Cragun’s Resort to Host Inaugural Paul Bunyan Fest

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 15, 2024) — Paul Bunyan is quite literally a giant presence at Cragun’s Resort Golf & Conference Center where there are two robust statues of the iconic lumberjack in the Brainerd Lakes Area, including one greeting guests at the property’s entrance. It’s fitting then that Cragun’s is hosting the first-ever Paul Bunyan Fest—Friday, Sept. 20 to Sunday, Sept. 22—featuring an array of fun, Bunyan-related family activities, highlighted by a pair of lumberjack shows, as well as an Oktoberfest-themed food and beverage menu.

To ensure families have the complete weekend experience, Cragun’s is offering a Paul Bunyan Fest package, which includes accommodations for two nights in a Lodge Hotel Room or Cabin with breakfast, plus all event activities on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Saturday will start with a flapjack breakfast that will get things cooking. While the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Shows promise to thrill guests, the day’s docket also features:

• craft activities for kids
• interactive lumberjack camp
• Minnesota and Bunyan trivia contest
• pontoon boat rides
• cornhole tournaments
• best-flannel and best-beard competitions
• Bunyan movie by the pool
• family dance with karaoke
• evening bonfire and s’mores

The festival concludes Sunday with breakfast in the Lakeside Dining Room.

Bunyan holds a special place at the resort, situated on Gull Lake, as a second statue of the folk hero is located at the Brainerd Welcome Center, which was gifted to the property in 2005 by Dutch and Irma Cragun, son and daughter-in-law of the resort’s founders Merrill “Dutch” and Louise Cragun, resort founders.

To complete the weekend experience, guests can rent bicycles at Cragun’s and make a short drive to access the Paul Bunyan Bike Trail, which features more than 120 continuously paved miles with terrain surrounded by trees, lakes, and wildlife. Along the trail, there are many areas to stop and rest and enjoy the beauty of nature in Northern Minnesota, including swimming access.

For more information about the Paul Bunyan Fest, and to book the lodging package, visit www.craguns.com/paul-bunyan-fest. For more information about Cragun’s Resort, Golf & Conference Center, visit www.craguns.com