Floating Loon of Virginia – Virginia, Minnesota - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Floating Loon of Virginia

Virginia, Minnesota

The world's largest floating loon bobs in the lake to kick off an annual festival. 

View all photos
The loon on Silver Lake. joshuacarlon (Atlas Obscura User)
The loon on Silver Lake. joshuacarlon (Atlas Obscura User)
The loon, dwarfed by the power plant. joshuacarlon (Atlas Obscura User)
The loon in its environs. joshuacarlon (Atlas Obscura User)
148
308
Top Places in Minnesota
Soap Factory
The Soap Factory
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Brickmania GHQ
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tucker's Treehouse
Minneapolis, Minnesota
 See All

You don’t have to look hard in Minnesota to spot the loon, its state bird. But only one small city boasts the honor of being the nesting grounds for the world’s largest floating loon.

The 20-foot-long loon was devised in 1982 as an attraction to draw visitors to the annual Land of the Loon Ethnic Arts and Crafts Festival. The fiberglass and metal statue was built by local artist William Martin and is launched into Silver Lake every spring.

The big bird bobs in the waves all summer, though it can’t go too far. A strong cable anchored to the bottom of the lake keeps the loon from floating too far from shore. Once the weather grows cold, the statue is hauled back onto solid ground and put in storage for the season.

The enormous floating bird is one of the many joys of the festival, which is held every June and celebrates the cultures and traditions of Northeastern Minnesota. The two-day festival features a parade, live ethnic music, arts and crafts, and a variety of local foods and drinks.

Know Before You Go

The loon can be seen from all sides of Silver Lake. To find the small lake, head for the baby blue Virginia water tower or the Municipal Power Plant, both of which loom over the lake. The Land of the Loon festival is held yearly in Olcott Park on the third full weekend in June.

world's largest festivals birds statues animals
Nearby
Republic of Kinney
8.75 miles
Paul Wellstone Memorial
9.14 miles
Hull–Rust–Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine
18.75 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
All the fuss was about Kinney's water
Kinney, Minnesota

Republic of Kinney

This tiny Minnesota city tried to secede from the Union as a last-ditch effort to fix its crumbling water system.
Eveleth, Minnesota

Paul Wellstone Memorial

A memorial to the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, who died at this location, along with seven others, in a plane crash in 2002.
Hibbing, Minnesota

Hull–Rust–Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine

Nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the North," this open-pit mine in Minnesota has a much shorter history.
A 1927 Greyhound bus on display at the museum.
Hibbing, Minnesota

Greyhound Bus Museum

An abandoned bus station transformed into a museum dedicated to the history of Greyhound Lines, in the place where it all began.
Related Places
World's largest prairie chicken.
Rothsay, Minnesota

World’s Largest Prairie Chicken

The statue honors the booming birds Rothsay, Minnesota, is famous for.
Steele, North Dakota

World's Largest Sandhill Crane

The metal bird, nicknamed "Sandy," stands nearly 40 feet tall and is an homage to the birds that migrate through North Dakota every year.
The great auk statue
Iceland

Great Auk Sculpture at Valahnúkamöl

This five-foot-tall bronze bird is a memorial to a species that was hunted out of existence.
Alec and his friend.
Belfast, Northern Ireland

'Alec the Goose'

The statue honors a beloved bird that once roamed St. George's Market.
Appears in 1 List
Peacock Clock
List

The Ultimate Guide to Bird Monuments

A globe-trotting tour of avian art, from a golden peacock clock to giant poultry statues.
Michelle Cassidy August 25, 2021
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web