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Cook County is home to one of the darkest skies in the world. Every year, explorers, adventurers, artists and photographers from around the world travel to Cook County to experience the northern lights and night sky. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) has been named as one of only 17 certified International Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world! And at over a million acres, it is the largest. Help us to celebrate our world-class dark sky at the fifth Dark Sky Festival!

THURSDAY, DEC. 7

8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. | DOCUMENTARY: NORTHERN NIGHTS, STARRY SKIES | GRAND PORTAGE NATIONAL MONUMENT HERITAGE CENTER

All day long, catch the documentary “Northern Nights, Starry Skies.” A visually stunning celebration of our spectacular starry skies above the world’s largest designated Dark Sky sanctuary. Ojibwe, Dakota cultural astronomers and other experts share the wonders of the heavens. The documentary, which was co-produced by WDSE and Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education, also illuminates ways we can reduce the negative impacts of light pollution.

10 A.M. – 4 P.M. | ART EXHIBITION: DARK SKIES | JOHNSON HERITAGE POST ART GALLERY, GRAND MARAIS

From Nov. 17-Dec. 10, experience Dark Skies, an exhibit featuring the artwork of Adam Swanson and Sam Zimmerman.

4-6 P.M. | THURSDAY ART NIGHT: PAINTING THE AURORA AND NIGHT SKIES | JOY & CO., GRAND MARAIS

Stop in for Joy & Co.’s free weekly art night program featuring fun demos and projects. This one will focus on painting the aurora and night skies.

5:30 P.M. | DARK SKIES DINNER | JUSTINE’S DINING ROOM AT GUNFLINT LODGE, GUNFLINT TRAIL

Make your reservation for the three-course Dark Skies Dinner including Supernova Skewers, Stellar Chicken Parmigiana and Meteor Trail Turnovers. See the menu details and call 218-388-2294 to make your reservation.

7 P.M. | DARKNESS, AURORA, PHOTOGRAPHY & ASTRONOMY PRESENTATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM CHIK-WAUK MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER  | BOUNDARY WATERS HALL AT GUNFLINT LODGE, GUNFLINT TRAIL

From 7-7:30 p.m., co-chair of Chik-Wauk Dark Sky Committee David Coleman will do a presentation on darkness, the aurora and photography. From 7:30-8 p.m., Chik-Wauk’s campus director Bonnie Schudy will do astronomy presentations using Chik-Wauk’s new 3D panorama screen projection system.

8 P.M. | TELESCOPE VIEWING & PHOTOGRAPHY DEMONSTRATIONS | GUNFLINT LODGE, GUNFLINT TRAIL

Enjoy telescope observations with Shawn Williams and photography demonstrations with David Coleman.

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8 P.M. | GUIDED NIGHT HIKE | GUNFLINT LODGE, GUNFLINT TRAIL

Join the resident naturalists at Gunflint Lodge for a nighttime hike, where you’ll venture up onto the hills and cliffs that overlook Gunflint Lake in order to have a fuller view of the starlit horizon.  For this hike you will be provided red flashlights, which do not disrupt the natural light sensitivity of our eyes, allowing you to adjust to the darkness much more quickly upon arriving at the destination. You will also be provided foam padding for stargazers to lay down comfortably while we soak in the sights above. During the hike and after arriving at our stargazing outpost, Gunflint Lodge naturalists will present some interesting stories, legends, and commentary about darkness, night skies, and constellations for your enjoyment. Come along for a once in a lifetime dark sky experience.

Reserve your spot for the guided night hike by calling 218-388-2294.

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FRIDAY, DEC. 8

8:30 A.M. -4:30 P.M. | DOCUMENTARY: NORTHERN NIGHTS, STARRY SKIES | GRAND PORTAGE NATIONAL MONUMENT HERITAGE CENTER

All day long, catch the documentary “Northern Nights, Starry Skies.” A visually stunning celebration of our spectacular starry skies above the world’s largest designated Dark Sky sanctuary. Ojibwe, Dakota cultural astronomers and other experts share the wonders of the heavens. The documentary, which was co-produced by WDSE and Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education, also illuminates ways we can reduce the negative impacts of light pollution.

10 A.M. – 4 P.M. | ART EXHIBITION: DARK SKIES | JOHNSON HERITAGE POST ART GALLERY, GRAND MARAIS

From Nov. 17-Dec. 10, experience Dark Skies, an exhibit featuring the artwork of Adam Swanson and Sam Zimmerman.

2-3 P.M. | FOLLOW THE SEASONS-FOLLOW THE STARS WITH JIM KNUTSON-KOLODZNE OF NATIVE SKYWATCHERS PROGRAM  | JOHNSON HERITAGE POST ART GALLERY, GRAND MARAIS

A brief overview by Jim Knutson-Kolodzne (Ottawa) of Native Skywatchers Program of the Dakota and Anishinaabe tribal nations of Mni Sota Makoce (Minnesota). Discussions will center on how the moon and stars guided seasonal behavior, celebrations and movements of native people on Mother earth.

3-4 P.M. | SKYGLOW, SATELLITES AND SPACE JUNK: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE NIGHT SKY WITH JESSICA HEIM | JOHNSON HERITAGE POST ART GALLERY, GRAND MARAIS

For millennia, humans have observed the heavens: the night sky has been and continues to be important to people in cultures across the world. However, the skies are transforming before our eyes.  Light pollution – wasted light going up into the sky – is washing out our view of the stars.  Many people can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live, and light pollution is growing at an increasing rate.

Meanwhile, rapidly increasing numbers of satellites stand to irrevocably alter our view of the cosmos, with marked impacts on professional astronomers, living cultural traditions, and casual stargazers alike. This presentation by cultural astronomer Jessica Heim of Native Skywatchers will discuss these emerging changes to our night sky, as well as giving an overview of efforts underway to help address these challenges.

5:30 P.M. | DARK SKIES DINNER | JUSTINE’S DINING ROOM AT GUNFLINT LODGE, GUNFLINT TRAIL

Make your reservation for the three-course Dark Skies Dinner including Meteorite Crostini, Dark Skies Bourguignon and Black Forest Cake. See the menu details and call 218-388-2294 to make your reservation.

6:30 P.M. | STARGAZING PARTY WITH LOW LIGHT EXPERIENCES | MINK LAKE PARKING LOT, GUNFLINT TRAIL

There’s limited space, so sign up now to join the stargazing party with night vision monoculars! The group will meet up the Gunflint Trail some, so the light pollution should be relatively low, the illumination from the moon won’t be terrible, and hopefully the skies clear! $60 per person – sign up here.

6:30 P.M. | “SPIRITS DANCING – THE NIGHT SKY, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, & LIVING CONNECTIONS TO THE COSMOS” PRESENTATION BY TRAVIS NOVITSKY | GRAND PORTAGE NATIONAL MONUMENT HERITAGE CENTER 

Travis Novitsky will be doing a short (20-25 min) reading of some passages from his new book “Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, & Living Connections to the Cosmos”

7 P.M. | BOOK SIGNING AND MEET & GREET WITH TRAVIS NOVITSKY | GRAND PORTAGE NATIONAL MONUMENT HERITAGE CENTER

Meet Grand Portage-based astrophotographer Travis Novitsky and get a copy of his new book “Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, & Living Connections to the Cosmos” signed.

7 P.M. | STELLARIUM: TRACKING THE HEAVENS, PRESVIOUSLY, NOW, OR IN THE FUTURE WITH EMMA ADAMS | BOUNDARY WATERS HALL AT GUNFLINT LODGE, GUNFLINT TRAIL

Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center Dark Sky Committee Co-Chair Emma Adams will do a presentation using Stellarium and show segements of the documentary “Northern Nights, Starry Skies.”

8 P.M. | GUIDED NIGHT HIKE | GUNFLINT LODGE, GUNFLINT TRAIL

Join the resident naturalists at Gunflint Lodge for a nighttime hike, where you’ll venture up onto the hills and cliffs that overlook Gunflint Lake in order to have a fuller view of the starlit horizon.  For this hike you will be provided red flashlights, which do not disrupt the natural light sensitivity of our eyes, allowing you to adjust to the darkness much more quickly upon arriving at the destination. You will also be provided foam padding for stargazers to lay down comfortably while we soak in the sights above. During the hike and after arriving at our stargazing outpost, Gunflint Lodge naturalists will present some interesting stories, legends, and commentary about darkness, night skies, and constellations for your enjoyment. Come along for a once in a lifetime dark sky experience.

Reserve your spot for the guided night hike by calling 218-388-2294.

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SATURDAY, DEC. 9

8:30 A.M. -4:30 P.M. | DOCUMENTARY: NORTHERN NIGHTS, STARRY SKIES | GRAND PORTAGE NATIONAL MONUMENT HERITAGE CENTER

All day long, catch the documentary “Northern Nights, Starry Skies.” A visually stunning celebration of our spectacular starry skies above the world’s largest designated Dark Sky sanctuary. Ojibwe, Dakota cultural astronomers and other experts share the wonders of the heavens. The documentary, which was co-produced by WDSE and Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education, also illuminates ways we can reduce the negative impacts of light pollution.

10 A.M. – 4 P.M. | ART EXHIBITION: DARK SKIES | JOHNSON HERITAGE POST ART GALLERY, GRAND MARAIS

From Nov. 17-Dec. 10, experience Dark Skies, an exhibit featuring the artwork of Adam Swanson and Sam Zimmerman.

11 A.M. -12:30 P.M. | BOOK SIGNING AND MEET & GREET WITH PAUL BOGARD | DRURY LANE BOOKS, GRAND MARAIS

Meet author Paul Bogard, author of “The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light,” and get a copy of his book signed.

2 P.M. | DARK SKY DESIGNATED PLACES AND WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT WITH CAROLINE TORKILDSON | JOHNSON HERITAGE POST ART GALLERY, GRAND MARAIS

Caroline Torkildson with Starry Skies North, the Minnesota chapter of DarkSky International, will present the videos “Protecting Dark Skies” and “Dark Sacred Night” and discuss what a Dark Sky Sanctuary designation means and what dark sky communities are.

4 P.M. | IS IT THE END OF NIGHT? WITH PAUL BOGARD | STUDIO 21, GRAND MARAIS

 A starry night is one of nature’s most magical wonders. Yet in our artificially lit world, most of us no longer experience true darkness. In this talk based on his critically acclaimed book THE END OF NIGHT, Paul Bogard seeks to restore our awareness of the spectacularly primal, wildly dark night sky and how it has influenced the human experience across everything from science to art. Using a blend of personal narrative, natural history, science, and astronomy, Bogard shares the importance of darkness—what we’ve lost, what we still have, and what we might regain—and the simple ways we can reduce the brightness of our nights tonight.

4-6 P.M. | CULTURAL ASTRONOMY AND THE NATIVE SKYWATCHERS INITIATIVE – DAKOTA AND OJIBWE STARS | SURFSIDE BALLROOM & WAVES OF SUPERIOR CAFE, TOFTE

This program will discuss the importance of starry night skies across cultures, with a particular emphasis on D/Lakota and Ojibwe Star Knowledge.
Planisphere-making activity to follow presentation. Open to audiences of all ages. Learn more about Native Skywatchers.

6-9 P.M. | STAR PARTY WITH THE MARSHALL W. ALWORTH PLANETARIUM | SURFSIDE BALLROOM, TOFTE

Representatives of the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium are bringing their mobile planetarium to the Surfside Ballroom for a Star Party! Enjoy fun activities, presentations and telescope viewing. Star Party is open to all, no pre-registration is required.

6:30 P.M. | STARGAZING PARTY WITH LOW LIGHT EXPERIENCES | MINK LAKE PARKING LOT, GUNFLINT TRAIL

There’s limited space, so sign up now to join the stargazing party with night vision monoculars! The group will meet up the Gunflint Trail some, so the light pollution should be relatively low, the illumination from the moon won’t be terrible, and hopefully the skies clear! $60 per person – sign up here.

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ICYMI

GLOW is back, and brighter than ever! – St. Paul, MN