Northland Community Events
| Do you have a Community Event that you would like to have included? Send your announcements to: Community Events c/o WDIO-TV 10 Observation Road Duluth, MN 55811 Or email the details to Community Events. Send events at least 2 weeks in advance so WDIO.com can help spread the news. |
Sunday, January 19 – Saturday, January 25
- Saturday, January 25 – Candlelight 2025 with a Ski, Bike, & Snowshoe Event and Fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. at Hartley Nature Center, 3001 Woodland Ave. in Duluth. You’ll have multiple ways to experience the wonder of a winter evening in Hartley Park! Luminaries will light the night sky as you ski, snowshoe, or hike a candlelit loop. Explore the trails by headlamp on a fat tire bike, or kicksled, or go for a trail running adventure on a pair of Hoka demo shoes. Warm up with hot cocoa in the nature center. In addition, there will be a special fundraiser ticket with a catered dinner by New Scenic Cafe, drinks by Blackwoods Group Catering, and raffle with items donated by local businesses and more! Kids are welcome at all event options AND we are also offering a special Kids Night Out in the Park childcare option so kids can have their own magical wintery evening with the Hartley education team if parents would like to partake in all the festivities on their own! Limited tickets available! Advanced registration is required! Full Adventure Ticket Registration is $60, Explorers Ticket Registration are $15 and Kids Night Out Registration is $30. More details on at www.hartleynature.org
- Through Saturday, January 25 – Zeitgeist Theater’s presents ‘What The Constitution Means To Me’, by playwright Heidi Schreck. Fifteen year old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful and achingly human new play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives. All evening shows are at 7:30 with a matinee on Sunday, January 19 at 2PM. Performances on January 16, 17, 18, 19 & 22, 23, 24 and 25. Tickets: https://zeitgeistarts.com/theater/
- Friday, January 24 – Saturday, January 25 – The Lake Superior Ice Festival returns to Barker’s Island. This free, family-friendly event promises a weekend filled with fun activities, food and more. Festivities kick off at 5 p.m. Friday and conclude with a fireworks display at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. There is a giant snow slide, live ice sculpting, Disc Golf, Mini Golf, Kubb tournament, Ice Bowling, Snowga and more. Additional details at https://www.wdio.com/good-morning-northland/excitement-builds-for-the-annual-lake-superior-ice-festival/
- Friday, January 24 and Sunday, January 26 – Lyric Opera of the North continues its 20th anniversary season with the choral opera The Radio Hour at the St. Louis County Depot Main Stage in Duluth. Friday show is at 7:00 p.m., Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s choral opera The Radio Hour stars the LOON chorus with Christa Schulz as Nora. Tickets available at loonopera.org or by calling 218.464.0922.
Sunday, January 26 – Saturday, February 1
- Sunday, January 26 – Lyric Opera of the North continues its 20th anniversary season with the choral opera The Radio Hour at the St. Louis County Depot Main Stage in Duluth. Sunday show at 3:00 p.m. Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s choral opera The Radio Hour stars the LOON chorus with Christa Schulz as Nora. Tickets available at loonopera.org or by calling 218.464.0922.
Sunday, February 2 – Saturday, February 8
- Wednesday, February 5 – Black Woods Blizzard Tour in partnership with Never Surrender, Inc. begins the four-day event in Carlton. The Black Woods Blizzard Tour raises funds for ALS research, organizations providing services that empower people living with ALS to be more independent, and financial assistance for full-time family caregivers for those afflicted with ALS. Details: https://www.neversurrenderinc.org/site/TR?fr_id=1200&pg=entry
- Friday, February 7 – Sunday, February 9 – Winter Out West Weekend is packed with exciting activities for all ages. Opening ceremony features local leaders and special youth program with live entertainment at 6PM at Wussow’s, 324 N Central Avenue. Then explore the outdoors with winter walks, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. There will be fat tire biking, ice sculpting and a bonfire with s’mores and hot chocolate at Memorial Park. Indoor activities include book readings and meet the featured authors at Zenith Bookstore, watch the movie “Jumanji” at the West Theatre, there will be skating at Spirit Mountain. Plus the St. Louis River Alliance will hold a Winter Walk in the Starry Skies from 6:30-7:30p.m. at the Morgan Park Community Center. Additional details available at https://www.wdio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-poster-Winter-Out-West.pdf
- Friday, February 7, to Saturday, February 15 – University of Minnesota Duluth’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and Department of Theatre present an exciting new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” blending the timeless magic of the Bard with bold, original touches. At the Marshall Performing Arts Center Dudley Experimental Theatre, with evening showtimes and weekend matinees. ASL interpretation will be available at the Saturday, February 15 show. Feb. 7 & 8 at 7:30 PM , Feb. 9 at 2PM, Feb. 12, 13 & 14 at 7:30 PM and Feb. 15 at 2PM & 7:30 PM. Advance tickets are available at https://z.umn.edu/Tempest or 218-726-8561. Advance tickets $25 adult | $20 senior/UMD Faculty & Staff/Veteran | $10 all students. UMD students are also eligible for free rush tickets 30 minutes prior to a performance with a valid UMD student ID; subject to availability.
- Saturday, February 8 – The documentary “Duluth for Mandela: A Northland Celebration” produced and directed by Gerri Williams will be shown at AICHO’s Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center, 202 W 2nd St. in Duluth for free at 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Following the film screening, Williams and Fond du Lac elder Ricky DeFoe will be facilitating conversations on Indigenous resistance around the world and Mandela’s legacy through an Indigenous lens. “Duluth for Mandela” highlights the Duluth community celebrating Mandela’s life through art, music, dance, and educational programs.
Sunday, February 9 – Saturday, February 15
- Sunday, February 9 – Winter Out West Weekend continues with packed with exciting activities for all ages. Explore the outdoors with winter walks, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Indoor activities include book readings and meet the featured authors at Zenith Bookstore. There will be skating at Spirit Mountain from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Plus the St. Louis River Alliance will hold a Winter Walk in the Starry Skies from 6:30-7:30p.m. at the Morgan Park Community Center. Additional details and schedule of events available at https://www.wdio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-poster-Winter-Out-West.pdf
- Saturday, February 15 – Book Across the Bay Winter Carnival in Ashland! There will be a Craft & Wellness Market, live music, food trucks, snow sculpture contests, snowball launching competition, sledding hill, fireworks and more. Plus! The iconic Book Across the Bay race benefitting charities of the region. Over $200,000 has gone toward volunteer groups and charitable organizations. It is open to skiers and snowshoers of all ages and ability levels. The 10-kilometer course is groomed for both classic-style and skate skiing, and follows a route over the frozen surface of Lake Superior. The event is held at night and the course is lit by up to 1,000 candles in ice luminaries that line the entire route. Click to Register.
- Saturday, February 15 – Open House for the Iron Range Dog Training Club, Uptown Mall, 1401 S 12th Ave W in Virginia from 9:30 – 5:30 p.m. In August, the non-profit IRDTC had water damage from a leaking pipe in their building. They are working to raise $8300 plus shipping and tax to replace damaged mats. There will be demonstrations every half hour. Come learn about the club and meet the dogs. There will be a craft sale.