LEDPowersport® 2026 Snowmobile Grass Drags Tour: Princeton, Hay Days & Brainerd

From late August through September, LEDPowersport® hit the road for our 2026 Minnesota Snowmobile Grass Drags Tour, bringing our snowmobile and powersports LED lighting directly to riders at three major events: the Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags, Hay Days, and the Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags.

Three events. Three very different weekends. Thousands of snowmobile and powersports enthusiasts getting ready for another Minnesota winter.

For LEDPowersport®, the 2026 grass drag season was about much more than selling products. It gave us the opportunity to meet riders face-to-face, answer real snowmobile lighting questions, demonstrate our products, talk fitment and electrical systems, support snowmobile clubs, and continue building LEDPowersport® within the snowmobile community.

It also gave riders the chance to put a face behind the company and see why we put so much emphasis on selecting the correct snowmobile LED headlights for the actual machine rather than treating every sled like an automotive application.

If you're researching lighting for your sled, start with our main Snowmobile LED Headlights hub for lighting options, fitment information, electrical guidance, and LED headlight upgrades for Polaris, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, Lynx and other snowmobiles.

 

LEDPowersport® 2026 Snowmobile Grass Drags Tour

Our 2026 Minnesota grass drag run included:

• August 28–29, 2026: Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags & Swap Meet – Princeton, Minnesota
• September 12–13, 2026: Hay Days – North Branch, Minnesota
• September 18–19, 2026: Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drag & Swap Meet – Brainerd, Minnesota

Each event had its own personality.

Princeton gave us our first major grass drag vendor experience of the season. Hay Days put LEDPowersport® in front of one of the largest gatherings in snowmobiling and powersports. Brainerd gave us the opportunity to work with a welcoming local club that we believe has a lot of potential as it continues building its event.

Together, they became the LEDPowersport® 2026 Snowmobile Grass Drags Tour.

Stop #1: Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags – August 28–29, 2026

Our first stop was the 32nd Annual Outlaw Grass Drags & Swap Meet in Princeton, Minnesota on August 28–29, 2026.

The Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags, also known as the Rum River Outlaw Grass Drags, combine snowmobile grass drag racing, a large swap meet, commercial vendors, camping, food, and a wide range of snowmobiles from vintage machines to purpose-built outlaw sleds.

The event organizers describe the Outlaw Grass Drags as one of the premier Midwest grass drag events, with everything from vintage machines to outlaw snowmobiles capable of exceeding 150 mph.

The event is put on by the Rum River Trail Association, a nonprofit organization made up of four Minnesota snowmobile clubs:

• Mystic Riders – Princeton
• St. Francis Sno Ghosts
• Grandy Northern Lites
• Cambridge Drift Dusters

According to the organization, proceeds from the Outlaw Grass Drags help support the development, maintenance, and safety of more than 500 miles of local snowmobile trails.

When Are the Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags Usually Held?

The Outlaw Grass Drags are generally a late-August snowmobile event in Princeton, Minnesota. The exact dates should always be confirmed with the organizers each year. For 2026, the event was held Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29.

Official Outlaw Grass Drags Website →
Outlaw Grass Drags on Facebook →

Read our complete LEDPowersport® Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags 2026 recap →

 

What We Learned at Princeton

Princeton was an important first stop for us.

We brought our LEDPowersport® vendor setup, products, machines, displays, and snowmobile LED headlight knowledge directly to a crowd of riders who understand these machines.

Throughout the event we talked with riders about bulb fitment, snowmobile electrical systems, AC versus DC power, rectifiers, lighting performance, and what different sleds require when upgrading from factory halogen headlights to LEDs.

We also heard the same question over and over:

“Are you going to be at Hay Days?”

The answer was yes.

Princeton helped introduce LEDPowersport® to more Minnesota riders and led directly into the biggest stop of our tour.

Stop #2: Hay Days – September 12–13, 2026

Two weeks after Princeton, LEDPowersport® headed to Hay Days 2026 in North Branch, Minnesota.

Hay Days is owned and operated by the Sno-Baron's Snowmobile Club and has grown from its early grass drag roots into one of the most recognized snowmobile and powersports gatherings in North America.

The event combines snowmobile grass drag racing, a massive swap meet, OEM and manufacturer displays, aftermarket powersports vendors, freestyle entertainment, UTV and off-road attractions, food, and thousands of people who live and breathe powersports.

Hay Days is widely associated with the beginning of the upcoming snowmobile season, and the organizers refer to it as “The Official Start of Winter.”

When Is Hay Days Usually Held?

Unlike many events whose dates change significantly from year to year, Hay Days has a clear annual tradition: Hay Days is held the first weekend after Labor Day.

In 2026, that put the event on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 at the Hay Days grounds in North Branch, Minnesota.

Official Hay Days Website →
Hay Days on Facebook →

Read our complete LEDPowersport® Hay Days 2026 recap →

 

Going Bigger at Hay Days

Hay Days was our biggest event setup of the 2026 tour.

LEDPowersport® was located at vendor space DB2 with our black-and-green booth, powersports machines, LED lighting displays, product inventory, test displays, branded merchandise, and giveaways.

We brought snowmobiles and other powersports machines into the display so people could see that LEDPowersport® isn't a generic automotive-light company trying to sell the same bulb to every vehicle.

Our focus is powersports.

That includes understanding how snowmobiles differ from cars and trucks when it comes to headlight electrical systems, bulb orientation, available housing space, high and low beam operation, and AC-powered lighting systems.

Hundreds of riders came through the booth during the weekend. We talked with existing customers, new customers, riders looking for their first LED upgrade, people comparing lighting options, and snowmobilers looking for fitment information for everything from older trail sleds to newer machines.

The LEDPowersport® Hay Days Giveaway

Hay Days was also a major brand-awareness weekend for LEDPowersport®.

In addition to our product displays, we gave away branded merchandise and promotional items throughout the event, including LEDPowersport® apparel, straw hats, lanyards, decals, sunglasses, coupons, and other items.

We also held a free raffle with a prize package built around our powersports brand and snowmobile lighting products.

The goal wasn't simply to make a sale that day. We wanted riders leaving Hay Days wearing LEDPowersport®, carrying our logo, remembering the booth, and recognizing the name when snowmobile season arrived.

Our full Hay Days 2026 snowmobile LED headlights recap has more photos and information from the weekend.

Stop #3: Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags – September 18–19, 2026

Less than a week after Hay Days, we loaded everything back up for our third stop: the 24th Annual Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drag & Swap Meet.

The event was held September 18–19, 2026 at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds in Brainerd, Minnesota.

The Brainerd event included snowmobile racing, swap meet activity, vendors, food, antique snowmobiles, and a wide variety of racing classes.

For us, however, what stood out most was the club behind the event.

Thank You to the Brainerd Snodeos

The Brainerd Snodeos made us feel incredibly welcome as a vendor.

Everyone we dealt with was helpful, friendly, and genuinely interested in having LEDPowersport® there.

We also came away believing there is a lot of potential behind what the club is building.

The Brainerd Snodeos have been part of the Brainerd Lakes Area snowmobile community since 1975. The club reports more than 125 members and approximately 107 miles of groomed snowmobile trails maintained through volunteer work.

Those volunteers handle the work riders may never see when they hit the trail in January: clearing and brushing trails, installing signs, maintaining culverts and bridges, operating grooming equipment, and putting in the countless hours necessary to keep a trail system going.

That's one reason we're excited about supporting events like their Grass Drags.

When Are the Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags Usually Held?

The Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags are a September snowmobile event in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The exact weekend can vary, so riders should check the club's current calendar each season. The 2026 event was held September 18–19 at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds.

Official Brainerd Snodeos Website →
Brainerd Snodeos on Facebook →

Read our complete LEDPowersport® Brainerd Grass Drags 2026 recap →

 

Looking Ahead to Brainerd 2027

Our first experience at the Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags left us wanting to come back.

We plan to return in 2027, and we're already thinking about ways to make our next appearance bigger and help create additional excitement around the event.

One idea we're exploring is a major free giveaway involving a Polaris Indy Trail snowmobile, with the sled potentially going to one winner through a free raffle connected with the event.

No Polaris Indy Trail giveaway has been officially announced or finalized at this time. It is an idea we're exploring as we look at ways LEDPowersport® could help support turnout and add another attraction to the weekend.

If it comes together, we think giving away an actual snowmobile would be an awesome way to bring riders together, support the event, and give someone one heck of a reason to remember the Brainerd Grass Drags.

Three Snowmobile Events, One Common Theme

Princeton, Hay Days, and Brainerd are different events, but there's a common thread connecting all three:

The snowmobile community.

Behind every grass drag are racers preparing sleds, volunteers setting up tracks, clubs maintaining trails, vendors hauling equipment, families attending together, swappers searching for that impossible-to-find part, and riders getting excited for the next winter.

That's exactly the community LEDPowersport® wants to be part of.

We're a powersports-focused company, and our roots are in the same machines people bring to these events.

Why We Talk So Much About Snowmobile LED Headlight Fitment

One thing became clear at all three stops: riders have a lot of questions about snowmobile LED headlights.

And that's understandable.

Snowmobile lighting isn't as simple as searching a bulb number and installing the first automotive LED that looks like it fits.

Depending on the snowmobile, there can be differences in:

• Factory bulb type
• Headlight housing design
• AC versus DC electrical power
• Rectifier requirements
• High and low beam operation
• Bulb orientation
• Available housing clearance
• Beam pattern
• LED power requirements

Some snowmobiles supply AC power directly to the headlight circuit. Depending on the application, an LED conversion may require an appropriate AC-to-DC rectifier.

Other sleds use DC power and do not require the same electrical setup.

That's why knowing the exact year, make, and model matters.

Find Snowmobile LED Headlights for Polaris, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat, Yamaha & Lynx

We've continued building our main Snowmobile LED Headlights resource to make it easier for riders to understand these differences and find lighting options for their sled.

Our snowmobile lighting coverage includes applications across major manufacturers such as:

• Polaris snowmobile LED headlights
• Ski-Doo LED headlights
• Arctic Cat snowmobile LED headlights
• Yamaha snowmobile LED headlights
• Lynx LED headlights

Fitment still varies by individual machine, so riders should always select lighting according to their specific snowmobile rather than assuming one setup fits an entire manufacturer.

Explore LEDPowersport® Snowmobile LED Headlights →

Built by Riders, for Riders

There's a reason our motto is Built by riders, for riders.

Getting LEDPowersport® out to events like Princeton, Hay Days, and Brainerd keeps us connected to the people actually riding these machines.

Instead of only seeing an order number and a year/make/model online, we get to stand beside the sled, hear what the rider wants to improve, see different machines in person, answer technical questions, and learn what riders are looking for next.

Those conversations help drive what we work on.

They also reinforce something we've believed from the beginning: powersports lighting deserves to be treated as its own category.

Snowmobiles aren't cars. ATVs aren't cars. UTVs aren't cars.

The electrical systems, operating environments, housings, riding conditions, and use cases are different.

That's why LEDPowersport® stays focused on powersports.

Supporting the Snowmobile Clubs Behind the Events

One of the biggest things we've gained from attending these events is an even greater appreciation for the snowmobile clubs and volunteers behind them.

The Rum River Trail Association uses proceeds from Princeton's Outlaw Grass Drags to support more than 500 miles of trails.

The Sno-Barons Snowmobile Club owns and operates Hay Days and has spent decades building it into a major snowmobile and powersports gathering.

The Brainerd Snodeos maintain approximately 107 miles of trails in the Brainerd Lakes Area while continuing to put energy into growing their club and Grass Drags.

These events don't simply happen.

Someone has to prepare the grounds, organize racing, coordinate vendors, manage parking, maintain equipment, work gates, clean up afterward, and then turn around and prepare snowmobile trails for winter.

We appreciate the volunteers and organizations who put in that work.

Planning a Minnesota Snowmobile Grass Drag Trip?

If you're planning ahead for future Minnesota grass drag events, these three weekends create a great late-summer and early-fall run for snowmobile enthusiasts.

• Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags: typically late August – Princeton, Minnesota
• Hay Days: first weekend after Labor Day – North Branch, Minnesota
• Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags: September – Brainerd, Minnesota

Exact dates, schedules, ticket prices, racing classes, vendor information, and event policies can change from year to year. Always check each event's official website or Facebook page before traveling.

Read the Complete LEDPowersport® 2026 Grass Drag Recaps

If you want to see more from each stop of our tour, check out the individual event recaps:

• Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags 2026 – LEDPowersport® Vendor Recap
• Hay Days 2026 – LEDPowersport® Snowmobile LED Headlights & Powersports Lighting
• Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags 2026 – LEDPowersport® Vendor Recap

From Grass Drags to Snowmobile Season

Princeton started the tour in August.

Hay Days took things to another level in September.

Brainerd wrapped it up just as Minnesota began moving toward fall.

Now comes the part all of us are really waiting for: snowmobile season.

If you're preparing your sled for winter, this is the time to inspect your existing headlight system, verify your high and low beams, check electrical connections, and make sure your lighting setup is ready before that first nighttime ride.

If you're still using weak factory halogen headlights, an outdated conversion, or an LED that was never designed around your snowmobile's electrical system, start by identifying exactly what your machine requires.

Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota Snowmobile Grass Drags

What events were part of the LEDPowersport® 2026 Snowmobile Grass Drags Tour?

LEDPowersport® attended the 2026 Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags in Princeton, Hay Days in North Branch, and the Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags in Brainerd, Minnesota.

When were the 2026 Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags?

The 2026 Outlaw Grass Drags & Swap Meet was held August 28–29, 2026 in Princeton, Minnesota. The event is generally held in late August, but riders should confirm each year's dates with the official event organizers.

When is Hay Days usually held?

Hay Days is traditionally held the first weekend after Labor Day in North Branch, Minnesota. The 2026 event was held September 12–13.

When were the 2026 Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags?

The 2026 Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drag & Swap Meet was held September 18–19 at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds in Brainerd, Minnesota. Future dates should be confirmed through the Brainerd Snodeos.

Where can I find snowmobile LED headlights?

Visit the LEDPowersport® Snowmobile LED Headlights hub for LED headlight options, fitment information, and snowmobile lighting resources for Polaris, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, Lynx and other sleds.

Why do some snowmobiles need rectifiers with LED headlights?

Some snowmobiles supply AC power to the factory headlight circuit while LEDs generally require the appropriate DC electrical supply. Depending on the machine and LED setup, an AC-to-DC rectifier may be required for proper operation. Fitment and electrical requirements should be determined for the specific year, make, and model.

Who organizes the Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags?

The Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags are hosted by the Rum River Trail Association, which consists of the Mystic Riders, St. Francis Sno Ghosts, Grandy Northern Lites, and Cambridge Drift Dusters snowmobile clubs.

Who puts on Hay Days?

Hay Days is owned and operated by the Sno-Baron's Snowmobile Club.

Who organizes the Brainerd Grass Drags?

The Brainerd Snodeos Snowmobile Club organizes the Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drag & Swap Meet in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Does LEDPowersport® plan to attend more snowmobile events?

LEDPowersport® plans to continue participating in snowmobile and powersports events and currently plans to return to the Brainerd Snodeos Grass Drags in 2027. Specific future event appearances will be announced as they are confirmed.

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