Community Events
Here you can find events of interest to the LGBTQIA2S+ community in Cook County, Minnesota. Some are put on directly by the Cook County Pride Committee, while others are posted here but entirely hosted by a different entity in Cook County.
For more information on these events, contact Cook County Pride and/or the individual, business, or organization hosting the event.
Youth Led D&D: Pride Themed Campaign
This D&D campaign is created by youth in our community. Come participate in this pride themed experience starting right at 9:30am and will continue until noon.
- Players are welcome to bring their own character (classes are limited to: artificer, barbarian, bard, cleric, stood, warlock, wizard, sorcerer, ranger, paladin, psion, fighter, monk, rogue). The characters must be level 3. If you don’t have a character/character sheet, we have pre-made characters with character sheets to choose from!
- Players under 10 will need an adult to play along with them, sharing one character.
- Snacks provided.
- Dressing up is welcome, but not required!
- Any (including no) experience is welcome!
- The youth group is an extremely accepting and accommodating group of people. Have no fear, just accept our queer!
- To accommodate our group, please refrain from wearing any perfumes or colognes. Be mindful and respectful of any other sensory requests established at the beginning of play.
June 13th 2026 Pride
Pride 2026: Pride is Protest
Saturday June 13 - Downtown Grand Marais
9am: Free yoga with Consciously Carly - Harbor Park
9:30-11am: Arts & Crafts, Social Hour - The Hub
10:30-11:30am: Brian Malloy Writing Session- The Hub
11:30am-12:30pm: Community Networking for Justice Advocates - The Hub
1:30-2:30pm: Drag Story Performance by Drag Story Hour MN (family friendly event) - Harbor Park*
3-4:30pm: Community Dancing, Singing, & Music Making - Harbor Park*
4:30-5:30pm: Pride Rally and March - Harbor Park*
5:30-7pm: Free Dinner Provided by Double D’s Catering & Angry Trout Cafe - Harbor Park*
8 pm: DJ Dance Party - Up Yonder
*in the event of poor weather, Harbor Park activities will be held at the Cook County YMCA
Sunday 10am First Congregational Church Service - Harbor Park
Two-Step and Line Dancing for LGBTQ+ and Friends (lessons included)
LGBTQ+ and Friends:
COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE NIGHT
Two-Step & Line Dance
Free event!
Friday, June 12th
7-10 PM
Cook County Community Center Log Cabin, Grand Marais, MN
7-7:30 PM Beginner Lessons starting with Line Dancing Followed By Free Dancing
No experience needed! No dancing required! Join us for community and social time!
Film Event: The Dance Is Not Yet Over
Join renowned Twin Cities artist Patrick Scully at Grand Marais Public Library for a screening of THE DANCE IS NOT YET OVER. This feature-length documentary was created by Minnesota filmmaker Mark Wojahn and highlights Scully’s lasting impact on dance, performance, and queer cultural history. Free and open to the public, this program is ideal for those interested in dance, the performing arts, and regional cultural history.
Celebration Church Service
This church is an open and affirming congregation of everyone in the LGBTQIA2S+ community with a celebration service and picnic to follow.
“We are celebrating becoming an RIC congregation on Sunday June 7th at our Worship Service at 10:00 am, followed by a picnic on the church lawn. We would love to have you celebrate with us!”
June 2025 Pride!
Pride 2025: Love Is Our Resistance
Saturday June 14 - Downtown Grand Marais
9 am: Free yoga with Carly in Harbor Park
10 am-1 pm: Crafts & Sign Making at The Hub
10 am: Drag Story Hour with Cravin’ Catastrophe at The Hub
11 am: Write Your Coming Out Story with Brian Malloy at The Hub
12 pm: OutFront MN Presentation at The Hub
3:30-5 pm: Community Singing & Music Making + Community Dance in Harbor Park
5 pm: Pride Rally and March in Harbor Park
6-8 pm: Free Dinner Provided by Double D’s Catering & Angry Trout Cafe; Social Hour with Live Music, Featuring Local 2SLGBTQ+ Musicians in Harbor Park
9 pm: DJ Dance Party at Up Yonder with Birthday Gurl & DJ Anjo
*in the event of poor weather, Harbor Park activities will be held at the Cook County YMCA
LGBTQ+ Country Western Dance Night (Copy)
Second Monday of Every Month from 7-9pm. No experience needed and no dancing required. Join us for community and social time.
Lady Superior Presents: Night Before Pride Happy Hour
Kick off Pride weekend at Lady Superior with mocktails, N/A wine, and friends.
Pride Month: GM Public Library
Celebrate Pride 2025 with the Grand Marais Public Library through story: In these selections you’ll find voices of hope, resistance, history, joy, resilience, and, above all, Love. Happy Reading. Happy Pride from Grand Marais Public Library.
Winter Pride Potluck
Winter Potluck on March 15th, 4:30pm at the Log Cabin in Grand Marais.
LGBTQ+ Country Western Dance Night (Copy)
Second Monday of Every Month from 7-9pm. No experience needed and no dancing required. Join us for community and social time.
LGBTQ+ Country Western Dance Night
Second Monday of Every Month from 7-9pm. No experience needed and no dancing required. Join us for community and social time.
Iconoclasm
Watch Carlisle Evans Peck perform Iconoclasm! Queer Mythologies and Forgotten Songs
Located at the Cook County Community Center!
Lake County Pride
Lake County’s first ever Pride Celebration on Saturday, July 13 at 1:30p.m.
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Gay Man: Live performance featuring Patrick Scully
2024 Pride celebration show at the Grand Marais Public Library.
Gender-Affirming Care: Dr. Hillman’s Story
At Cook County Higher Education in Grand Marais: Join us for a Q&A with Dr. Hillman to learn more about her experience providing gender-affirming care and as a transgender activist in Florida.
Community Worship
First Congregational will be holding a Community Worship Service down at Harbor Park on Sunday morning. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
Author Talk With Brian Malloy, After Francesco at Drury Lane
Drury Lane Books 12 E. Wisconsin St. Grand Marais, MN 55604
Meet and listen to author Brian Malloy read excerpts from his novel, After Francesco, and engage in discussion surrounding the ongoing AIDS epidemic and finding love, community, and balance after loss.
Pride Celebration 2024
Downtown Grand Marais
9 am: Free yoga with Carly in Harbor Park
10 am-1 pm: Crafts & Sign Making at The Hub
11 am: Drag Queen Story Hour at The Hub
12 pm: OutFront MN Presentation at The Hub
3-4 pm: Free Oula Dance Class and Live Music in Harbor Park
4 pm: Pride Rally and March in Harbor Park
5-8 pm: Free Dinner rand Social Hour in Harbor Park
6-7:30 pm: Author Talk at Drury Lane
9:30-11:30 pm: DJ Dance After-Party at the Raven’s Nest (upstairs Gunflint Tavern)
Order a 2024 t-shirt here!
T-shirt cost is on a sliding scale of $10 - $30. Please pay according to your ability, we want as many people as possible to get a Cook County Pride T-shirt! This year our T-shirts are designed by Cook County Pride's LGBTQ2S+ Youth Group
Thank you for supporting Cook County Pride!
"The Seeker" at Sugarloaf Cove
Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center has partnered with queer, Minneapolis-based public artist, Diver Van Avery (they/them) to host a unique, site-specific art project that will be available for visitors to experience from June 1 to October 31, 2024.
Author Talk With Dianna Hunter, Clouded Waters at Drury Lane
Drury Lane Books 12 E. Wisconsin St.
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Meet author Dianne Hunter and listen to her read excerpts from Clouded Waters- an environmental mystery that echoes current tensions with copper and nickel mining in Minnesota.
Drag Brunch & Variety Show
Cook County Community Center 317 W 5th St, Grand Marais, MN 55604
Presented by the LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Group Sponsored by the Grand Marais Playhouse
Join us in celebrating the youth of Cook County. Eat French Toast and enjoy a myriad of youth performers and artists authentically being themselves! Pay what you can; no one turned away for lack of funds. As a youth group we are dedicated to creating safe and inclusive spaces for queer people and allies of all ages!
Night at the Movies
Arrowhead Center for the Arts 515 W 5th St, Grand Marais, MN 55604
The Grand Marais Film Society and Cook County Pride have joined forces to curate a queer-centered movie night.
One film is a family-friendly, animated, science fiction comedy. A family sets out on a road trip, but finds themselves tasked with a small mission; to save the world.
The second film is a coming-of-age romantic drama. Winner of the 2017 Academy Award for Best Picture, this film has been critically acclaimed for its exploration of masculinity and identity within marginalized communities.
Winter Pride Celebration
2:00 pm: Doors Open. Smoothie’s available, sponsored by Shook Smoothies.
3:00 pm: Drag Queen Story Hour, presented by ThatQueerIsa, sponsored by Cook County Pride.
4:00 pm: Arts, Crafts and board games sponsored by Cook County YMCA.
5:00 pm: Advocacy and Allyship Presentation, sponsored by Outfront MN.
6:00 pm: Dinner served, Vegan and Gluten Free, sponsored by Angry Trout Cafe.
Nex Benedict Vigil & Celebration of Life
Please join the Cook County Pride Committee & friends in honoring Nex Benedict & show your commitment to LGBT2QIA+ youth in Cook County.
Schedule:
• 5:30PM: Vigil @ Harbor Park - Speakers, Song, Candles
• 6:15PM: March to The HUB
• 6:30PM: Celebration of Life, potluck food, music, and dancing
Meet & Greet
This event will be held at Cook County Higher Education and snacks will be provided. We'll hold a social hour from 4:30-5:30. At 5:30 or so we'll begin our CCPC meeting. You can come just for the social hour or stay for the meeting.
Agenda for this month's meeting is as follows:
Presentation of CCPC Mission Statement
March Pride Event info (Sat, March 16, 2024)
June Pride Event info (Sat, June 15, 2024)
Committee Insurance plan decision
Joining/assigning Subcommittees
Community Celebration & Fundraiser
This is a free community event, open to all. Free Will donations will be accepted for all events and food provided. We will also be taking signups for our "Pride 2023" t-shirts. All funds raised will be used to present our Community Rally in June. This event takes place in the log cabin at the Community Center.
