Grandma’s Marathon is one of the largest events held annually on Lake Superior’s North Shore. Held on the third Saturday of June, the race starts in the town of Grand Marais and leads racers along the Scenic Highway to Duluth. With the finish line located in Canal Park, the event brings thousands of visitors to the area each year.
About the Marathon
About the MarathonGrandma’s Marathon welcomes an estimated 18,000 participants for its three-race weekend. The races include the 26.2-mile Grandma’s Marathon from Two Harbors to Duluth’s Canal Park, the 13.1-mile Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon also on Saturday, and the 3.1-mile William A. Irvin 5K, which takes place on Friday.
Because the race ends in the popular Canal Park neighborhood, Duluth makes an entire family-friendly weekend out of the marathon. Enjoying live music and kid-friendly events are all part of the scene during the marathon weekend in Duluth.
History of Grandma’s Marathon
Grandma’s Marathon got its name from the Duluth-based Grandma’s Restaurant. The popular eatery in Canal Park was among the first major sponsors of the race. The first Grandma’s Marathon occurred in 1977. Duluth hosted the marathon annually until 2020 when it was canceled due to the pandemic. The race returned in 2021 and has continued to be a beloved annual tradition since.
And while Grandma’s Marathon is a long-standing tradition on the North Shore, it is far from a local event. The race attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world! In 2018, for example, the race had participants from all 50 states and 49 different countries.
There’s no question it will be a busy weekend on the North Shore. It’s a good idea to book early and check out one of the biggest events of the entire year on the North Shore!
Get In On the Fun, Even If You’re Not Racing!
The Grandma’s Marathon website has an excellent guide to Spectator Information. The guide includes popular places to cheer on racers. It also includes what times you can expect both Half Marathon and Marathon racers to pass by that particular location. It also includes why you might want to watch the race from that particular location and what sort of atmosphere you can expect at each location. For those who like to be at the finish line, there’s a separate Finish Line webpage so you know what to expect the day of the race.
Did you know you can now watch the race… from a train!? Get onboard the coaches of the North Shore Scenic Railroad from the Duluth Union Depot and enjoy the journey to Two Harbors. You’ll arrive with plenty of time to see the start of the race. The train will follow the lead racers for a few miles before zipping off to Duluth. Train riders will have plenty of time to get down to Canal Park to get to the finish line before the first racer crosses. Train passengers even get to enjoy breakfast, a bloody mary bar, and mimosas on the journey. This is a great way to enjoy the race without having to worry about parking or navigating closed streets and traffic. Book tickets in advance!
In addition to watching the race, there are several events happening on the race weekend to help you get in the Grandma’s Marathon Spirit! Essentia Health hosts a Fitness Expo at the Decc Pioneer Hall & Arena on Thursday and Friday. There are virtual race tours, spaghetti dinners, live music, kids’ events, and more!
Where to Stay
Cascade Vacation Rentals offers Captains Canal Park, located right in the Canal Park neighborhood of Duluth. You can’t get much closer to the action of Grandma’s Marathon. However, the unit books up quickly and is hard to come by. In general, Duluth’s accommodations are a challenge. Instead, consider staying in the Two Harbors and Beaver Bay areas. From there, you can drive to Two Harbors for the starting line, or spend the day in Duluth for the race festivities.