Hosted by Visit Cook County, Moose Madness is an annual family-friendly festival that takes place over MEA weekend each October in Grand Marais. A popular favorite amongst visitors, the festival includes several scheduled events and activities and various ways for participants to earn “Moose Bucks”. You then redeem your Moose Bucks collection at participating stores around Grand Marais. During Moose Madness you have the best chances of spotting Murray the Moose, the mascot of Visit Cook County. He gets called to town each year at the start of the festival and can be found walking around the downtown area most of the weekend!

Visit the Visit Cook County website for a full list of events and details!

Moose Madness Events

Kids drawing moose on the floor of Joy & Co. Moose Madness 2021

Most of Cook County gets into the Moosey spirit each October. Activities and events are found throughout the county over MEA weekend. Most events are family-friendly and fun for everyone. Some fan favorites over the years have been the Grand Marais State Bank Medallion Hunt, meeting Murray the Moose, and going on an adventure to find Moose Bucks.

Moose Madness changed its formatting a bit back in 2021. Instead of running around gathering as many Moose Bucks as possible to spend at Moose Headquarters, participants now have fewer Moose Bucks activities to choose from, but the bucks actually equal $1 each and can be redeemed at a variety of stores in Cook County. In the past, the following businesses have participated in redeeming Moose Bucks:

  • Beth’s Fudge & Gifts
  • The Big Lake
  • Cook County History Museum
  • The Crooked Spoon Food Truck
  • Dairy Queen of Grand Marais
  • Drury Lane Books
  • The Fisherman’s Daughter
  • Great Gifts
  • Hungry Hippie Tacos
  • Joy & Co.
  • Joynes Ben Franklin
  • Lake Superior Trading Post
  • The Market
  • Moose Tracks
  • North House Folk School
  • Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply
  • Subway of Grand Marais
  • World’s Best Donuts
Moose Madness Highlights

Grand Marais State Bank Moose Medallion Hunt! A fan favorite around here! Search for the Moose Medallion for a chance to win $100! Clues are released on the Visit Cook County Facebook account starting on Friday morning. This year, the search area has been expanded to include the entire city of Grand Marais! Be sure to tune into the Cascade Vacation Rentals TikTok channel to watch CVR’s own Medallion Hunter, Adam, as he hunts for the Medallion again this year.

Meet Murray the Moose! Come say hi to Visit Cook County’s beloved mascot, Murray the Moose, who will be hanging out and taking photos at various places in Grand Marais.

Go on a Moose-Safari! Exploring the boreal forest by foot and boat is the best way to find moose, but you can also take a drive through prime moose habitat with VCC’s moose driving routes. Ranging from 1 to 2 hours, these driving routes will give you an opportunity to find our favorite animal in the wild. Even if you don’t see a moose, you’ll enjoy scenery that cannot be beat!

Check out the Visit Cook County website for a the full details on the Moose Madness activities this year.

Moose Madness 2025 Schedule From Visit Cook County

Thursday October 16th

  • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. David Hahn Art Days at Studio 21 | Free art stations: Paint-a-bowl, make your own magnet, Suminagashi, & more!
  • 3 p.m. Rock Skipping Contest at Lake Superior Trading Post – might even seen Murray the Moose there!

Friday October 17th

  • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. David Hahn Art Days at Studio 21 | Free art stations: Paint-a-bowl, make your own magnet, Suminagashi, & more!
  • 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Drop-in Lantern Making at North House Folk School | Swing in and craft a lantern! Then, if you’d like, join us later at 7 p.m. to walk in the community lantern parade. Strolling from the North House campus to Harbor Park and back, delighting onlookers with our handcrafted lanterns as we go!
  • 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Face Painting at The Sweetwater, Co. | Face painting, specials, & fun!
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Meet & Greet with Author & Illustrator at Drury Lane Books | “How to Draw a Tree” David LaRochelle and Colleen Muske
  • 11:30 a.m. Donut BINGO at World’s Best Donuts | Play bingo to win a Donut (YUM!) – outside event: weather dependent
  • 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Murray the Moose Meet & Greet at Visit Cook County | Photos with Murray, get a free temporary tattoo, spin the wheel for a prize!
  • 3:00 p.m. Rock Skipping Contest at Lake Superior Trading Post | in the harbor on the beach out front
  • 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Family Fun Night at North House Folk School | Cozy around the campfire for some s’mores, enjoy tasty apple cider, and bring a picnic for extra fun! There will be outdoor drop-in games.
  • 7:00 p.m. Watch the lantern parade that’ll be happening from North House Campus to Harbor Park and back!

Saturday October 19th

  • 10 a.m. Moose Madness Mountain Bike Race at Pincushion | see details above! (9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. is registration) Three race distances: 4mile/7mile/14mile
  • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cook County Market | A local vendor market in downtown Grand Marais
  • 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Activities & Fun at North House Folk School | Drop-in Activities
  • 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Murray the Moose Meet & Greet at Visit Cook County Information Center | Photos with Murray, Temporary Moose Tattoos,spin the prize wheel and much more!
  • 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Face Painting at The Sweetwater, Co. | Face painting, specials, & fun!
  • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Meet & Greet with Illustrator at Drury Lane Books | “Leaf Town Forever” – Betsy Bowen
  • 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Mural Moose Celebration at The Co-Op | Mural Party- It’s Complete! Celebrate with Sam and Adam on their newly finished mural.
  • 2 p.m. Nature Hike at the Moose Viewing Trail | Go on a hike with a naturalist from Friends of the BWCA – walk & learn! (0.7 miles round trip)
  • 5:30 p.m Wind Down Your Moose at Colvill Town Hall | Potluck and Popcorn Bingo
  • 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Contra Dance at North House Folk School

Happening throughout the festival

  • Make a Moose Scene at Joy & Co. | Make a moose scene, draw and/or decorate a moose – all art moose fun! (in the backyard if weather permits).
  • Moose Sighting Exhibit at Grand Portage National Monument | Moose exhibit 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Unique artifacts like moose embroidery, hoof bells, and calls – just to name a few!
  • Moose Droppings Guessing Game at Lake Superior Trading Post | Guess the number of “moose droppings” in the jar, you might win a prize!
  • Hardware Store Trivia at Buck’s Hardware | Correctly answer a hardware trivia question & win a prize!
  • Make a basketball hoop for a cookie at Subway | Swing by the Subway of Grand Marais for an opportunity to win a free cookie if you make a basket in 3 tries!
  • Moose Themed Coloring Activities at Northern Goods | Moose coloring activities daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. + 20% off any item in the store with a moose on it!
  • Family Games & Fun at Hungry Hippie Tacos | Games, cards, coloring, sidewalk chalk along with drink & food specials!
  • LIVE Music happening over Moose Madness in Cook County
Have Fun at Moose Madness!

Check out our video from 2018! Note that this was taken during the old Moose Bucks/Moose Central format.