North House Folk School

RSVP for Friday Night

Tickets for Saturday Night - Under the Stars will be available July 1st

Friday Night - On the Harbor!

Come down to campus at 5pm and purchase a bite to eat from our favorite local food trucks and beverages from our amazing neighbors and friends. You’ll also have a chance to engage with North House instructors in the Folk Artisan Marketplace and enjoy craft demonstrations.

The evening all builds towards a free concert on the commons starting at 7pm with the incredible Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst. Just like at the Summer Solstice, bring your favorite lawn chair with you to save your spot for this harborside concert.

Let us know you’re coming, and we’ll be able to share more information with you closer to the big weekend. RSVP

Saturday Night - Under the Stars!

The biggest party of the year on campus kicks off at 5pm with a completely reimagined experience that connects guests with craft, celebrates the mission of North House, and raises funds to fuel our community connections and programs throughout the year!

It’s the best of fall along the North Shore, all packed into a single unforgettable evening.

Explore indigo dyeing with Kenta Watanabe, split willow with Hege Aasdal, and relish in a live blacksmithing demonstration beside Lake Superior, or get out on the big lake for a harbor sail aboard the Schooner Hjørdis and Schooner Charlie. You’ll also have the chance to savor some of the North Shore’s culinary highlights with bites from regional favorites, fresh-baked bread from our wood-fired oven, and smoked fish from Fisherman’s Daughter—perfectly paired with beverages from Voyageur Brewing, North Shore Winery, and Lady Superior NA Bottle Shop!

The night will crescendo with a live auction and fund-a-need with North House auctioneer Christian Kolberg, followed by music from our friends Mike Lewis and Barbara Jean Meyers.

Tickets are limited for this special evening under the stars, so you’ll want to act quickly to secure your spot!

Tickets go on sale July 1st.

Saturday Morning Family Concert

We’ll be continuing the tradition of a completely free morning filled with hands on crafts opportunities for all ages, followed by a concert on the commons, and as always early morning ice cream for sale from our friends at Superior Creamery!

Featured Instructors

Kenta Watanabe

Based in Tokushima Prefecture, Kenta Watanabe is an indigo farmer (Ai-shi) and dyer (Some-shi). He oversees the entire process of traditional Japanese indigo dyeing—from cultivating Tadeai (Japanese indigo plants) and producing Sukumo (fermented indigo leaves), to building fermentation vats and dyeing textiles. Valuing indigo as a color rooted in daily life, he explores ways of living and expressing in harmony with nature through exhibitions and workshops both in Japan and abroad.

For Watanabe, passing on tradition to future generations means not only cultivating new expressions, but also honoring the ancestors who nurtured this culture over time. He is committed to continuing the legacy of “living indigo” that bridges the past and the future.

Hege Iren Aasdal

Norwegian basketmaker Hege Iren Aasdal is passionate about producing baskets directly from nature, passing on traditions and knowledge both about the processing of materials and about weaving techniques. She has a journeyman's certificate as a basket maker and completed a research fellowship at the Norwegian Institute of Handicrafts. She teaches a variety of classes, harvests and prepares materials, and continues her research from her home in Steinsø, Norway. This is her first trip to teach in the US.

Folk Artisan Marketplace

The Folk Artisan Marketplace features a sampling of the artisan instructors of North House, and the chance to meet the hands-at-work behind your favorite beautiful and useful items. Baskets, fiber goods, wooden wares, jewelry, leather goods, and more!

Points North Auction

From unique North Shore experiences to one-of-a-kind instructor craft, place your bids and support North House’s mission! Bid early and bid often! Points North features hundreds of Auction Items from North House instructors, supporters, and favorite partner businesses.

Online bidding opens the week ahead of Unplugged. All proceeds support North House's Programs, Youth Initiatives, Events, Instructors, and Scholarships. The Points North Online Auction brings the story of the North to life, celebrating the Northern Neighborhood we are honored to call home.