Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

From North House Folk School, with photo contributions from Boreal Community Media - June 22, 2023

After a smokey start to the week on the North Shore, the skies cleared and the sun came out to kick off the 26th annual Wooden Boat Show at North House Folk School.

“What a joy it was to see the commons filled with boats and craft demonstrators once again, and to have so many friends and neighbors on campus,” said Executive Director, Greg Wright, “The boat show is like a big family reunion, and with so many community partners involved this year AND guests from Sweden celebrating their folk school’s 100th anniversary, it was like magic!”

Wooden boat builders and enthusiasts from across the Midwest were invited to display their crafts on campus throughout the weekend for the wooden boat display. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

Wooden boat builders and enthusiasts from across the Midwest were invited to display their crafts on campus throughout the weekend for the wooden boat display. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 Wooden boat builders and enthusiasts from across the Midwest were invited to display their crafts on campus throughout the weekend for the wooden boat display. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 Wooden boat builders and enthusiasts from across the Midwest were invited to display their crafts on campus throughout the weekend for the wooden boat display. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 Wooden boat builders and enthusiasts from across the Midwest were invited to display their crafts on campus throughout the weekend for the wooden boat display. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 Wooden boat builders and enthusiasts from across the Midwest were invited to display their crafts on campus throughout the weekend for the wooden boat display. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 Wooden boat builders and enthusiasts from across the Midwest were invited to display their crafts on campus throughout the weekend for the wooden boat display. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 Wooden boat builders and enthusiasts from across the Midwest were invited to display their crafts on campus throughout the weekend for the wooden boat display. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 A wooden skiff on display from the Cook County Historical Society. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

  A wooden skiff on display from the Cook County Historical Society. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 The Grand Marais Lions Club hosted their 11th annual BBQ fundraiser, which saw community members gather for a perfect summer evening by the harbor. North House also gave away 400 pieces of free pie made by the Blue Water Café. Photo: North House Folk School

 Community members and visitors wait in line for a brat or hotdog from the Grand Marais Lions Club. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 Free pie from Blue Water Cafe. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

  Free pie from Blue Water Cafe. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

On Friday night, the Grand Marais Lions Club hosted their 11th annual fundraising BBQ. At the same time, North House gave away 400 pieces of free pie made by the Blue Water Cafe—a perfect early-summer evening. The BBQ and pie social followed a talk by Christine Novotny about her travels in Scandinavia studying weaving and fiber traditions, and a screening of Matthew Baxley’s new film Rainbows in the Wilderness.

 Sätergläntan Visiting: A delegation from Sweden’s Sätergläntan attended the Wooden Boat Show in celebration of their 100th anniversary. The delegation spent over a week in Grand Marais, and enjoyed meeting many local community members during their visit. Photo: North House Folk School

 The crowd sings Happy Birthday in celebration of Sweden’s Sätergläntan, led by North House Folk School Director Greg Wright. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 A delegation from Sweden’s Sätergläntan attended the Wooden Boat Show in celebration of their 100th anniversary. The delegation spent over a week in Grand Marais, and enjoyed meeting many local community members during their visit. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 A community paddle/row/sail was held Friday evening. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 A community paddle/row/sail was held Friday evening. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

  A community paddle/row/sail was held Friday evening. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

  A community paddle/row/sail was held Friday evening. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

  A community paddle/row/sail was held Friday evening. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

  A community paddle/row/sail was held Friday evening. Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 The band warmed up before the start of the community Contra dance.  Photo by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

Saturday’s Lake Superior Chowder Experience raised $3800 in support of Empty Bowls Cook County, with the line stretching from the Blue Building all the way to Highway 61. “It’s a fantastic partnership with North House,” said Empty Bowls board member, Beth Kennedy. “They realized they had a unique opportunity to leverage their iconic event to address an important community need.” Special thanks goes to The Angry Trout, Birch Terrace, Bluefin Bay, Blue Water Cafe, Cascade Lodge, Cook County Co-op, Fisherman’s Daughter, Hungry Hippie Tacos, and Lutsen Resort for their donations to the event and the more than 225 people that participated.

 The Empty Bowls fundraiser saw over 225 people lined up across campus to experience incredible chowders from local restaurants and bread from North House’s wood-fired oven. Photo: North House Folk School

 Those at the Lake Superior Chowder Experience enjoyed a community lunch on the shores of the Grand Marais Harbor, and together raised over $3800 for Empty Bowls Cook County. Photo: North House Folk School

Saturday also featured craft demonstrations by guest instructors of the world-renowned craft school, Sätergläntan, located near lake Siljan in Dalarna County. Beth Moen highlighted traditional Swedish woodworking tools, Johanna Runbäck gave a presentation on Swedish folk dress, Susanna Ayton showed the process of transforming flax into linen, and Johan Säfström demonstrated traditional blacksmithing techniques.

 The Wooden Boat Show brought talented artisans of all kinds to the North House campus, and over 170 kids stopped by to try their hand at crafts with the Northwoods Fiber Guild. Photo: North House Folk School

 The weekend included many opportunities to experience traditional craft firsthand. Community members tried traditional flax processing, as taught by visiting instructor Susanna Ayton of Sätergläntan. Photo: North House Folk School

 Tons of opportunities to learn about different types of crafts. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

The weekend crescendoed with the beloved Solstice Pageant put on by the Good Harbor Hill Players, with new leadership from Olya Wright and Naomi Tracy-Hegg and many local youth participating. This year’s performance included record snowfall, the northern lights, and the amazing summer sun. One audience member exclaimed after the show, “It was so amazing, they were telling my story, and I don’t even know them!”  A recording of the performance will be available online soon.

 The Good Harbor Hill Players presented the 2023 Summer Solstice Pageant. See more photos here. Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

 Saturday evening brought the return of the beloved Summer Solstice Pageant. The North House campus was packed with spectators of all ages who came to see the inspiring performance put on by the Good Harbor Hill players. Photo: North House Folk School

North House also hosted free family crafts throughout the weekend in partnership with the North Woods Fiber Guild which brought YMCA Camp participants down Friday afternoon and welcomed over 170 kids to create fiber art, as well as origami versions of the Hjørdis, North House’s iconic sail boat.

Sunday morning was the featured speaker, Ted Bell, founder and owner of North Star Canoe, sharing his experience as a designer and paddler.

“We have come a long way over the years,” reflected Wright, “and it’s been made possible by the work of so many hands—from local businesses and community groups, to thousands of volunteer hours, and the generosity of many more. It truly takes a community to host a community event.”