Crosslake Days: Schedule, Chili Cook-Off & VIP Badge Deals

Beautiful Fall colors are the backdrop for the Crosslake Days Fall Festival. This annual event is a weekend of family fun with activities for all ages!

Crosslake Days is an annual event sure to be fun for the whole family! Activities include Arts & Crafts Fairs, Chili Cook-off, Lost Chili Pepper Hunt, Cider & Candlelight Tour, Knights of Columbus Corn-Hole Tournament, Crosslake Ace Hardware’s Street Dance, and more.

Dubbed the classic Up North fall festival, this weekend is jam packed with fun from Thursday, September 24 through Saturday, September 26. You can find a detailed list of events on the Crosslake Website.

Save with the Crosslake Days VIP Badge

Purchase a limited edition 2026 Crosslake Days VIP Badge, and save hundreds of dollars at Crosslake Chamber member businesses offering deals and discounts city-wide! Offers valid Fri.- Sat. Sept 25-26, 2026 (unless otherwise indicated).

Here are just some of the deals you can score with your badge:

• Crosslake Circle K: FREE 12 oz. hot coffee, cappuccino or small fountain soda
• Crosslake Drug: 25% off all gifts, clothing, and home decor
• Dairy Queen – Crosslake: $1 small cone
• Dark Horse Brew: 20% off all retail products storewide
• Grand Champion Meats: Buy 4 snack sticks, get 1 FREE
• Kicks the Art Place: 15% off purchase, plus enter a drawing for 50% off a workshop class
• Mad Rabbits: $12 Fried Chicken & Candied Bacon Waffle Sandwich
• Maucieri’s Italian Bistro: $2 off pizza
• Moonlite Bay Family Restaurant & Bar: $2 off appetizers and $3 off 12″ or 14″ pizza
• Pine Peaks Gifts: 25% off 1 regular priced item in the gift shop
• Rafferty’s Pizza: Free breadsticks with purchase of large pizza
• Squirrelly Mama Boutique: $5, $10 and $20 Doorbusters and Spin the Wheel for storewide discounts and prizes
• Whistling Wolf Mini Golf: FREE Jelly Bean samples (until gone) and $2 off the Exotic Petting Zoo
• Zorbaz on Crozz Lake: $10 Half order Macho Nachoz and 25% off all merchandise

You’ll also find discounts at Common Goods, Curious Belongings, and MN Roots, plus food and drink specials at a number of Crosslake restaurants and taverns. Check the Crosslake Website for the full list of participating businesses.

Crosslake Days Chili Cook-Off

A highlight is the Annual Crosslake Days Chili Cook-Off! Over 35 local businesses will be competing this year. The Peoples Choice Award is determined by your votes! Chili is served at locations throughout Crosslake starting at noon on Saturday until it is gone, so you can sample one or sample them all. Vote for your favorite by 3 p.m. using the Crosslake App. Don’t forget to download it before you go!

Search for the Lost Chili Pepper

The Lost Chili Pepper Hunt runs all weekend! Three daily clues are released at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to guide you to the Lost Chili Pepper. You can find the clues on the Crosslake App, at Crosslake Chamber member businesses, and at the Crosslake Chamber Welcome Center. Saturday’s clue is the third and final one.

Kids ages 12 and under can join the Junior Search for the Lost Chili Pepper on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at The Yellow House (36084 CR 66).

Crosslake Days Schedule Highlights

Events are subject to change, so check the Crosslake Website for the latest details.

Thursday, September 24

• 9 a.m.: The first Lost Chili Pepper clue is released
• 4 – 7 p.m.: Northern MN Railroad Heritage Assn. Spaghetti Meatball Fundraising Dinner at Moonlite Bay Family Restaurant (37627 CR 66)
• 6 – 8 p.m.: Loon & Lakes Trivia hosted by WAPOA/National Loon Center at Up North Social (35494 CR 3)

Friday, September 25

• 9 a.m.: The second Lost Chili Pepper clue is released
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: 2027 Model Showcase Event at Lake Days Marine (36685 CR 66). Enter to win a Lake Days Marine Swag Bag!
• 5 – 9 p.m.: Whistling Werewolf Haunted Mini Golf at Whistling Wolf Mini Golf (36006 CR 66), featuring 18 holes of haunting creatures and eerie effects
• 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.: Kids & Family Night with hot dogs, games, fun and music at Crosslake Christian Assemblies of God Church (13919 CR 36)
• 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Maple Leaf Paint Along at Kicks the Art Place (36066 CR 66)
• 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.: Sound Bath Session at Dark Horse Brew (35734 Allen Ave)
• Evening: Live music around town, including Kevin James at 14 Lakes Pub & Brewery and Lisa Wenger at Maucieri’s Italian Bistro

Saturday, September 26

Saturday is the biggest day of the festival, with something for everyone!

• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Hand Crafted Arts and Crafts Fair at The Log Church (37218 CR 66) with more than 75 artisans. Food is served by the Log Church Youth Group, Bubbas BBQ Pit and K&D Kettle Corn.
• 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Jul Fest Craft & Bake Sale at Crosslake Lutheran Church (35960 CR 66)
• 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: DIY Wooden Coasters and Magnets at Create Chaos at Squirrelly Mama Boutique. All materials are free while supplies last.
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Dry Dock Boat & Auto Show at The Old Exchange Lot (36095 CR 66)
• 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Exotic Petting Zoo at Whistling Wolf Mini Golf (36006 CR 66)
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Kids Tote Decorating at Moonlite Bay Family Restaurant & Bar (37627 CR 66)
• 12 p.m. until gone: Crosslake Days Chili Cook-off at locations throughout Crosslake
• 12 – 3 p.m.: Fun at The Campground with a bonfire, s’mores and water safety trinkets at the Crosslake Dam Recreation Area (35507 CR 66)
• 1 – 5 p.m.: 7th Annual Crosslake Knights of Columbus Cornhole Tournament at Ace Hardware (35592 Pioneer Drive). Ladies check in at 12:30 p.m. with tossing at 1 p.m., and men check in at 3 p.m. with tossing at 3:30 p.m.
• 2:30 p.m.: Mechanical Bull Riding Competition with Adult and Kids Divisions and cash prizes at Mad Rabbits Feast Kitchen (14211 Swann Ave). Register at 2:30 p.m. and ride at 3 p.m.
• 3 p.m.: 7th Annual Loon Calling Contest at the National Loon Center Nest (14303 Gould St)
• 5 – 9 p.m.: 7th Annual Crosslake Street Dance with live music by Bobby Vandell and the T.C. Jammers, plus a Knights of Columbus & Maucieri’s food and beverage truck (35592 Pioneer Dr, between Ace Hardware and Reeds Market)
• 5 – 9 p.m.: Whistling Werewolf Haunted Mini Golf at Whistling Wolf Mini Golf
• 7 – 9 p.m.: Cider & Candlelight Tour at Crosslake Log Village (35404 County Road 3). Enjoy wagon rides, live music by Bruce Archer, apple cider and treats in the Livery, and root beer served in the Saloon.

Crosslake Days Details

When: Thursday, September 24 – Saturday, September 26, 2026
Where: Crosslake, Minnesota
More info: Visit the Crosslake Website for the complete event schedule or call the Crosslake Welcome Center at (218) 692-4027.