st Avenue West. A set of rain gutters were set up and kids dumped cups of water with a minnow down the “track”. Whichever minnow swam to the other end and into a bucket first received a prize. Friday’s heat wave made the splashing from either end of the gutters a pleasant endeavor. Minnow races continued on Saturday in the same spot with an equally large crowd participating in the fun.
The minnow races utilized rain gutters for the "track".
The bucket of "athletes" warming up for their event. Mike's Holiday Station Store donated the minnows.
The minnow races utilized rain gutters for the "track".
Kids were willing to get splashed on such a hot afternoon. Pictured here is the winning minnow dropping into the bucket.
The minnow races were one of many fun events that the Grand Marais Lion's Club put on to entertain the kids that come to town for Fish Pic.
Dairy Queen Blizzard Eating Race
On Friday afternoon, the Grand Marais Dairy Queen hosted a Blizzard eating race for the first 10 teams to sign up in person at the restaurant. Seth McDonald has owned the Dairy Queen for 12 years and puts on the “DQ Upsidedownright Blizzard Race” every Friday at Fisherman’s Picnic at 3 pm. The teams of four contestants had to eat 2 full quarts of their choice of DQ Blizzard.
Minutes into the “race”, discomfort set in after so much consumed ice cream. The fun, yet competitive environment yielded a great event to spectate. Young participants were covered nearly head to toe in melted ice cream while the adult competitors remained slightly less sticky. The winner of the contest received a $100 gift card, with 2nd place getting $50, and third getting $25.
Seth McDonald (right), the owner of the Grand Marais DQ, and emcee Rob Hackett hand out the Blizzards.
A team in the Blizzard Eating Contest worked on their quarts of ice cream.
Seth McDonald, the owner of the Grand Marais DQ, looked through the list of teams.
Friday afternoon was one of the hottest days of the year in town; a great time to consume quickly melting ice cream.
Alumni Baseball Game
Friday evening also held the Cook County High School’s Baseball Alumni Game. Arleigh Jorgenson started Cook County’s baseball program in 2000. Jorgenson was the game's umpire who brought together decades of his former athletes like a family reunion. He still actively coaches and helped finish the baseball field that is now named after him. Jorgenson is also well known for his sled dog racing career and has had a positive impact on the community since he moved to Grand Marais in 1973.
Arleigh Jorgenson started the baseball program in 2000 at Cook County High School and is still the coach.
Arleigh Jorgenson umped the game while catching up with alumni from his decades of coaching the baseball program.
An alumni player pitched the ball during the annual game.
An alumni player makes contact with the ball during the annual game.
Fans shaded themselves at the end of a brutally hot day in Grand Marais while watching the game.
Around Town
A line of people formed as Sven and Ole's opened on Friday afternoon.
Crowds gathered in the street on the hot Grand Marais day.
After a long-awaited opening, Crosby Bakery filled with customers for the busiest weekend of the year in town.
Bump Blomberg and Gordon Thorne played on Friday evening in Harbor Park.
Friday night ultimate frisbee filled the next-door soccer field at the school.
Evening Stars, based out of Grand Marais, play to a full Harbor Park on a busy, warm night in town.
The crowd at Harbor Park take in the beautiful evening and lively music from the Evening Stars.
