Download Northern Wild’s December 2019 colorful monthly event calendar here!
See below for a selection of upcoming events.
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November 2019
Bentleyville
Located in Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” invites guests to stroll under the glow of over 5 million lights, while enjoying complimentary hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn and roasted marshmallows. Get your photo taken with reindeer and visit with Santa (kids 10 and under will receive a new knit hat). Mrs. Claus will also be at Bentleyville to tell stories and hand out candy canes. Bentleyville is free―though donations are appreciated―and opens at 5 p.m. daily.
Find out more »December 2019
Julebyen
At the annual Julebyen Christmas Village festival in Knife River, you will find all things Scandinavian. There’s indoor and outdoor marketplaces with foods and handmade gifts by local juried artisans, a live nativity, outdoor winter activities, children’s games, a silent auction, a bakery, workshops, races, sleigh rides, and more. Visit Troll Village and meet regional authors and illustrators. Or head to the Gnome Dome for live entertainment. Children will enjoy scavenger hunts, craft workshops, outdoor sledding and skating, storytellers, animals,…
Find out more »Aboriginal Fine Arts & Crafts Gift Show
The 18th Annual Christmas Aboriginal Fine Arts and Crafts Gift Show, presented by the Aboriginal Artworks Group of Northern Ontario (AAGNO), will feature artwork of all kinds, including jewelry, sculptures, handmade clothing and paintings. This is the largest gathering of Aboriginal artisans in Northern Ontario. The show will be held from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Heritage building in Thunder Bay. Fore more info, find AAGNO on Facebook.
Find out more »Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Sale and Open House
The annual Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Sale and Open House will take place at the Grand Marais Art Colony, featuring high quality, handmade clothing and gifts. Held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., there will be tasty treats and refreshments, as well as knitting, spinning and weaving demonstrations. You can also learn a new fiber craft at the hands-on table. Find more info on Facebook under the Northwoods Fiber Guild.
Find out more »Santa Shuffle
The Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle will be held at 10 a.m. at the Current River Recreation Centre in Thunder Bay. This fun, family-friendly event includes a 1k Elf Walk and a 5k Santa Shuffle Fun Run/Walk. Many participants come dressed in festive attire in everything from Santa hats to Santa and his sleigh. All participants receive a medal and prizes will be awarded for a number of categories, including Top Fundraiser and Best Festive Costume, as well as wrapped door…
Find out more »Christmas Bizarre Bazaar
The Sixth Annual Christmas Bizarre Bazaar in Thunder Bay will feature over two dozen artists, crafters and creators. Held at the Baggage Building Arts Centre, this event showcases unique, bizarre creations, expanding your Christmas buying possibilities. Find everything from books, clothing and pottery, to jewelry, fabric art, food and more. There will also be door prizes and daily prizes through the Facebook event page. And be sure to get your picture with Metal Santa and support charity. The Christmas Bizarre…
Find out more »Duluth Winter Village
Organized by Duluth Loves Local, Duluth Winter Village will take place on the grounds of Glensheen Estate. This outdoor market brings more than 40 local businesses together to sell holiday gifts out of wooden cabins. Along with the shopping, visitors can enjoy local food and beverages, carol singers, bonfires with s’mores, wreaths and holiday greenery, animals, face painting, an outdoor lounge and more. Admission is free and parking is available off-site; free shuttle service provided.
Find out more »Ignite the Fort
Held from 1-6 p.m. at Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay, Ignite the Fort is a fun, family event celebrating the holiday season. Activities include scenic wagon rides, holiday crafts, historical re-enactments, Indigenous artisan demonstrations, a scavenger hunt, cookie decorating, storytelling, various contests, bannock, fudge and candy making, and more. You’ll also have the opportunity to decorate the giant holiday tree; for $1 you can purchase a bulb for the tree. Then, watch the Ignite the Fort tree lighting…
Find out more »Borealis Chorale & Orchestra Christmas Concert
Featuring the talent of more than 100 Cook County residents, the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra Christmas Concert is an annual North Shore tradition nearly 70 years old. This year’s concert features seasonal favorites along with the exciting world premiere of “The Lingering Light of Day,” by composer Craig Carnahan and poet Julia Klatt Singer. The commission of this new choral and orchestral work, created by Carnahan and Singer for the BCO, was funded in part by an Artist Initiative Grant…
Find out more »Light Up a Life
Sponsored by Care Partners, the 11th Annual Light Up a Life event offers Cook County community members the opportunity to celebrate the life of a loved one during the holiday season, while supporting end of life care. Each $5 donation lights one bulb in memory of one person on the memory tree, located in front of Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais. Donation forms are available online and at area businesses. The tree lighting ceremony, held at 5:30 p.m., will…
Find out more »Dark Sky Festival
Organized by Visit Cook County, the Dark Sky Festival in Grand Marais returns for the second year. The festival kicks off on Friday at 6 p.m. in Harbor Park: watch as Grand Marais goes dark for a few minutes to enjoy a dark(er) sky over the iconic harbor. Then, take a journey to the stars with astronomers and galaxy experts in UMD’s traveling planetarium. Outside telescopes will be set up at Voyageur Brewing and astronomy students will help guide participants…
Find out more »Minnesota Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Enjoy an evening of holiday magic, whimsical music and elegant dancing with The Nutcracker, performed by the Minnesota Ballet in Duluth. This magical family favorite by Allen Fields captivates as a holiday treat. Experience a young girl’s enchanting dream as her beloved Nutcracker doll comes to life on Christmas Eve. The duo fights a fierce battle against mice, waltzes in a dreamy winter wonderland, and journeys to exotic lands ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy; all performed to Tchaikovsky music…
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