Out & About In The Summertime: Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Show

 

Greetings from the North Shore, where the longest day of the year is coming up on Sunday. That’s quite a surprise when it’s been in the low 40s at night here, and everything seems to be on pause until summer actually arrives.

On the other hand, the celebration of the longest day of the year means that the Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival at North House Folk School is coming up–a great way to welcome the day.

And to make it even busier on the North Shore, Grandma’s Marathon is in Duluth this weekend, too, so be advised of a few traffic issues coming up the shore.

But art-making continues.

First up, making art at Joy and Company, opportunities that continue through the summer.

Here’s a statement from the shop about what they are offering this summer:

“Thursday Art Night is offered all summer here at Joy and Company, 3-4:30 pm. This year, we are offering: make your own masterpiece in watercolor at the art counter inside and outside, we have games, and a paint your ROCK station in the backyard (please bring your own rock or go to the harbor and grab one before you come). Seating is limited at both stations, which are first-come, first-served and self-directed art adventures. As always, the whole floor is a chalkboard and is open 10-5 daily.”

Also on Thursday, the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market opens in the parking lot of the Cook County Community Center.

This first market of the season will focus primarily on cool weather cops like greens and other delicious vegetables. Also look for artisan breads, baked goods, flowers, jams and jellies, and more.

The market runs from 4:30-6 pm. Open to all.

The annual Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival at North House is a three-day event.

On Friday, look for family craft opportunities, an exhibit of work by members of the Artisan Development cohort in the Yellow Building, as well as an outdoor craft market, live music, and a series of presentations, including one about building the Viking ship Valkarie and sailing to Norway.

The Lions put on a barbecue at 5, followed by a contra dance and a poetry slam.

On Saturday, family craft activities continue in the morning, followed by the Lake Superior Chowder Challenge, which starts at noon. The Boat to Tools Auction is at 1 pm, and a pop-up craft market and live music are scheduled. There is an online Boat to Tools Auction, too. Click here to view.

The Summer Solstice Pageant starts at 8 pm on Saturday in the Commons.

The Solstice Pageant is always an incredible community event, representing weeks of puppet-making by volunteers, script-writing, music creation and practices, rehearsals, and more.  The event is free, but freewill donations are gratefully accepted. And we all come to the performance with the question… what will they do this year? Highly recommended.

For all the details of the Summer Solstice Wooden Boat Festival, click here. 

Other events are happening this weekend, too.

On Friday night, the Johnson Heritage Post will open an exhibit of batiks by Emily Donovan.

Drawing inspiration from the landscape, Emily Donovan utilizes historical methods to forage and procure natural pigments from plants and insects, blending traditional craft with a modern approach to batik. Because each pigment is physically tied to the land, her paintings feature a “living mark” where materials like beeswax and organic dyes create unpredictable results. This collection is a visual “gesture” of respect and awe for nature’s abilities.

The opening reception is from 5-7 pm. Donovan will give an Artist’s Talk at 6 pm.

On Saturday, the Cook County Market, which is held in the parking lot of The Hub features a variety of work by local artists and artisans.

Look for everything from pottery to paints, fiber art to books, to just name a few. Glass, baskets, and baked goods are also available.

The music this week:

• 10-noon Emma Tweten
• noon-2 Andy Keith

The public is invited.

Also on Saturday, the annual Lutsen Rummage Sale, a fundraiser for Care Partners, will be held at the Lutsen Lutheran Church from 9 am to 2 pm.

 

Look for artwork, crafts, baked goods, sporting gear, tools, toys, housewares, furniture, and more. The public is invited.

At noon on Saturday, Rachael McCampbell will demonstrate plein air painting in Bear Tree Park.

Watch as Rachael captures the boats, shoreline, and shimmering reflections in real time—quickly composing the scene, blocking in bold shapes, and building rich color and value with expressive, confident brushwork.

The public is invited. Free.

On Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm, members of the Summer Theater Camp will present Olympus, the Rock Musical at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.

Olympus is a laugh-out-loud rock musical where ancient myths meet modern mischief. The Greek gods, tired of their immortal routines, spark a competition to meddle with mortals and prove who’s the greatest Greek god of all time.

Tickets are available at the door: $15 for adults, $5 for students.

On Sunday, Summoning Circle will be in concert at the Hovland Town Hall to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

They recently had a recording session at WTIP. Listen to their songs here.

On Monday, Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center will host Monday Porch Talks at 1 pm.

This week’s topic is Earth, Wind & Fire – Geology & Glaciers. The presentation is free and open to all.

On Wednesday, Duluth printmaker Kelly Dupre will hold a workshop at the Schaap Community Center near Poplar Lake on the Gunflint Trail.

Participants will explore relief and monoprint techniques, drawing inspiration from the Boreal forest. No prior experience or materials are needed. Hands-on participation is limited to 15 participants; early registration is encouraged. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult, as sharp carving tools will be used.

The workshop is free. To register: call 218-388-9915 or email info@gunflinthistory.org.

Exhibits:

The summer exhibit, Play, continues at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Studio 21.

Also, the exhibit A Gang of Green, featuring work by potters at the Grand Marais Art Colony, continues through the end of the month.

Studio 21 is open from 10 am to 5 pm Thursday through Saturday. Free.

Jean Kirwan is the Artist of the Month at Tettegouche State Park.

This unusual exhibit is highly recommended. The paintings are in the Great Hall at Tettegouche. Free.

The 2026 Member Show at the Duluth Art Institute continues.

There are more than 100 pieces in a variety of media in the show, which continues through July 10.

A new exhibit has opened at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery entitled Hyper Woodland.

Hyper Woodland is a term coined by artist Quinn Hopkins for his work. Expanding the genres of Woodland Style, his Anishinaabe practice blends ancestral knowledge with augmented reality (AR) and interactive projection. New “hyper woodland” animations, including Sacred Tags (2025) and 13 Moon Calendar (2024), create a dynamic, porous terrain across urban streetscapes and within a Great Lakes imaginary, demonstrating how Indigenous perspectives shape the future of digital sovereignty, technology, and contemporary media art.

The exhibit continues through Oct.4.

Painter Paula Gustafson is exhibiting work in a group show at the Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis.

The title of the exhibit is Nature Narratives. To see others in the show, click here. The show continues through June 27.

FYI:

WTIP North Shore Community Radio has launched the Scenic Route Music Series featuring a seasonal lineup of music shows in 2026 and 2027. This new WTIP initiative will host Blues/R&B guitarist Charlie Parr on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 pm at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Local instrumentalist Adam Kirsch will open with a short set.

Admission is free. Reservations are required due to limited seating. To reserve tickets, please visit the Scenic Route Music Series page under “Events” at wtip.org.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a wide variety of art classes and art opportunities this summer for students of every age. Click here to see all the offerings.

The Johnson Heritage Post has put out a call for local artists.

Artists would participate in a month-long exhibit at the Heritage Post in 2027 in its designated Artist of the Month spot. For more info, call 218-387-2314 or email victoria@cookcountyhistory.org

Artists at Work:

Online Findings:

North Woods Naturalist – Jewelwings, Damselflies and Blossoms with Chel Anderson

Paint-A-Long #20: Add Figures to Your Watercolors & Create an Instant Focal Point

  Online Music, courtesy of Annie Possis

Photographs:

Here is a selection of photographs we found this week:

Wildlife: 

Potpourri:

Landscapes, Skyscapes, Waterscapes and Cloudscapes:

Have a great weekend, everyone! Happy Solstice! Happy Father’s Day!

PS: It is an honor to produce NorthShore ArtScene for you every week.  Please consider donating to keep it strong and inspiring. Thank you!

 And here’s a big shout-out to Jeremy Lopez (Live Music Schedule, tech advice) and Yvonne Mills (proofreading) for their continued support. Thank you! Thanks also to Visit Cook County for its outstanding Events Calendar.