Ely Dark Sky Festival
Join us in celebrating our incredible dark night skies with a variety of indoor and outdoor events. Learn about astronomy, astrophotography, winter recreation, and the wonders of the Northern night sky.

Schedule:

Friday, January 10, 2025

10:30 - 11:15 a.m: Preschool Story Time at the Ely Public Library (224 E Chapman St), Free, no registration required.
Starts Friday at 1:00 p.m: Honoring Your Inner Wild Woman 2-Day Retreat at the International Wolf Center (1396 MN-169), $225, register at InnerWildWomanStudio.com

3:00 - 5:00 p.m: Astronomy Science Stations at the Ely Public Library (224 E Chapman St), Free, no registration required.
1:00 - 3:00 p.m: Painting the Aurora Class with Cecilia Rolando at Ely Folk School (209 E Sheridan St), $34, Register at Elyfolkschool.org
4:30 - 7:00 p.m: Sunset Tours of Listening Point by Listening Point Foundation, $10, register at Listeningpointfoundation.org/events
5:00 - 6:30 p.m: Intro to Astrophotography Class with Marc Rassel and Les Conrad at Ely Folk School (209 E Sheridan St), $20, register at Elyfolkschool.org

6:00 - 8:00 p.m: Night at the Museum by the Dorothy Molter Museum (2002 E Sheridan St), Free, no registration required. Dress for the weather, historic cabins are not heated.

6:30 - 8:30 p.m: Dark Sky Trivia by Ely Trivia at the Boathouse Brew Pub (47 E Sheridan St), Free, no registration required.

6:30 p.m: Romeo and Juliet performance by NLAA at the Vermilion Fine Arts Theater (1900 E Camp St), $10-25 (tiered pricing), buy tickets at Northernlakesarts.org/the-great-nordic-shakespeare-festival

7:00 - 8:00 p.m: Winter Starbathing in the Northwoods by Meadowlark Meditation on the Trezona Trail (meet in Grand Ely Lodge Lobby, 400 N Pioneer Rd), Free, no registration required.

7:00 - 9:00 p.m: Dark Sky Dogsledding at Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge (1101 Ringrock Rd), Free. Space is limited, email [email protected] to reserve your spot.

8:00 - 9:30 p.m: Wolf Howling Safari in the Superior National Forest by the International Wolf Center (1396 MN-169), $11-13 (tiered pricing), register at Wolf.org.

Saturday, January 11, 2025

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m: Daytime Sidewalk Astronomy with Solar Telescope and Sun-Safe Glasses by Voyageurs Conservancy Outside Friends of the Boundary Waters (8 E Sheridan St), Free, no registration required.

12:00 p.m: Unlocking the Bard Shakespearean Workshop by NLAA at the Vermilion Fine Arts Theater (1900 E Camp St), $10-30 (tiered pricing), register at Northernlakesarts.org/the-great-nordic-shakespeare-festival

10:30 - 11:30 a.m: Nighttime Navigation in the Wilderness presentation at Friends of the Boundary Waters (8 E Sheridan St), Free, no registration required.

2:00 p.m: Shakespeare Unleashed Workshop by NLAA at the Vermilion Fine Arts Theater (1900 E Camp St), $10-30 (tiered pricing), register at Northernlakesarts.org/the-great-nordic-shakespeare-festival

12:30 - 1:30 p.m: Northern Lights for Newbies with Elizabeth Miller at Friends of the Boundary Waters (8 E Sheridan St), Free, no registration required.

2:30 - 3:30 p.m: Daytime Sidewalk Astronomy with Solar Telescope and Sun-Safe Glasses by Voyageurs Conservancy Outside Grand Ely Lodge (400 N Pioneer Rd), Free, no registration required.

3:00 - 4:00 p.m: Northern Nights, Starry Skies screening presented by Starry Skies North at the Grand Ely Lodge (Banquet room, 400 N Pioneer Rd), Free, no registration required.

1:45 - 2:45 p.m: Aurora Apps: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly with Elizabeth Miller at Friends of the Boundary Waters (8 E Sheridan St), Free, no registration required.

4:00 - 4:30 p.m: Astrotourism and Light Pollution presentation by Starry Skies North at the Grand Ely Lodge (Banquet room, 400 N Pioneer Rd), Free, no registration required.

4:00 - 6:00 p.m: Outreach Expo at the Grand Ely Lodge (400 N Pioneer Rd) with kids activities, story time, demos, and more!, Free, no registration required.
4:30 - 5:00 p.m: "Stary Party" Story Time by Polly Carlson-Voiles and Consie Powell at Grand Ely Lodge (400 N Pioneer Rd), Free, no registration required.
4:30 - 7:00 p.m: Sunset Tours of Listening Point by Listening Point Foundation, $10, register at Listeningpointfoundation.org/events

5:00 - 6:30 p.m: Outdoor Kids Activities and Constellation Identification by Ely Adventure School at Grand Ely Lodge (400 N Pioneer Rd), Free, no registration required.

6:30 p.m: Romeo and Juliet performance by NLAA at the Vermilion Fine Arts Theater (1900 E Camp St), $10-25 (tiered pricing), buy tickets at Northernlakesarts.org/the-great-nordic-shakespeare-festival

7:00 - 9:00 p.m: Moonlight Kicksled Adventure on the Trezona Trail by Ely Bike and Kicksled (125 N Central Ave), Free, no registration required.
7:00 - 8:00 p.m: Snowshoe Hike on Fall Lake by Friends of the Boundary Waters (Fall Lake Campground public landing), Free, no registration required.

8:00 - 9:30 p.m: Telescope Stargazing and Constellation Stories by Arrowhead Astronomical Society at Miner’s Lake boat landing (401 N Pioneer Rd), Free, no registration required., Weather permitting.

Date: January 10 - 11, 2025

Location: Various Venues in Ely, MN 55731

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