Events
Local and nationally recognized stone and clay sculptors Dan and Lee Ross spent two weeks in January at the Grand Marais Art Colony exploring printmaking for the first time. The result is a collection of original prints entitled "Entry Points" which will be on display at the Art Colony March 22 - April 7. The artists will speak at the opening reception a 5 p.m. March 22 and be available at the exhibit from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. March 23. Visit www.grandmaraisartcolony.org for more info.
Hundreds of displays and exhibits will be featured at the 47th Arrowhead Home and Builder Show at the DECC in Duluth. View the newest and most exciting items on the market for better living, building materials, landscaping, decorating ideas, remodeling and interior designs. Many discounts will be available at the show and prizes will be given away. For more info, www.shamrockprod.com.
The Canadian Lake Exhibition will host the annual Spring Home and Garden Show in Thunder Bay. Over 200 exhibitors will have booths about painting, landscaping, furnishing, lighting, pool installations, patios, banking and much more. Visit www.cle.on.ca for more info.
Start your spring training with Fitger’s 5K Run and Walk in downtown Duluth. The race begins at Fitger’s then travels to Canal Park and finishes at Fitger’s. Trophies will be awarded to the top competitors from each age category and all finishers will receive a T-shirt. The race begins at 9 a.m. and the awards ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. Entry fee is $25. For more info, visit www.grandmasmarathon.com.
Gear up at the 56th Bi-Annual Outdoor Adventure Expo in Minneapolis. There are more than 100 exhibitors and 140 presentations. A few things to see and do include a canoe and kayak auction, outdoor clubs and environmental organizations, a beer and gear social night with a raffle, the Radical Reels Tour and featured speakers. Admission to the expo is free. Visit www.outdooradventureexpo.com for more info.
Volunteer with the staff from Gunflint Lodge to help re-establish the Gneiss Lake trail up to Blueberry Hill on the Gunflint Trail. The trail is adjacent to the Chik-Wauk Museum and has been closed since the 1999 blow down. Volunteers will be planting trees and cutting back around them to allow additional sunlight. Volunteers will be provided lunch on Saturday and dinner Friday and Saturday. The registration fee is tentatively set at $48 per person. Visit www.gunflint.com for more info.
Focus on learning everyday do-it-yourself skills with the 2013 Northern Sustainability and Simple Living Symposium at the North House Folk School. A variety of courses will be offered such as Introduction to Canning, Making Sustainable Soaps, Hand-Sewing Skills, Basic Knifework, Sailing Away from Fossil Fuels and many more. There will also be a presentation at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday by guest speaker Dmitry Orlov, author of "Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Example and American Prospects" and "The Five Stages of Collapse: Survivors’ Toolkit". For more info on workshops and signups, visit www.northhouse.org.
Enjoy the tranquility of Superior National Forest with the Ham Run Half-Marathon, the Ham Run 5K and the Little Runts Run. The half marathon begins at Gunflint Lake and finishes at Seagull Lake, utilizing the Gunflint Trail. The Ham Run is a green race, taking place just after the Gunflint Green Up and Earth Day. Efforts to conserve resources include race T-shirts made from recycled material, eco-friendly race bags, re-usable race banners and mile markers, on-site recycling and composting and more. Tree seedlings will also be given to participants and awards to the top finishers. Participants will also be treated to a complimentary ham dinner, free beverages, live music and free massages. To sign up or receive more info, visit www.hamrunhalfmarathon.com.
This family event, held at Wild Wings of Oneka Hunt Club in Hugo, has over 20 activities such as birds of prey demos, archery, canoeing and kayaking, water safety, dog handling, geocaching, trout fishing, laser shooting, mock pheasant hunting and more. The event is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day and the entry fee is $5 per person or free for ages 15 and under. Concessions will be available. Most activities at the expo will be free or of minimal cost. For more info, visit www.mnoutdooryouthexpo.com.
Explore Ontario’s Canyon Country some 80 kilometers east of Thunder Bay, where a record number of birds have been spotted. Visit Hurkett Cove, Ouimet Canyon and the Nipigon Trail for a chance to see a variety of species of birds, such as woodpeckers, peregrine falcons, warblers, eagles, waterfowls, shorebirds and hawks. Along with guided bird tours, participants can also take part in a silent auction, attendance prizes, presentations and food. To register or view more info, visit www.dorionbirdfest.ca.
Learn more about the birds, wildflowers, and geology of the northern landscape with the Boreal Birding and Northern Landscapes Festival at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais. A variety of courses and public programs will be held such as Bird and Wildlife Photography, Wildflowers of Early Summer, Minnesota Birding and more. There will also be an assortment of guided hikes, a film screening, and presentations. Featured guest speaker will be photographer Paul Sundberg at 7 p.m. on June 2. For more info on the festival, visit www.northhouse.org.
