As warmer weather slowly creeps into our region, the Cook County Community Center bustles with activity. It’s a great time to get out of the house, find an activity you’d enjoy, and meet some new friends. In this article, you’ll find a mix of spring programs led by Community Center staff, along with a roundup of free public events organized and hosted by independent community groups at the Community Center. Read on to discover what’s happening and how you can get involved.

 Our annual Community Rummage Sale takes place on Saturday, May 16, from 10 am to 3 pm. There is a thriving second hand economy in our area, and our neighbors come to sell all sorts of great items, from clothes to collectables, from gear to garage tools. It's a popular sale, as we host up to 30 vendors. If you’d like to sell at the sale, give us a call at 218-387-3015, or register at: cookcountymn.gov/CCRummageSale.

Also returning this year is our Youth Volunteer Program. If you have a child between the ages of 11 to 14, they have an opportunity to volunteer with community non-profit organizations this summer. In return for their hours of volunteering, they earn credits to apply toward a cultural or recreational activity of their choice. Families need to register their child, then attend the orientation night on May 21, from 4:30 to 6 pm where they’ll meet the organizations offering volunteer placements and select their top choices. Registration is available at: cookcountymn.gov/YouthVolunteer.

This month we are preparing for the start of the Grand Marais Farmers Market which takes place on Thursdays from 4:30-6 pm in the Community Center Parking Lot from late June through October. The Farmers Market is managed jointly by the Community Center and the local nonprofit Northwoods Food Project. If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the market, now is the time to learn more and register. Vendor information and registration are available at: cookcountymn.gov/FarmersMarket.

As the snow melts, the tennis and pickleball courts, as well as the Pappy Wright Ball Field, are once again emerging for the season. Registration is open now for summer T-ball, Parent Pitch, and Little Leagues as well as youth tennis and pickleball programs. These programs are managed by Community Education and registration is available at https://www.cookcountyschools.org/o/ce.

The Community Garden located at the Community Center hosts 39 garden plots, all of which are full for the 2026 summer season. Interested gardeners can get in touch with us to be added to the waiting list for future years.

We are a community gathering place that promotes wellbeing and social connection for people of all ages, all year round. We look forward to seeing you! If you are interested in hosting a private event here, you can learn more and submit a reservation inquiry on our website: cookcountymn.gov/CCFacilityRental. To stay informed about all the programs and activities over the summer, sign up for our newsletter at cookcountymn.gov/CCNews. 

Community events schedule for May:

Weekly events:

• Magic the Gathering card game nights: Mondays 4:30-9 pm. All skill levels welcome.
• Yoga class with Soteria Yoga: Tuesdays 4:15-5:15 pm. Donation based. This form of yoga emphasizes gentle, continuous motion and breathing, No experience necessary! Come weekly or drop in when you can. 

• LGBTQIA+ youth group for middle and high school students: Wednesdays 3-5 pm. Facilitated by Cook County Pride.
• Open dance nights with Angel Kelly: Wednesdays 5:30-7 pm beginning May 6th. Freestyle, Oula, and Flow dancing lets you experience the joy of movement, the love of dancing and connection. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your water bottle.

Other May events:

• Emergency Services Annual Conference: Friday and Saturday May 1st and 2nd. Free and open to the public. Registration available at: cookcountymn.gov/EmergencyManagement.  
• Friends of the Boundary Waters Birthday Breakfast: Thursday May 7th, 8:30-11 am. RSVPs requested to [email protected].
• Appalachian Jam music night: Thursdays May 7th and 21st, 7-9 pm. Bring your own instrument
• Restorative Justice Community Healing Circle: Saturday May 9th, 8:30-10:30 am. Join in the monthly Community Healing Circles where neighbors come together in a respectful, open-hearted space to share, listen, and support one another. These circles foster connection, inspiration and well-being.
• Master Gardener Program Onion Start and Seed Potato fundraiser pickups: Wednesday and Thursday May 13th and 14th. Pre orders only.
• Community Rummage Sale: Saturday May 16th, 10 am-3 pm. See details above.
• Ecstatic Dance: Monday May 25th, 6:30-9 pm. Freeform dance movement that encourages participants to break the conventional boundaries of movement and dance. The dance floor is a safe, no judgement space for playful dancing. No talking, no cell phones, and byo water bottle.
• Mobile Food Pantry: Wednesday May 27th, 1:30-2 pm. Hosted by Second Harvest and AEOA, prepacked food available to income qualifying households or anyone in need. Drive through set up.
• Good Harbor Hill Players Puppet Workshops: Begin last week of May, continuing through June. Puppet making workshops for the annual Summer Solstice Pageant. Dates and times will be announced at www.goodharborhillplayers.org.

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service