North House Folk School’s Unplugged returns with a new format, offering free music, crafts, and community
Sep 22, 2025 09:36AM ● By Content Editor
Local musician Barbara Jean Myers joined Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst on stage for part of the set on Friday. Barbara Jean played a Saturday night set with Mike Lewis. All photos by Tryg Solberg
By Tryg Solberg - Boreal Community Media - September 22, 2025
North House Folk School hosted its popular fall event “Unplugged” this past weekend in Grand Marais. With a different format this year, a variety of entertainment options, live music, craft demonstrations, an artisan marketplace, local food, and a fundraising dinner kept visitors well entertained. Goldie’s food truck and free pie on Friday evening kept visitors well-fed. Saturday morning brought more entertainment, live music, free ice cream, craft demonstrations, and an artisan marketplace.
Unplugged is an important weekend for North House’s fundraising efforts. This year’s Birch Bark Bash was the ticketed fundraising event on Saturday night. The proceeds of the weekend go towards future events, scholarships, youth programs, and more. An online auction ending on Saturday evening included a 12’x34’ timber frame from a 2025 class hosted by Peter Hendrikson and Andrew Albertson, which sold for $15,100. The shelter was set up in North House’s common area to be the fair-weather stage for musical guests.
The timber frame that was up for auction was set up for use throughout the event.
Friday night’s musical guests came all the way from Massachusetts to perform. Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst are both well-known touring musicians. The pair is married, but as Foucault mentioned, they rarely get the chance to play together. He described the performance as a date for them, but the show proved to be an excellent pairing of each artist’s talents. Their sense of humor kept attendees well-entertained in between songs. Local artist Barbara Jean Myers joined the couple on stage for part of the set as well.
Even with the weather not entirely cooperating, North House’s campus was buzzing with visitors from near, far, and of all ages.
The Blue Building was filled with a folk craft marketplace through the weekend, where local craftspeople could sell their handmade goods.
North House intern Marshall Boone cuts a mortise with a human-powered beam drill.
A willow basketry demonstration in the Mill Shop.
Schooner Charley, a 60-foot steel hull boat, sits next to North House's Hjordis. Both of which were available for sailing tours throughout Unplugged.
Former North House Folk School intern and current instructor Maeve Gathje sells goods during the Artisan Market.
North House offered excellent pie options from Crosby Bakery on Friday evening and ice cream from Superior Creamery on Saturday.
North House's red building was packed on Friday evening for the showcase musical performance by Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst.
Greg Wright, the executive director of North House, introduced the musicians and thanked guests for coming to the event.
North House's red building was packed on Friday evening for the showcase musical performance by Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst.
Foucault and Delmhorst perform their songs for the crowd.
