Overview

Summer on the North Shore is a magical time of year—the sun is at its zenith, boats dot the Grand Marais harbor, and the warm days beckon us outdoors.

The Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival celebrates the best of summer on Lake Superior. Join us for a joy-filled weekend that weaves together craft, community, and the beauty of long days by the big lake. Discover, dance, paddle, create, and welcome the brightest season at this festival!

More details will emerge in the coming weeks—subscribe to our eNews to get the latest updates.

Friday, June 20: Neighborhood Picnic and Event Kickoff!

The Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival kicks off on Friday, June 20. Join us in celebrating the best of summer by Lake Superior. Enjoy family activities on the commons, gather for live music and a picnic by the harbor, or dance the night away at the community contra dance.

Mini Courses

Friday, June 20: 9am start

North House offers over 400 traditional craft courses throughout the year. At this year’s festival, we’ll host a handful of mini courses where you can sample a folk school class and dip your toes into the world of craft. Registration for mini courses is required—check back later or subscribe to our eNews to hear when mini course registration opens.

Sail on Lake Superior

Throughout Day

The flagship of the Grand Marais Harbor, Hjørdis shares the name of the mythical Norse goddess of war. Take a trip on this 50’ traditionally-rigged steel schooner and gain access to both the largest lake in the world and experience Grand Marais from the water. Hjørdis departs for two-hour sails throughout the day. Registration required—the sailing schedule will be available later this spring.

Family Drop-In Crafts, Games and Activities

Friday, June 20: 2-6pm | Free

Bring the whole family down to the North House Commons for an afternoon of fun beside the harbor! Staff and instructors will lead drop-in activities including outdoor games, chalk art, and more. We’ll have craft supplies for all ages to join in the fun as we get creative on the theme of summer. Perfect for imaginative and active folks ages 2-102.

Speaker Series

Friday, June 20: 2pm and 3pm | Free

Watch, listen, and be inspired by stories and histories that connect craft, livelihood, and summer in the North. Check back soon for speaker information.

Live Music on Campus

Friday, June 20: 2-7pm | Free

Soak in the best of summer by the harbor. On Friday and Saturday, we’ll have a rotating roster of local musicians playing live music on the commons.

Maritime Music Concert with Tom Kastle

Friday, June 20: 4pm | Free 

For years, Tom Kastle traveled the world, collecting and performing maritime songs and stories and captaining sailing ships on the Great Lakes. These days, his passions are even more diverse and include theatrical projects, from Man of La Mancha to Shakespeare to God Help Us! with the legendary Ed Asner; film projects, like Francisco Torres’ Delight In the Mountain; and television, where he hosted a short documentary on the Bicentennial Battle of Lake Erie that was nominated for an Emmy Award. Add in musical director and composer credits, writing and performing concert opera narrations, hosting and interpreting nautical events, and captaining tall ships on the Great Lakes, including the tall ship Windy at Navy Pier and the schooner Denis Sullivan in Milwaukee, and you have an artist, and sailor, living a vivid life, indeed!

Lions Club BBQ and Ice Cream Social

Friday, June 20: 5-7pm

Gather beside the lake on Friday evening for a good old fashioned BBQ and ice cream social! Support the Grand Marais Lions Club and purchase their classic picnic fare ($5-10, or BYO) and top that off with ice cream for sale from Superior Creamery. We’ll have a campfire and live music going as well.

Community Contra Dance

Friday, June 20: 6-7pm (Family Dance) & 7-9pm (Community Dance) | Free

A contra dance is a form of folk dancing with a caller who teaches the moves—no experience required! North House’s woodworking classroom converts into a traditional community contra dance on Friday night, welcoming families for the first hour to learn traditional dances geared towards families with children. All are welcome for the following two hours for the community dance.

Community Paddle/Row/Sail on the Harbor!

Friday, June 20: 7-8pm

Celebrate the longest days of the year on the water with a community paddle! Weather permitting, we invite anyone with a boat to join us for a row, paddle, or sail on the beautiful waters of the Grand Marais harbor. Portage your own boat down to campus and head out from our docks or use the Rec Park boat launch, with ample parking available. BYO boat, PFDs, and paddles.

Summer Solstice Poetry Celebration

Friday, June 20: 8-9pm | Free

The Summer Solstice Poetry Celebration is about the joy and wonders of writing and sharing poetry and the vibrance of summer in the North. Join in the fun at 8pm by reading one of your own works or any selected seasonal poetry of your choosing. Register to present a poem here.

Saturday, June 21: Hands-On Discovery!

Whether you’re 2 or 102, hands-on exploration with traditional craft—kneading dough, making wood shavings, working with fiber—enlivens the human spirit. Saturday brings myriad opportunities for hands-on discovery: explore your creativity, see others’ creations, and get a taste of the magic that fuels North House every day of the year.

Boats to Tools Auction

Saturday, June 21: 12pm-3pm

Searching for the right inspiration to start your craft journey or take the next steps in your creative practice? The Boats to Tools Auction features a wide range of tools, camping gear, and craft resources to spark great creations and experiences! With a range of fantastic items donated by friends of North House and craft companies, you’re sure to find unexpected treasures, and you’ll feel good knowing that your bid is helping to support North House's mission and programs.

This is also a fantastic opportunity to streamline your own workspace and yarn stash while adding your support to North House! Bring gently used crafting supplies, tools that you no longer need, or outdoor gear, and help them to find a new home where they will be put to use. You’ll have more space in your craft room, someone new will get to dive deeper into craft, your item will stay out of the landfill, and you'll support North House's programming in every season. It’s win-win-win-win and that’s tough to top!

Visit the Boats to Tools Auction page for more information on how to be part of this year’s auction.

Sail on Lake Superior

Throughout Day

The flagship of the Grand Marais Harbor, Hjørdis shares the name of the mythical Norse goddess of war. Take a trip on this 50’ traditionally-rigged steel schooner and gain access to both the largest lake in the world and experience Grand Marais from the water. Hjørdis departs for two-hour sails throughout the day. Registration required—the sailing schedule will be available later this spring.

Live Music on Campus

Saturday, June 21: 10am-3pm | Free

Soak in the best of summer by the harbor. On Friday and Saturday, we’ll have a rotating roster of local musicians playing live music on the commons.

Pop-Up Craft Market

Saturday, June 21: 10am-4pm

North House’s talented group of instructors form the backbone of our craft community. Visit the Red Building on Saturday for a pop-up craft sale featuring several North House instructors. Browse one-of-a-kind, handmade items and meet the artisans behind the craft. From woven to leather goods, jewelry to felted and wooden items, there’s something for everyone. 

Family Drop-In Crafts, Games, and Activities

Saturday, June 21: 10am-4pm | Free

Bring the whole family down to the North House Commons for an afternoon of fun beside the harbor! Staff and instructors will lead drop-in activities including outdoor games, chalk art, and more. We’ll have craft supplies for all ages to join in the fun as we get creative on the theme of summer. Perfect for imaginative and active folks ages 2-102.

Traditional Craft Try-Its

Saturday, June 21: 10am-4pm | Free

Every week of the year, North House is filled with joy and excitement as folks exclaim, “I made this!” At this year’s festival, try your hand at some of the traditional crafts that form the fabric of North House. Bake pita bread in the wood-fired oven, try woodworking and help build a kids cabin, learn how to make cordage or watch a rug hooking demonstration in the fiber arts area, learn all about firemaking, or catch a blacksmithing demonstration in North House’s traditional blacksmith shop

Harborside Boat Walk in the Rec Park

Saturday, June 21: 10am-4pm | Free

For as long as people have called Lake Superior home, boats have played a central role in life by the shore. Discover some of these boats on Saturday’s Harbor Boat Walk. Grab your guide (available at the Info Booth) and stroll through the harborside display in the Rec Park to discover handmade vessels, both new and historic.

Have a boat you’d like to display? Register here!

Lake Superior Chowder Experience: An Empty Bowls Fundraiser

Saturday, June 21: Noon-1pm

$15 adults, $10 kids 12 and under

Get your bowl for the 24th annual Lake Superior Chowder Experience – a festival highlight that brings chowders of North Shore restaurants for you to taste. Smoked salmon, garden vegetable, classic clam, and poblano-potato were just a few of the interpretations area restaurants took last year. Combined with freshly baked breads from North House’s wood-fired oven, this is a North Shore culinary event not to be missed. This year's event is a fundraiser for Empty Bowls, fighting hunger in our community. Tickets will be available for purchase at the event.

Summer Solstice Pageant

Saturday, June 21: 8pm | Free

The Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival culminates with a highlight of the summer: the Summer Solstice Pageant. Gather on the North House commons for a touching and memorable show by the Good Harbor Hill players, complete with music and larger-than-life puppets.

Sunday, June 22: Student and Donor Celebration

North House is fueled by our supportive community of students, instructors, program alumni, and members. On Sunday, June 22, we’ll host a special celebration to recognize the folks of the folk school, along with a presentation on craft, our annual meeting, and a wood-fired pizza lunch.

If you would like to attend Sunday, please RSVP by filling out this form. You can also contact Greg Wright and Tom Morse with questions at info@northhouse.org.