Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival
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 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.
On-Campus Events: June 21-22, 2024
Student and Donor Celebration: June 23, 2024
Friday Picnic & Kickoff
Gather beside the lake on Friday evening for a good old fashioned BBQ and ice cream social!
Saturday Hands-On Discovery
Explore traditional craft—kneading dough, making wood shavings, working with fiber.
Make More Meaning Auction
Featuring a wide range of tools, camping gear, and craft resources to elevate artisans to the next level.
Mini Courses
Dip your toes into the world of craft through a handful of special mini–courses.
Lake Superior Chowder Experience
Choose from a wide range of chowders from North Shore restaurants.
Harborside Boat Walk
Self-guided tour to see and hear about the people and vessels that have traversed the big lake.
Summer Solstice Pageant
Gather for a touching and memorable larger-than-life puppet show with live music.
Hjørdis Sailing
Departures for two-hour sails throughout the day. Registration required.
Event Details
Friday, June 21: Neighborhood Picnic and Event Kickoff!
The Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival kicks off on Friday, June 21. 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.
- 9am - Noon/5pm Mini Courses
- Throughout day Sail on Lake Superior
- 2pm-5pm Family Drop-in Crafts
- 2pm-6pm Family Games & Activities
- 2pm-7pm Live Music on the Commons
- 2-5pm Speaker Series (2pm, 3pm and 4pm)
- 4pm Campus and New Building Tour
- 5-7pm Lions BBQ and Ice Cream Social
- 6-7 pm Family Contra Dance
- 7-9pm Community Contra Dance
- 7-8pm Community Paddle/Row/Sail on the Harbor
- 8-9pm Summer Solstice Poetry Slam
Mini Courses
Friday, June 21: 9am start
North House offers over 300 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.
- Scandinavian Tufted Wool Techniques with Lily Bell and Caroline Feyling
- Hand-Stitched Leather Wallet or Clutch with Candace LaCosse
- Give Some Heart: Carving Wooden Hearts with Alex Yerks
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
Friday, June 21: 2-5pm | Free
The Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival brings craft opportunities for all ages. Stop by the Family Area on the Commons on Friday and Saturday for free family crafts! 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 folks ages 2-102.
Family Games & Activities
Friday, June 21: 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.
Speaker Series
Friday, June 21: 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm | Free
Watch, listen, and be inspired by stories and histories that connect craft, livelihood, and summer in the North. Check back soon for a full list of speakers.
Live Music on Campus
Friday, June 21: 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.
Campus and New Building Tour
Friday, June 21: 4pm | Free
Join Director Greg Wright for a tour of the North House campus and the new Welcome Center that’s scheduled to open in fall 2024. On the tour you’ll hear stories from the past, plans for the future, and witness how North House is enriching lives and building community by teaching traditional northern craft.
Lions Club BBQ and Ice Cream Social
Friday, June 21: 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 21: 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 21: 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 Slam
Friday, June 21: 8-9pm | Free
The Summer Solstice Poetry Slam is a celebration of writing 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 22: 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.
- 10am-3pm Make More Meaning Auction
- Live Music on the Commons
- 10am-4pm Pop-up Craft Market
- Family Drop-in Crafts
- Family Games & Activities
- Traditional Craft Try-Its (Breads, Blacksmithing, Fiber, Wood, Flint & Fire)
- Harborside Boat Walk in the Rec Park
- Throughout day Sail on Lake Superior
- Noon–1pm Lake Superior Chowder Experience ($15 at the door)
- 4pm Campus and New Building Tour
- 8pm Summer Solstice Pageant
Make More Meaning Auction
Saturday, June 22: 10am-3pm
Searching for the right inspiration to start your craft journey or take the next steps in your creative practice? The Make More Meaning 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 the work of the folk school.
This is also a fantastic opportunity to streamline your 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 North House will have funds to put towards our Internship program! It’s win-win-win-win and that’s tough to top!
You can get a sneak peek at the auction AND learn more about contributing to its success here.
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 22: 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 22: 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.
Family Drop-In Crafts
Saturday, June 22: 10am-4pm | Free
The Summer Solstice and Wooden Boat Festival brings craft opportunities for all ages. Stop by the Family Area on the Commons on Friday and Saturday for free family crafts! 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 folks ages 2-102.
Family Games & Activities
Saturday, June 22: 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.
Traditional Craft Try-Its
Saturday, June 22: 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 fiber arts with our instructors, and catch a blacksmithing demonstration in North House’s traditional blacksmith shop. Take your creations home to show your friends what you made!
Harborside Boat Walk in the Rec Park
Saturday, June 22: 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. Volunteers along the route will share each boat’s story and stamp your guide—turn in your completed passport at the Info Booth for a surprise!
Have a boat you’d like to display? Register here!
Lake Superior Chowder Experience: An Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Saturday, June 22: Noon-1pm
$15 adults, $10 kids 12 and under
Get your bowl for the 23rd 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.
Campus and New Building Tour
Saturday, June 22: 4pm | Free
Join Director Greg Wright for a tour of the North House campus and the new Welcome Center that’s scheduled to open in fall 2024. On the tour you’ll hear stories from the past, plans for the future, and witness how North House is enriching lives and building community by teaching traditional northern craft.
Summer Solstice Pageant
Saturday, June 22: 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 23: Student and Donor Celebration
North House is fueled by our supportive community of students, instructors, program alumni, and members. On Sunday, June 23, 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 here. You can also contact Greg Wright and Tom Morse with questions at info@northhouse.org.
Latest Update:
View recent changes →Course Offerings
Blacksmithing: The Basics & Beyond
9am-5pm each day
Cedar Bark Mat Weaving: From Forest to Floor
9am-5pm each day
Timbered Sawhorse Trestles: Women & Non-Binary Session
Day 1: 1-5pm; Days 2-3: 9am-5pm
A Midsommar Feast
Day 1: 9am-4pm; Day 2: 10am-7pm
Needle Felting & Bead Embroidery: Bead, Felt, & Frame
9am-5pm each day
Post and Rung Stool Building
Day 1: 2pm-5pm; Days 2-3: 9am-5pm
Swedish Dalmålning Using Traditional Techniques
9am-5pm each day
Fly Fishing the North Shore: Grand Marais Area
Day 1: noon-6pm; Days 2-4: 9am-5pm
Blacksmithing: Crafting The Tools of the Trade
9am-5pm each day
Kuksa Carving: Traditional Scandinavian Drinking Cup
9am-5pm each day
Tvåändsstickning - Mittens in Swedish “Twined” Knitting
9am-5pm each day
Scandinavian Tufted Wool Techniques
9am-noon
Sail Training Trip: Lonely Island Tour
Day 1: 5pm start; Final Day: 3pm finish
Canoe vs. Kayak: An Intro to Skin-On-Frame Building
9am-5pm each day
Cedar-Strip Boat Construction: Techniques & Fundamentals
9am-5pm each day
Hand-Forged "Using" Knife
9am-5pm each day
Shoemaking with the Cordwainer Shop: The Pathfinder
Days 1-3: 9am-5pm; Day 4: 9am-1pm
Fly Fishing the North Country in Prime Time
Day 1: 9am-5pm, Days 2-5: 10am-9pm, Day 6: 9am-4pm
Inkle Loom Weaving
9am-5pm each day