The largest cross country ski race in North America starts 3 miles south of Lake Owen with an expected 40,000 visitors to be on hand for a week of activities and different races culminating the on Saturday, February 22, 2020. Last year skiers from 49 states and 22 countries participated.

On Thursday, February 20, 2020 the Barnebirkie will see nearly 1000 kids skiing either a 1/2 km, 1 km or 3 km course finishing on Main Street, Hayward.  High schoolers will ski in the Junior Birkie starting behind the Hayward Intermediate and Primary Schools and finish Main Street in Hayward.

On Friday, Prince Haakon skiers will have a memorable experience skiing 15 kilometers on the beautiful Birkie Trail and Kortelopet skiers will go 29.2 kilometers from Seeley, Wisconsin to the finish line in downtown Hayward WI.

On Saturday February 22, 2020 over 13,000 skiers will ski either the American Birkebeiner 55 kilometer classic and skate ski 50 kilometers Worldloppet races starting just south of Cable to the finish line in downtown Hayward.

To make this possible, many thousands of volunteers work trail maintenance, groomers, bib distribution, the start line, food stations, finish line and ski patrol along the race course. The latest forecast calls for good skiing weather. Birkebeiner week is wonderful and memorable festivity.