Ready and waiting — “Voyageurs” are lined up and ready to go for the Summer Solstice Pageant at North House Folk School this Saturday, June 20. The pageant is put on by the Good Harbor Hill Players and GAMEPELAG. It starts at 8 p.m.
There’s lots to do this weekend in Grand Marais. North House Folk School’s Wooden Boat Show and Solstice Pageant kicked off on Friday night with a well-attended welcome barbecue and community dance.Saturday will be full of things to do and see on campus with start-to-finish craft demonstrations all day and all kinds of beautiful wooden boats, canoes and kayaks on display. There will also be opportunities to get on the water, too.
The Boats-to-Tools Silent Auction begins at 10 a.m. The Live Auction (an event in itself) is a lot of fun and features lots of tools and boats plus two timber frame structures, one built by the shop class at Cook County High School. The live auction starts at 3 p.m.
Before that, the Chowder Chowdown, which starts at noon on the North House campus, will feature food from Dockside Fish Market, Blue Water Café , Gunflint Tavern, Coho Café, Angry Trout, Birch Terrace, The Pie Place, Lutsen Resort, Chez Jude, Crooked Spoon and Beth’s Fudge. Home baked bread from North House’s wood-fired brick oven is also on the menu.
Then at 1 p.m., see a presentation on photographer Ernest Oberholtzer’s incredible 2,000-mile canoe trip to Hudson Bay in 1912. A film about his life will be shown at 5 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday at 12:30 p.m., Bob Hilke will present Oberholtzer’s historic photos. Oberholtzer helped found the Boundary Waters Canoe Area as well as the Wilderness Society.
And then — the hot spot at the Wooden Boat Show — the Summer Solstice Pageant. It starts at 8 p.m. with the Good Harbor Players and GAMEPALAJ. Jim Ouray is the director. This is one event everyone looks forward to launch the summer. Don’t miss it.
The town is hoppin’ in other ways on Saturday, too.
The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold its weekly Community Art Event from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This week, Elizabeth Roszak will help artists of every age create beautiful collages. Cost is $5 per person.
The Farm and Craft Market, held in the Senior Center Parking lot, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Harbor Friends holds its annual open house at Harbor Center behind Eighth Broadway Gallery beginning at noon. Rod ‘N’ Real will play at 1 p.m. The new Outdoor Family Coloring Book will be available, too, as will the new “Flowers” guide.
And singer/songwriter Joe Paulik plays on the Birch Terrace deck starting at 1 p.m.
Also, the Cook County Historical Society is having an open house on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. There will be lefse-making demonstrations (and perhaps a taste or two) and an exhibit of posters made by Jane Gellner’s graphics class.
If you’re going to Thunder Bay, stop by the Spring Pottery Fair featuring the work of the Thunder Bay Potter’s Guild at the West Arthur Community Centre, 1914 Arthur St., West. There will be lots of pottery for sale, demonstrations, raku and kids’ activities.
Sivertson Gallery will hold it’s annual Summer Solstice Party from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, just before the Solstice Pageant. Afterwards, catch the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank playing at the GunFlint Tavern. If you’re at home or driving, listen to Jeremy Lopez hosting the Saturday Night Mix on WTIP from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The music continues on Sunday with Rod ‘N’ Real playing with guest musician Al Oikari at the Landing, Devil’s Track Resort, for the Music by the Lake summer series from 5-8 p.m.
Also on Sunday, the Wooden Boat Show continues with the Steam-Bent Brunch at 11 a.m. (reservations recommended), the keynote presentation at 12:30 p.m. followed by the ribbon cutting for the Milling Shop.
And last, but not least, is the Wooden Boat Parade on the Harbor. It’s something to see and starts at 2 p.m.
