The thing about Winona is that the events calendar rewards people who plan ahead. A Saturday in July here can mean farmers market in the morning, Shakespeare in the evening, and a campfire back at Camp with a live music set happening 200 feet from your tent. That's a good day. But it requires knowing it's possible.
Here's the full picture of what's happening in Winona, MN in 2026 — and which weekends are worth building a trip around.
Spring Events
The Winona Farmers Market opens in May, and the opening weekend feels like the official start of the season. The market runs Saturdays from 8am to 1pm through October in downtown Winona's riverfront area. Local produce, honey, baked goods, flowers, and handmade goods from regional vendors — and live music on the stage most weeks. It's a social institution as much as a market, and the Saturday morning rhythm of it is genuinely one of the best things about Winona in the warm season.
The Winona Art Center hosts spring gallery shows and member exhibitions throughout April and May. The arts community here is active and the center serves as a year-round cultural anchor with rotating shows that are worth checking in on.
Winona's deep Polish immigrant heritage — one of the most significant in the Midwest — is celebrated in events and traditions throughout the year that reflect the cultural layers that give the city its character.
Great River Shakespeare Festival (June–August)
This is the crown jewel of Winona's cultural calendar and one of the most significant regional theater events in the Midwest. The Great River Shakespeare Festival is a professional company whose productions consistently draw audiences from Minneapolis, Madison, Chicago, and beyond.
Performances run late June through August in an outdoor venue with the Mississippi River bluffs as a backdrop. The company produces multiple shows in repertory over the summer, so you can see different productions on different nights or catch matinees. The quality is professional — these are not community theater productions. The setting is extraordinary — outdoor Shakespeare under the bluff country sky hits differently than a traditional theater.
Book tickets in advance for peak summer weekends. And book your camp site before you book the tickets, because Shakespeare weekends fill quickly.
Summer Events
The Fourth of July in Winona is a full-scale river town celebration. Levee Park on the Mississippi riverfront is the gathering point — fireworks over the water, live music, food vendors, community events. The holiday weekend is one of the most popular times at Camp Everyday, and sites are typically booked months in advance. Plan accordingly.
The Winona County Fair is the kind of county fair that still means something in small-town Minnesota — agricultural exhibits, livestock competitions, carnival rides, local food, and the particular energy of a community gathering that's been happening for well over a century. Worth an afternoon.
Fishing tournaments on the Upper Mississippi run throughout summer, drawing regional competitors and creating a festive atmosphere around the boat launches and waterfront areas. The Winona area is a serious fishing destination, and these events reflect that.
Winona has one of the most significant Hmong communities in Minnesota, and the cultural presence of that community is woven into the fabric of the city in ways worth learning about during your stay.
Camp Everyday Winona Events
Our own event calendar runs May through October and includes events specifically designed to add value to a Camp Everyday stay:
- Live Music Weekends: Regional bluegrass, folk, country, and Americana artists throughout the summer. Real bands, real sets — no cover charge for campers.
- Kids Fishing Derby: A structured, beginner-friendly fishing event for young campers. One of the most popular events we run.
- Summer Scavenger Hunt: Nature-themed competition for families and groups. Covers the campground and surrounding terrain.
- Movie Night: Outdoor movie screening under the stars.
- Fourth of July Weekend: Special programming around the holiday weekend.
Check our events page for exact dates before you book — certain weekends are significantly richer than others, and the right timing can turn a good trip into a great one.
Fall Events
September and October in Winona are underrated. The foliage on the bluffs peaks between the last week of September and mid-October, and the combination of fall color, cooler temperatures, and a slower pace makes the shoulder season a favorite for many of our returning guests.
The Winona Farmers Market continues through October, and the fall harvest vendors — squash, apples, root vegetables, late-season honey — are worth the Saturday morning visit.
Fall foliage drives along Highway 61 between Winona and La Crosse are one of the most straightforward and rewarding activities of the season. The highway follows the Mississippi River through the bluff corridor, and in peak color the views from the road and the overlooks are spectacular. Garvin Heights at peak fall color is one of the best overlooks in the Midwest.
Harvest-themed events and fall festivals pop up in the area through October, reflecting the agricultural character of the Hiawatha Valley.
Outdoor Venues Worth Knowing
Levee Park on the Mississippi riverfront is Winona's main outdoor event venue — concerts, celebrations, markets, and community gatherings happen here throughout the warm season. Winona State University's performance spaces add to the summer calendar, particularly around arts programming.
Annual Athletic Events
Bluff country running events — trail races that use the ridge systems above Winona — attract regional participants throughout the season. The terrain is demanding in ways that road racing isn't, and the views from the bluff trails make these events popular with serious trail runners who travel to compete on them. Charity runs and community athletic events round out the calendar.
How to Plan Your Visit
A few rules of thumb:
- Book Camp Everyday before you book Shakespeare tickets. The theater has more inventory flexibility than a popular campground on a summer weekend.
- The Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends at camp fill months in advance. If these dates matter to you, book as early as possible.
- Fall is genuinely underbooked relative to how good it is. September and October offer some of the best conditions of the year with more site availability than peak summer.
- Check both our events calendar and the Great River Shakespeare Festival schedule at the same time when planning your trip.
Visit our events page and book your site. The Winona summer is worth planning for.
Plan Your Stay
Ready to experience the bluffs for yourself? Book your site at Camp Everyday Winona.
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