Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park celebrates its 50th anniversary!

Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park celebrates its 50th anniversary!

Image: John Keefover

Jesse Gates of Voyageurs Conservancy shared how the park’s nonprofit partner is celebrating on April 8th, on the actual anniversary and throughout the summer.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS — Voyageurs National Park is turning 50.

Minnesota’s only national park was established April 8th, 1975.

The parks also share the conservation efforts of writer and environmentalist Sigurd Olson, who, though more often associated with the BWCA, is credited with naming Voyageurs.

Olson was one of the founders of the Voyageurs Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of the national park. Founded 10 years before the park’s creation, the group aimed to preserve the Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point lakes region.

The Conservancy is leading the celebration of Voyageurs National Park’s 50th anniversary.  The organization will held a  virtual presentation of the park’s museum collections in the National Park Headquarters in International Falls, where visitors can see artifacts and archival materials in person.

Jesse Gates is an education specialist for Voyageurs Conservancy.
Voyageurs Conservancy
Jesse Gates is an education specialist for Voyageurs Conservancy.

But Jesse Gates, an education specialist for Voyageurs Conservancy, said the celebration doesn’t stop there.

“We have a lot of programs going throughout the entire year. We’ll have National Park Week, birthday brewery party, we’ll have limited merchandise, prints, we’ll have a photo contest, we’ll have a scavenger hunt, we’ll be celebrating our new visitor center that’s opening in Crane Lake, we’ll be at the Minnesota State Fair,” Gates said.

“So, we’ve got a lot of things going on.”

Based in International Falls, Gates came to the park as a ranger to help create its dark sky programming not long after Voyageurs became a certified International Dark Sky Park. It and the Boundary Waters are the only such places in the state.

“I educate about why dark skies are so important, mentioning to both the public and to students ways that we can reduce light pollution and enjoy the beautiful dark skies, which Voyageurs National Park is renowned for that,” he said.

Gates often works with students or the next generation of the park. He said it’s important to get kids invested in nature early. He said children have a natural curiosity about the resources Voyageurs aims to protect, like

plants and animals.

Students on a field trip at Voyageurs National Park.
Voyageurs Conservancy
Students on a field trip at Voyageurs National Park.

“I lead field trips and get them to appreciate Voyageurs National Park in hopes that they can love and appreciate this place that’s in their backyard and hope that they will become future stewards of the land,” Gates said.

Voyageurs is one of the least visited national parks in the country, and Gates said even many Minnesotans don’t know the state has a national park.

“I would encourage people to come up to the park and to enjoy your national park. National parks are for everyone,” he said.

“… We’re really excited to be celebrating the 50th birthday for Voyageurs. We have a lot of fun events and activities coming up that will honor five decades of adventure, connection and conservation.”

Where to Eat for Easter – Twin Cities, MN

Where to Eat for Easter – Twin Cities, MN

Courtesy of Mara

Spring for a festive Easter meal at one of these local restaurants!

Guthrie Theater’s upcoming season to include ‘Little Women’, other classics too! – Minneapolis, MN

Guthrie Theater’s upcoming season to include ‘Little Women’, other classics too! – Minneapolis, MN

A view of the Guthrie from Gold Medal Park. Photo by Mark Vancleave.

The Guthrie Theater has unveiled its 2025-2026 season.

The beloved coming-of-age drama “Little Women”, a Shakespeare tragedy and an acclaimed musical based on true events are among the shows that will take the stage at the Guthrie Theater in the upcoming 2025-2026 season.

The upcoming season will begin in September with a re-imagined take on the Henrik Ibsen classic, “A Doll’s House.”

The Pulitzer Prize-winning new play “Primary Trust” will begin performances in October, sharing with audiences a “hopeful story of courage” set in small town New York.

“A Christmas Carol”, the Guthrie’s longstanding holiday tradition, will begin performances November 8th.

“The Guthrie was founded on the belief that theater is essential to building connections with one another and the world, and our 2025–2026 Season of enduring classics and electrifying new work is a beautiful reflection of that mission,” Artistic Director Joseph Haj said in a statement.

Haj will direct the family drama “Somewhere”, which will begin performances in mid-December on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.

The dance-filled show examines the pursuit of dreams as it follows a Puerto Rican family in Manhattan in 1959, the year “West Side Story” toured the U.S. as the musical captured America.

Shakespeare’s haunting “Macbeth”, a thriller set in the English countryside, “Sleuth”, and Louisa May Alcott’s enduring “Little Women” are also planned.

The musical “Come From Away” will begin performances in June, telling the true story of 7,000 plane passengers diverted to small town Canada amid the September 11th terrorist attacks.

The season is set to conclude with the Noël Coward comedy “Private Lives.”

ICYMI

Big Easy flavors arrive in Minneapolis at Lagniappe

Lights, Camera, Savings! AFIE Early Bird, IFF tickets & more! – Minneapolis, MN

Lights, Camera, Savings! AFIE Early Bird, IFF tickets & more! – Minneapolis, MN

AFIE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
🎟️ Early Bird Pricing Ends April 10th! 🎟️Join us for an unforgettable industry experience! Take advantage of exclusive early bird savings and be part of a dynamic lineup of:✅Educational Panels
✅Interactive Workshop
✅Masterclass
✅Networking Mixer
✅Filmmaker Auditions
✅Industry ExhibitorsSee AFIE schedule and learn more here.
TICKETS

INTERCOLLEGIATE FILM FESTIVAL

Celebrate the Future of Film at IFF!

The Intercollegiate Film Festival (IFF) celebrates the creativity and talent of Minnesota’s emerging filmmakers, bringing their stories to the big screen as part of our vibrant statewide film community.

Highlights Include:
✨ Red Carpet Interviews & Photos
🎥 Film Screenings
🎤 Filmmaker Q&A Sessions
🏆 Award Ceremony

Don’t miss this incredible showcase of the next generation of storytellers!

Selected Films:
Acres by Ella Thomsen, Alike by Vianna Kovaciny, Back to Tempo by DJ Scheele, Be by Andy Sirianni, and Can’t Live Without by Micah Clark. Also featured are Capsule by Xiaoying Qu, Don’t Slip Up by Mackenzie Diggins, La Frontera by Paola Guerrero Abrego, Predictable by Aubrey Connett, Resonance by Caleb Welsch, Say Rape by Ashley Dahl, Threshold by Matthew Sherrard, and Thick Skin by Danielle Russell.

TICKETS

MNMICRO FILM FESTIVAL: AAPI

SAVE THE DATE – 05/14/25

The final installment of the MNmicro Film Festival is happening on May 14, 2025, celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with five inspiring films!

Join us for:
✨ Red Carpet Interviews
🎥 Film Screenings
🎤 Post-Film Q&As
🎉 Celebration Mixer

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!

LEARN MORE

AFIE EXHIBITOR SIGN-UP

Showcase Your Business at AFIE 2025! 

Become an industry exhibitor at the 2025 Actor & Film Industry Expo (AFIE) on May 3rd! We’re looking for photographers, acting coaches, voiceover professionals, hair & makeup artists, videographers, writer workshops, and local businesses connected to the film industry.

AFIE is dedicated to elevating and uniting Minnesota’s film community—don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry professionals and showcase your services!

Check out last year’s recap video and learn more here.

SIGN-UP / LEARN MORE

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ICYMI

Steve Madden’s “House of Steve” Wants You To Have Fun With Fashion

Here comes the bride…and the groom!

Here comes the bride…and the groom!

Abby Champion, Patrick Schwarzenegger

 Patrick Schwarzenegger and Abby Champion are front and center for SKIMS’

Here comes the bride…and the groomPatrick Schwarzenegger and Abby Champion are front and center for SKIMS’ newest Wedding Shop collection. The engaged couple are photographed by Carin Backoff in the latest lacy and ruffled lingerie, briefs, silky boxers, sleepwear, corsets, and more from Kim Kardashian’s popular shapewear label. Rounding out the range are a selection of Bridal Swim pieces, perfect for brides taking a dip on their big day—or any part of their honeymoon. The label’s 24-piece collection is cast in romantic hues of pale blue, white, and black, perfectly matching any romantic pair…or their best-dressed guests! You can discover the full collection in SKIMS stores and on SKIMS.com when it dropped on March 20th.

Abby Champion, Patrick Schwarzenegger

All images: Carin Backoff

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Personalized Mr. and Mrs. Honeymooners Set (Black Mr. – White Mrs.)

ICYMI

MN Zoo’s Wild Nights concert series returns with Cloud Cult, Cactus Blossoms

 

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