Flapjack Festival | Brainerd Minnesota

Annual Paul Bunyan Flapjack Festival
and Touch a Truck Event for Kids

Plan ahead for the September 2026, Flapjack Festival and Touch a Truck in Downtown Brainerd at the VFW, 309 South 6th Street. These are free family friendly events where kids and adults can meet Brainerd's mayor. All proceeds go towards the Historic Brainerd Water Tower restoration projects. Gather the family, grab your flannels, and plan for a fun event. Check back for 2026 details.

September 20, 2025: The event was another success.... especially for children who loved climbing on big vehicles. The weather forecast looked questionable, but no rain. Awards were given to child and adult winners of the pancake eating contest. Mark Persons from the Brainerd VFW won the costume contest.

The kids pancake eating contest.

Adult pancake eating included a police officer.

September 21, 2024: Hungry lumberjacks and kids gathered at the Brainerd VFW for pancakes. The event benefited the Brainerd Water Tower restoration project. https://www.facebook.com/BrainerdWaterTower

Then it was time for to "touch a truck." Kids loved it. Zach Mahoney, from KLIZ Radio, was there as the event MC.

Then it was time for the pancake eating contest.

Finally, there was the flapjack relay race where pancakes had to be flipped over a line and caught before continuing.

A fun time was had by all. Lakeland Television was there to do a story on the event.

September 23, 2023: The Brainerd VFW was proud to host the Flapjack Festival. That was indoors and was broadcast on local radio stations. Touch a Truck for kids was held outside.

Brainerd Dispatch video of the Flapjack Festival: https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/local/paul-bunyan-flapjack-festival-and-touch-a-truck

September 24, 2022: The Flapjack Festival started with pancakes from the Brainerd Legion. Participants had to flip pancakes over a net, racing against others doing the same thing. The event was broadcast on local radio stations KUAL and KBLB.