Local events & activities
Fifty Lakes · Crosslake · Nisswa · Pequot Lakes · Brainerd
The short version
This is the local calendar for life around 16138 Zigmund Dr: the festivals, concerts, fishing contests, trail systems, and year-round recreation that make the Brainerd Lakes more than a summer address. Every event below is an easy drive from the property's dock on Mitchell Lake, and each one is a reason this shoreline works as the base camp for all of it.
Fifty Lakes is the quiet center of it all. Crosslake, about six miles south, carries coffee, dinner, and the Whitefish Chain; Pequot Lakes, Nisswa, and Brainerd add antiques, concerts, and the state's biggest charitable ice fishing contest. And whenever the calendar is empty, the listing at 16138 Zigmund Dr has the beach, the dock, and the firepit to fill it.
Crosslake
~6 mi
Coffee, dinner, groceries, and the Whitefish Chain
Pequot Lakes
~15 mi
Antiques, the Bobber Tower, and Highway 371 access
Nisswa
~20-25 mi
Boutique main street, turtle races, and the Paul Bunyan Trail
Brainerd
~33 mi
Concerts, the airport, and Gull Lake's big fishing contest
The calendar
Up next on the lakes calendar
The October calendar keeps rolling: the first week's events, Owl's Perch painting at Kicks (October 2), Sacred Circle Wellness's grand opening (October 3), AJ Spoff's set at Snarky's Hideout (October 3), the fall concert at the Crosslake Area Library (October 7), Salty's Walk Across America: a Bourbon & Brisket Fundraiser (October 10), Tuesday's Date Night Game Night at 14 Lakes Pub & Brewery plus Business After Hours at WonderTrek Children's Museum (October 13), and the MEA-weekend stretch, the first-ever Crosslake Oktoberfest (October 16-17), Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort's Oktoberfest (October 16-18), the Fifty Lakes Fire Department's Meat Raffle, Horse Races & Bingo fundraiser at Fifty Lakes Bar & Bottle Shop (October 16), and the chamber's Biggest Meat Raffle at Log Cabin Bar (October 17) have all wrapped for 2026. Up next, the 2026 WAVE Gala on October 22, Camp Spooktacular at the Cross Lake Recreation Area on October 22-25 (its trick-or-treating, 2:30-6 p.m., and tractor-pulled wagon rides, 6-8 p.m., land Saturday, October 24), the same day Kicks the Art Place runs its double paint-along (Owl's Perch 2-5 p.m., Maple Leaf 5:30 p.m.), and Emily's Halloween trunk-or-treat plus the Emily & Outing Christmas Shopping Extravaganza on October 31. The chamber's Wednesday meat raffle and keychain drawing at Moonlite Bay (4-6 p.m.) and its first-Thursday morning meetings keep the calendar humming between the big weekends. November and December stack the holidays: the Crosslake Area Library runs free computer classes on Tuesdays, November 3 and 10, its book sale on November 5, and Ojibwe author Sam Zimmerman's (Zhaawanoogiizhik) library visit on November 20; the chamber adds the Holly Jolly Highlander Paint Along on November 6, Babe's Christmas Paint Along on November 8, and the Winter Snowman Signboard Workshop on November 14. Nisswa's City of Lights is confirmed for Friday, November 27, Crosslake's Holiday at the Dam is expected December 5, Christmas in Crosslake Town Square (the Whoville tree-lighting) returns in early December with dates to be announced, the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts stages The Nutcracker with live orchestra on December 10-11 and Blue Violin's Retro Rock & Roll Christmas on December 13, the Brainerd Sertoma Winter Wonderland lights up nights from late November through New Year's Eve (its 21st and final year), and Christmas Acres at Copper Creek runs Friday and Saturday evenings in December. Winter keeps rolling after that: the Breezy Point Ice Fest and Nisswa 100 race on January 8-9, 2027, Crosslake WinterFest (confirmed for its 25th edition, February 4-6, 2027, with merchandise on sale by Thanksgiving), the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Saturday, February 6, 2027, and the Fifty Lakes Fire Department's meat raffle, horse races & bingo on Thursdays, February 26 and March 26, 2027. Outing opens the new year on Lawrence Lake: Winter Fireworks Over Lawrence Lake on Saturday, January 2, 2027, and the chamber's Winter Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, January 23, 2027. The calendar on this page was verified October 19, 2026; dates and venues shift, so confirm with each host before you drive.
Ice houses, charity fishing contests, and village festivals that treat the cold as a feature, not a bug. The Outing chamber opens 2027 with its Winter Fireworks Over Lawrence Lake on Saturday, January 2, then the Breezy Point Ice Fest and the Nisswa 100 snowmobile race share the January 8-9 weekend, and the Outing Area Chamber's Winter Ice Fishing Contest plays out on the Lawrence Lake ice on Saturday, January 23. February stacks the Brainerd Jaycees Extravaganza (Saturday, February 6), Crosslake WinterFest (February 4-6), and the Nisswa Winter Jubilee (February 12-14) within two weeks of each other. The county grooms 700-plus miles of snowmobile trails and keeps Nordic Ridge ski trails running from the Crosslake community center all winter.
Back at the listing, Mitchell Lake's ice is a short walk from the beach: auger, heater, tip-ups, and a level path to the lake.
The 37th annual edition of one of the nation's largest charitable ice fishing contests, drawing thousands of anglers onto the ice for a single morning of fishing on Hole-in-the-Day Bay on Gull Lake.
Official event pageThe 55th annual winter jubilee, themed "Jurassic Jubilee" for 2027: a medallion hunt, wood-splitting contests, snow sculpture, and the town's famous smoosh races.
Jubilee detailsThe chamber's 25th annual winter centerpiece: the Hunt for the Lost Medallion, fireworks, SoupFest, sledding and ice skating, bonfires, dog-sled rides, Radar Runs, trivia and raffles, and family fun on the frozen lakes. The chamber confirms the February 4-6 dates and notes the official wristbands (with deals at participating stops) go on sale in late January 2027.
WinterFest detailsThe Outing Area Chamber's annual New Year's-period fireworks show over Lawrence Lake, confirmed for Saturday, January 2, 2027. It is the newest winter tradition on the chamber's calendar: bundle up along the Outing shoreline for an evening show above the lake, with the chamber posting final timing and any weather changes at outingmn.com/events.
Chamber eventsThe Outing Area Chamber of Commerce's winter fundraiser on the ice of Lawrence Lake, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with cash prizes for the biggest fish and entry open to the public. The contest is weather and ice dependent, so confirm with the chamber as the date nears; the same lake hosts the chamber's New Year's fireworks three weeks earlier.
Fishing contest pageThe lakes-area winter festival just down the road from Crosslake: dog sled rides, fat biking, 5K and 10K races, and hockey, listed on the area's winter-activity calendar for the January 8-9 weekend. Weather dependent, so verify details with the host as the date nears.
Winter activities guideThe region's big winter race weekend: a cross-country snowmobile course mixing lakes, ditches, and trails just outside downtown Nisswa, drawing racers and spectators from across the state on the same weekend as the Breezy Point Ice Fest.
Nisswa ChamberThe 2026 summer season is now archived: every date below has passed. The big ones return for 2027, so treat this as the preview of Fifty Lakes Day, the Loons and Lakes Festival, Lakes Jam, Stars & Stripes weekend, and Emily Day.
Back at the listing, the dock, the sandy beach, and the lakeside firepit are the encore to every festival day.
The city's own summer community celebration on the town hall grounds, minutes down the road from 16138 Zigmund Dr.
Event detailsThe National Loon Center's festival: lake-day paddles and loon-watching pontoon tours Friday, and the Loon Fair at Crosslake Town Square on Saturday.
Festival pageThe multi-day country and rock weekend at Brainerd International Raceway, with camping and an audience that loves the lake. Returns each June.
Dates vary with the seasonWorld-class orchestra, opera, and chamber music from 200-plus professional musicians, with free Prelude Series concerts in Nisswa and Crosslake.
Festival calendarIndependence weekend across the lakes: parades, kids' activities, bean bag tournaments, and turtle races in Nisswa, with fireworks over the water.
Fireworks scheduleThe town's famous Wednesday tradition at the downtown turtle track: kids, cardboard turtles, and deep small-town pageantry.
Visitor guideEmily's annual summer celebration at Emily City Park: craft fair, food booths, kids' games, a parade, beer garden, live music, and fireworks, coordinated with the Outing Area Chamber of Commerce.
Emily Days pageCrisp water, harvest festivals, chili cook-offs, and the quietest, most colorful weeks on the lake. The Nisswa Fall Festival wrapped for 2026 on September 19, and Crosslake Days (September 24-26) wrapped Saturday, September 26, with the Outdoor Arts & Crafts Fair at the Log Church, an exotic petting zoo, and the Chili Cook-Off & Cornhole Tournament. The first week of October has now closed too: Owl's Perch painting at Kicks (October 2), Sacred Circle Wellness's grand opening (October 3), AJ Spoff's afternoon set at Snarky's Hideout (October 3), the fall concert at the Crosslake Area Library (October 7), and Salty's Walk Across America Bourbon & Brisket Fundraiser (October 10) have all wrapped for the year. The season rolls on: the Date Night Game Night at 14 Lakes Pub & Brewery and Business After Hours at WonderTrek Children's Museum wrapped Tuesday, October 13, and the MEA-weekend stretch has now closed too: the first-ever Crosslake Oktoberfest took over town October 16-17, Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort's Oktoberfest ran October 16-18 in Deerwood, the Fifty Lakes Fire Department's meat raffle, horse races & bingo played out October 16, and the chamber's Biggest Meat Raffle ran at Log Cabin Bar on October 17. Up next, the WAVE Gala on October 22 and Camp Spooktacular at the Cross Lake Recreation Area on October 22-25, where the marquee trick-or-treating (2:30-6 p.m. per the 2026 registration, with tractor-pulled wagon rides over the decorated campsites from 6-8 p.m.) lands Saturday, October 24, the same day Kicks the Art Place runs its double paint-along (Owl's Perch at 2-5 p.m., Maple Leaf at 5:30 p.m.). Emily's Halloween trunk-or-treat plus the Emily & Outing Christmas Shopping Extravaganza follow on October 31, with the town's weekly Sunday meat raffle at 14 Lakes Pub & Brewery now running alongside the Wednesday raffle at Moonlite Bay. November firms up on the library and chamber calendars: free computer classes at the Crosslake Area Library on Tuesdays, November 3 and 10, the library book sale on November 5, the Holly Jolly Highlander Paint Along on November 6, Babe's Christmas Paint Along on November 8, the Winter Snowman Signboard Workshop on November 14, the community award banquets, Ojibwe author Sam Zimmerman's (Zhaawanoogiizhik) library visit on November 20, and Nisswa's City of Lights on November 27. December stacks the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts' The Nutcracker with live orchestra on December 10-11 and Blue Violin's Retro Rock & Roll Christmas on December 13, the Sertoma Winter Wonderland through New Year's Eve (2026 is its 21st and final year), Christmas Acres at Copper Creek on December weekends, Christmas in Crosslake Town Square's Whoville tree-lighting in early December, and the holiday lights at the Pine River Dam to close the year. The chamber also keeps two steady rhythms running underneath the big weekends: a Wednesday meat raffle and keychain drawing at Moonlite Bay (4-6 p.m.) and a first-Thursday morning chamber meeting.
Back at the listing, the lakeside screened porch is built for October: coffee in, lake sounds out.
The 51st annual fall festival and 21st annual BBQ challenge on downtown Main Street wrapped for 2026 on September 19: barbecue smoke-off, artisan market, bean bag tournaments, and kids' activities. It returns for its 52nd year in September 2027.
Festival detailsCrosslake's signature fall weekend wrapped Saturday, September 26: the big Outdoor Arts & Crafts Fair took over the Log Church lawn (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), joined this year by an exotic petting zoo and a Chili Cook-Off & Cornhole Tournament on the festival grounds. Thursday's chili cook-off kicked off the Hunt for the Lost Chili Pepper, and cider and candlelight tours, a Knights of Columbus cornhole tournament, a spaghetti-and-meatball fundraiser, and Loon & Lakes trivia rounded out the weekend. It returns each late September; the chamber posts 2027 dates when set.
Crosslake Days pageA haunted mini-golf night at Whistling Wolf near Crosslake, running Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. through the end of October; arrive by 8:15 p.m. to get the full round in.
Crosslake calendarA bourbon and brisket fundraiser, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the Crosslake chamber calendar in support of Crosslake's Ian Saltmarsh and his Walk Across America journey. It wrapped Saturday, October 10 and has now passed; the month's festival stretch continues with Oktoberfest and Camp Spooktacular.
Crosslake calendarA Halloween camping weekend at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cross Lake Recreation Area on County Road 66, hosted by the Light Up the Dam volunteers: decorate your electrified campsite and hand out treats to visiting trick-or-treaters, with a campsite decorating contest (trophies awarded), a pumpkin carving contest with prizes, creepy cornhole, and hot cocoa. The 2026 registration confirms the marquee trick-or-treating for visiting families on Saturday, October 24 from 2:30 to 6 p.m., followed by a tractor-pulled wagon ride tour of the decorated campsites from 6 to 8 p.m. (wagon courtesy of Crosslake Log Village), with no vehicles allowed into the campground during the event window. Camping nights reserve through Recreation.gov, and organizers post final times as the date nears.
2026 event pageKicks the Art Place (36066 County Road 66) runs two paint sessions on the Crosslake chamber calendar in one day: the Owl's Perch Paint Along from 2 to 5 p.m. and the Maple Leaf Paint Along from 5:30 p.m. It is a cozy, indoor way to spend the same Saturday that Camp Spooktacular holds its trick-or-treating at the Cross Lake Recreation Area, and a warm-up for the November paint-and-craft nights at the same studio.
Chamber calendarCrosslake's inaugural, free, community-wide Oktoberfest wrapped Saturday, October 17: live music and the main tent in the old Exchange lot at 36095 County Road 66, with about 17 local stops across town, wiener dog races, contest prizes, and local food, timed to MEA weekend. It was the newest tradition on the fall calendar, and the Pine and Lakes Echo Journal confirmed the October 16-17 dates in its October 9 preview. The 2027 edition will be announced by the chamber when set.
Oktoberfest detailsThe Brainerd Lakes' resort-side Oktoberfest at Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort near Deerwood, about 25 miles from the listing, ran its 2026 edition Friday through Sunday, October 16-18, and has wrapped for the year: live music, food, and a festival tent, a second way MEA weekend played out in the lake country. It returns annually in October.
Oktoberfest pageA benefit for the Fifty Lakes Fire Department in the listing's own hometown, 4-8 p.m. at Fifty Lakes Bar & Bottle Shop on County Road 3: meat raffle tickets on sale at 4 p.m. with the draw at 5:30 p.m., bingo at 6 p.m., and horse races after the raffle. The October 16 edition has wrapped; the city calendar confirms the next editions for Thursday, February 26, 2027, and Thursday, March 26, 2027, carrying the fire-department fundraiser through the winter.
Event detailsThe Outing Area Chamber of Commerce's annual fall fundraiser at Log Cabin Bar near Emily, an evening of meat raffle after meat raffle with a packed house, wrapped Saturday, October 17, and has passed for 2026. It returns each fall on the chamber's calendar.
Chamber eventsEmily's Halloween gathering at the fire department on County Road 1: a truck-or-treat for the kids, coordinated with the Outing Area Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber eventsThe Outing Area Chamber of Commerce's holiday craft and shopping show, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the same day the Emily Fire Department hosts its Halloween trunk-or-treat. The Lions Club Christmas Kids Gift Program and its Christmas Tree Lot then run for lake-area families through November and December; the chamber calendar is the authority as the season firms up.
Outing Area ChamberThe City of Emily's gymnasium calendar keeps the community moving once the lakes freeze: low-impact exercise Mondays and Wednesdays 9-10 a.m., Gentle Yoga Thursdays 5:30-6:30 p.m., Ladies Pickleball Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings, and the Makers' Place of Emily art group. All are listed on the city's calendar of events at cityofemily.com.
City of Emily calendarA one-night rock showcase that closed out the festival season at the Brainerd Armory: the 2026 bill headlined Alien Ant Farm with Flipp and Fuzzrd, showtime 3 p.m. Now passed; watch for the 2027 edition.
Loonfest pageThe library's free 2-3:30 p.m. afternoon concert, this year featuring Classical Rock musician Debbie Center at the Crosslake Community Center Pavilion (weather permitting, with Conference Room 1 as the indoor backup), played on October 7 and has wrapped for the year.
Library eventsSacred Circle Wellness's grand opening and open house, 3-6 p.m., opened the new studio in Crosslake at the former Wing Wellness building on October 3 and has wrapped for the year.
Chamber calendarAJ Spoff's afternoon live-music set, 1-3 p.m., played at Snarky's Hideout, the Snarky Loon brewing family's craft house and lounge on Pequot Lakes' Front Street, on October 3 and has wrapped.
Chamber calendarOwl's Perch painting evening at Kicks the Art Place opened the October arts lineup on Friday, October 2, and has wrapped for the year.
Chamber calendarA weekly Friday-evening movement class on the Crosslake Chamber calendar, part of the town's year-round community fitness slate through the fall and winter.
Chamber calendarAfternoon bingo, 1:30-4 p.m., at the Crosslake Fifty Lakes American Legion, a steady weekly social on the town calendar through the fall and winter.
Chamber calendarThe Crosslake chamber's weekly Wednesday meat raffle and keychain drawing, 4-6 p.m. at Moonlite Bay Family Restaurant on County Road 66 (confirmed on the chamber calendar for November 4 and December 2, 2026, and continuing through the season), a steady midweek social on the fall and winter calendar.
Chamber calendarThe Crosslake chamber's monthly membership meeting, 7:45-9 a.m., held the first Thursday of each month (December 3, 2026, and January 7, 2027, among the upcoming dates), a good way to meet the business community behind the town's events.
Chamber meeting detailsThe Young Professionals Network's 2026 WAVE Gala, 4-8 p.m., featuring the Four Under 40 Awards and hosted by the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, cross-promoted on the Crosslake calendar.
Gala detailsAn evening of games at 14 Lakes Pub & Brewery, 6-9 p.m., on the Crosslake chamber calendar, played Tuesday, October 13 and now wrapped for the year. The same evening the Brainerd Lakes Chamber hosted Business After Hours at WonderTrek Children's Museum in Baxter, 4:30-6 p.m.
Chamber calendarThe Brainerd Lakes Chamber's monthly networking night, 4:30-6 p.m. at WonderTrek Children's Museum at 12170 Ironwood Drive in Baxter, a family-minded venue for the chamber's cross-lakes business crowd. It took place on October 13 and has wrapped for the year.
Event detailsHay bale mazes, a corn pit, pumpkin carving, and family activities as the leaves turn.
Fall festival roundupThe first annual awards banquet honoring the community's employees, businesses, school staff, citizens, and nonprofits, hosted by the Crosslake Chamber.
Banquet detailsThe region's hospitality awards celebration, themed "Fire meets Ice" for 2026 and staged from 4 to 9 p.m. at Cragun's Resort with the Brainerd Lakes hospitality community, presented by CLA.
Event pageCrosslake's annual holiday tradition at the Pine River Dam, held the first Saturday of December (December 5 in 2026): Santa visits, holiday crafts, kettle corn, hot cocoa, s'mores, and the dam, shelter, pier, and riverside trees strung in lights, with town businesses running holiday specials all month.
Holiday at the DamCrosslake Town Square's annual holiday kickoff: the Whoville-style tree lighting, caroling, and seasonal shopping nights. The chamber and Town Square publish the 2026 dates in November; past editions ran in the first week of December.
Town Square pageThe Crosslake chamber's holiday networking night, 4-7:30 p.m. at the Gull Lake Center in Crosslake, a warm, bright capstone to the December calendar for the lakes community.
Chamber calendarKicks the Art Place's holiday open house with refreshments, drawings, and discounts, a seasonal favorite on the Crosslake art-and-craft circuit.
Event calendarNisswa's confirmed holiday kickoff, the day after Thanksgiving: cozy train rides, Polar Express storytelling, photos with Santa, live reindeer, food vendors, bonfires along the Paul Bunyan Trail, holiday carolers, and fireworks over downtown. The City of Lights Craft and Vendor Fair fills the American Legion basement that weekend (roughly Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
City of Lights pageThe Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club announced in September 2026 that this is the 21st and final year of its drive-through holiday lights display at the Northland Arboretum, open nights from late November through New Year's Eve (2025 ran Nov. 27-29, Dec. 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, and 24-31; the 2026 schedule follows the same shape). A warm-car way to close out a lake day, and the last chance to see this one.
Winter WonderlandCopper Creek Landscapes' holiday trail walk near Nisswa: Santa visits, hayrides, ornament decorating, bonfires, and treats, typically running Friday and Saturday evenings 4-7 p.m. through December, the same property that hosts the fall festival days.
Holiday roundupFree morning tech help at the library: "Help! I get too much email!" on Tuesday, November 3 (10:45-11:45 a.m.) and "Help! How do I know if something is a scam?" on Tuesday, November 10 (10:45-11:45 a.m.).
Library eventsThe library's used-book sale lands on November 5, a quiet, dependable stop as the town stacks its November calendar; the library posts details on its events page as the date nears.
Library eventsA holiday paint-along on the Crosslake Chamber calendar, 5:30-8 p.m., the first of the town's November painting and workshop nights heading into the holiday season.
Chamber calendarAn afternoon paint-along, 2-5 p.m., on the Crosslake Chamber calendar, a cozy way to ease into the Christmas-craft stretch of the season.
Chamber calendarA hands-on signboard workshop, 1-5 p.m., on the Crosslake Chamber calendar, one of several November craft-and-paint nights leading into the holidays.
Chamber calendarOjibwe author, artist, and educator Sam Zimmerman (Zhaawanoogiizhik) visits the Crosslake Area Library at 2 p.m. to talk about his bilingual children's books, a free family event on the library's November calendar.
Library eventsThe Crosslake Chamber calendar lists a weekly Sunday meat raffle at 14 Lakes Pub & Brewery, a steady end-of-weekend social running through the fall and winter alongside the town's Wednesday raffle at Moonlite Bay.
Chamber calendarThe World Ballet Company's production of The Nutcracker with live orchestra, 7 p.m. at the 1,200-seat Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts attached to Brainerd High School, about 33 miles from the listing and a beautiful drive through lake country.
Show detailsThe Blue Violin troupe's holiday show, 5 p.m. at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts, a high-energy strings-and-rock Christmas production at the Brainerd Lakes' biggest performing arts venue.
Venue & ticketsEmily's annual summer bash gathers at Emily City Park on County Road 1 with a craft fair, food booths, kids' games, a parade, beer garden, live music, and fireworks. The 2026 edition ran on July 18; the 2027 date is set by the Outing Area Chamber, which publishes it each spring. Emily's fall schedule stays busy too: on October 31 the Emily Fire Department hosts its Halloween trunk-or-treat and the chamber holds the Emily & Outing Christmas Shopping Extravaganza & Craft Show (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), with the Lions Club Christmas Kids Gift Program and Christmas Tree Lot carrying the season into December.
Emily Days pageOuting and the surrounding lake communities, Emily and Fifty Lakes included, route their community events through the Outing Area Chamber of Commerce, from Emily Days and fireworks to the annual Biggest Meat Raffle in the World each October at Log Cabin Bar (the 2026 edition is Saturday, October 17) and the Emily & Outing Christmas Shopping Extravaganza and Emily trunk-or-treat on October 31. The Lions Club runs its Christmas Kids Gift Program and Christmas Tree Lot for lake-area families through November and December, and the chamber's Winter Fireworks Over Lawrence Lake lights the Outing sky on Saturday, January 2, 2027, with its Winter Ice Fishing Contest on the Lawrence Lake ice on Saturday, January 23, 2027. A year-round social engine runs at the local bars, too: meat raffle and bingo at Fifty Lakes Bar & Bottle Shop on Thursdays (tickets at 4 p.m., draw at 5:30 p.m., bingo at 6 p.m.), at the Pickled Loon Saloon in Emily on Tuesdays and Thursdays (tickets at 4 p.m., drawing and bingo at 5 p.m.), at Log Cabin Bar in Outing on Wednesdays (4 p.m. start, drawing and bingo at 5 p.m.), and meat raffles at the Crosslake Fifty Lakes American Legion on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Fall and winter schedules are set town by town, so the chamber calendar is the best single source for what is happening north of Crosslake throughout the year.
Outing Area Chamber
Your own venue
The property at 16138 Zigmund Dr anchors every season: a level sandy beach and private dock for July, a screened porch for September, and ice-fishing right off the frontage in winter. Most festival weekends end with the family back at the firepit, five minutes from beds for the whole crew.
Year-round
Trails, ski hills, fairways, and wildlife areas: the Brainerd Lakes area is a year-round playground, and every anchor here is an easy drive from the listing. This guide was re-verified October 19, 2026: each entry is open or in season now, with seasonal closures flagged in the notes (the Emily-Outing ATV season, for example, closes October 31, and the Cross Lake campground closes October 15). For the 2026-27 winter, Crow Wing County's trail-conditions page lists the Emily to Outing multi-use trail open and Nordic Ridge's cross-country ski trails active, so the ski and snowmobile seasons pick up as soon as the snow flies.
A paved rail-trail running about 115 miles from Crow Wing State Park to Lake Bemidji State Park, with the Brainerd Lakes stretch rolling right through Baxter and Nisswa for biking and in-line skating. A $2.58 million repair between Pine River and Hackensack wrapped in July 2025, and spot-repair work announced in late November 2025 temporarily closed three short segments between Brainerd and Pine River (the Baxter parking lot to Beaver Dam Road, Smith Road to North Long Lake Road, and CSAH 13/Lake Hubert Road to Clark Lake Road). No source confirms those closures are still in effect for the 2026 season, so check the DNR's trail-conditions page before a long ride.
Trail detailsEast of Brainerd near Crosby and Ironton: an IMBA Silver-level mountain-biking destination with 50-plus miles of singletrack, about 7.5 miles of adaptive trail, 40 miles of winter fat-bike trail, and flooded mine-pit lakes made for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. The paved Cuyuna Lakes State Trail runs about 8 miles from Crosby toward Riverton, and the Cuyuna Lakes Paved Trail project is underway to extend the connection toward Aitkin and Brainerd. An adaptive mountain-biking showcase at the Sagamore Unit wrapped Saturday, October 10, 2026, and the 2026-27 fat-bike season opens as the trails freeze, with the DNR grooming about 40 miles of winter trail and the first scheduled event being Intergalactic Fat Bike Day on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The Galloping Goose 50 mountain-bike challenge runs September 24 through October 25, 2026, and Miner's Mountain Overlook rewards the climb with views over the flooded mine-pit lakes. One caution: a portion of Cruser's Kettle remains closed from tornado and forestry damage, with repairs planned, so check Cuyuna Lakes MTB conditions before you ride.
Recreation areaGolden Eagle Golf sits right in Fifty Lakes; Crosswoods, Whitefish, and Whitebirch are all inside a short drive, so the property's 30x60 shop can stay stocked with clubs or ice gear.
Golden Eagle GolfCrosslake's center for loon and freshwater conservation and home of the annual Loons and Lakes Festival. The $18.5 million permanent lakeside campus at Swann Drive and Pioneer Drive broke ground in June 2025 and is now scheduled to open in 2027. Summer 2026 construction poured the concrete slab and curbs and paved the loon-shaped parking lot, with EV-charging groundwork going in, and the foundation's Building Progress page hosts a live construction camera for the 20,000-square-foot, near net-zero facility on a 10-acre campus. The temporary Nest center at Crosslake Town Square hosts visitors in the meantime, five or six miles from the listing.
The Loon CenterCrosslake's groomed cross-country network runs 13.7 miles for classic and skate skiing, with trailhead parking at the Crosslake Community Center on Daggett Pine Road. Nearby groomed options include the Boyd Lodge Trail near Crosslake, Pine Beach Trail in Pillsbury State Forest, and Larson Lake Trail at Deerwood, with Crow Wing County publishing trail conditions all winter.
County ski trailsCrow Wing County grooms 700-plus miles of snowmobile trails each winter, and the Brainerd Lakes Area Snowmobile Trails (BLAST) network reports 1,200-plus groomed miles across the county, with the Paul Bunyan State Trail corridor rolling through the Crosslake area. Local clubs, including the Emily/Outing Snowbirds, groom and maintain the trails north of Crosslake. The 2026-27 groomed season opens December 1, and trail conditions are posted all winter at brainerd.com.
County trail mapsA 10-acre nature reserve about four miles west of Crosslake with easy hiking, wildflower gardens, wildlife observation blinds, two small lakes, and free guided Tuesday-morning tours each summer.
Uppgaard detailsA 2.7-mile Crow Wing County hunter-hiker trail in Fifty Lakes (trailhead at 42716 Kego Lake Rd), open year-round with rolling terrain near five area lakes and two public boat landings.
County hiker trailsA Crow Wing County hunter-hiker trail in Mission Township, about 5.9 miles through oak forest that borders the Pine River west of Crosslake and sits adjacent to the Greer Lake State Management Campground. Open year-round and mowed each September, it is a quiet deer-country walk a short drive from the listing.
County hiker trailsA Crow Wing County hunter-hiker trail northwest of Crosslake, named for the wild blueberries that line its corridor. An easy morning hike about fifteen minutes from the listing, open year-round on the county's maintained hunter-hiker network.
County hiker trailsAn interactive water-play splash pad opened in 2025 at Fifty Lakes Park, just south of the fire station and beside the playground, with pickleball courts at the same park. It is a warm-weather amenity: the pad closes for the season each fall and reopens in spring, so it is a summer bonus five minutes from the lake rather than a year-round stop.
Splash pad detailsA 72-mile ATV Grant-in-Aid trail system maintained by the Over The Hills Gang ATV Club, stitching Emily, Outing, the Moose River loops, and the surrounding state forest, open to ATVs and off-highway motorcycles May 15 through October 31 each year. The Emily-Blind Lake extension grand-opened in 2021: about 16 additional miles, a 200-foot elevated steel bridge, and five puncheon bridges that tie the Emily-Outing system to Aitkin County's Blind Lake Trail. With the season closing October 31, fall is the last window before the system rests for winter.
County trail infoFourteen interconnected lakes with roughly 13,660 acres and 119 miles of shoreline just south: a full-day boating, canoeing, and kayaking playground with lakeside dining stops.
Whitefish Chain guideThe Mississippi River Headwaters recreation area on Cross Lake's eastern shore, a family hub with swimming beaches, picnic grounds, and sunset overlooks about a half-hour from the listing. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closes the campground for the season each fall (October 15 in 2026), with winter trails and the surrounding water access still nearby.
Recreation.gov pageA 3.6-mile trail near the Crosslake Community Center rated for hiking, birding, and cross-country skiing, an easy lunch-hour loop five minutes from town.
Trail guideAn easy, wooded lakeside path near the Cross Lake Recreation Area, good for birding and fall color, and part of the leaf-peeping circuit local guides send visitors to each October.
Crosslake trail mapThe Whitefish area tourism office points leaf-peepers to Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area, the Veterans Walking Trail, and Big Island Nature Trail, plus the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway drives around the chain. Peak color in the Brainerd Lakes typically lands in the first half of October.
Fall hiking guideThe Heartland State Trail (49 miles from Park Rapids) and the Soo Line Trail Northern Route weave through the country around Fifty Lakes, with year-round hiking and biking plus winter snowmobile use.
Fifty Lakes trail mapClimb 135 steps to the top of the historic Pequot Lakes fire tower for a fall-color overlook of the lakes, right by the town's famous bobber water tower.
Fall things to doThe lakes region's family ski hill on Gull Lake: downhill runs, tubing, and terrain for every level, plus groomed cross-country and snowshoe routes nearby through the winter.
Ski GullLocal guides take first-timers onto Cross Lake, the Whitefish Chain, and the quiet lakes around Fifty Lakes, with gear, holes, and strategy handled for you: The Fish Guy D, Nate Berg Fishing Guides at Breezy Point, and Todd Andrist's MN Walleye Guide all work the area's walleye, pike, and panfish waters through the ice season.
The Fish Guy DThe Polaris outfitter on County Road 66 in Crosslake rents 2025 RZR side-by-sides (two- and four-seat) for self-guided off-road loops through the Crosslake, Emily, and Outing trail country, spring through fall; in winter the shop becomes a full-service repair center for snowmobiles, UTVs, ATVs, and personal watercraft.
Seaberg MotorsportsWolf Moon Kennel offers dog-sled rides in the Brainerd Lakes area through the winter, a genuinely unique way to see the snow-covered lake country beyond the groomed trail system.
Dog-sled ridesThe Brainerd Lakes Area Growers Market runs Tuesdays 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd and Fridays at the Westport Shopping Center in Baxter, from mid-May into October, and downtown Brainerd's Main Street Market runs Fridays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in season. The outdoor market season wraps up in mid-October, so check each market's final 2026 dates before you head north; it is an easy way to stock a lake-house kitchen with northern-grown produce while the season lasts.
Market roundupA Maze-N-Pumpkinz near Nisswa (26780 Middle Cullen Rd) runs a 2-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, petting zoo, and a haunted maze on Thursday-Saturday nights each fall; Gilby's Nursery & Orchard near Aitkin holds Apple Festival weekends through October; Boysnberries Farm in Brainerd keeps an 8- to 20-acre pumpkin patch, farm animals, and fall decor through Halloween; Brambling Rows Farm sells u-pick fruit at Nisswa and Brainerd markets; and Copper Creek Landscapes' Fall Festival Days near Nisswa run through late October. The 2026 season is in its final stretch after mid-October, so confirm each farm's closing dates before you go.
Gilby's OrchardThe Brainerd Lakes' newest big stage: a 1,200-seat performing arts center attached to Brainerd High School (602 South 5th Street, Brainerd) that grand-opened in May 2021 and now hosts the Lakes Area Music Festival, touring ballets, Broadway-style shows, and visiting artists. Fall and winter 2026-27 brings The Nutcracker with live orchestra (December 10-11) and Blue Violin's Retro Rock & Roll Christmas (December 13), about a 45- to 50-minute drive from the listing through lake country.
Arts centerCold season
Winter is a full season here, not an intermission. The ice fishing houses in the photo above look a lot like Mitchell Lake in January: a short, level walk from the shore at 16138 Zigmund Dr, tip-ups in the hole, and the firepit waiting for the hand-warm-up.
Next step
Tour 16138 Zigmund Dr on a festival weekend and you will see both sides at once: the town event and the quiet shore you return to. Noah will open the door and walk you to the water.
