Ely Dark Sky Festival

Host Business/Organization

Event Location

Event Cost

Event Date

Event Date

Event Name

Event Description

Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

Northern Grounds, Upstairs, 2 W Sheridan St, Ely

Free

Thursday, March 19

6:00 PM

Northern Lights 101 W/Elizabeth Miller

Are you new to Northern Lights? Join regional expert and avid photographer Elizabeth Miller as she talks about what the Northern Lights are, what causes them, and how you can experience the wonder and the challenge of chasing them for yourself

Brainstorm Bakery

402 E. Sheridan St

Thursday - Saturday

7 AM - 2 PM

Dark Sky Mocha and Muffin

Grand Ely Lodge

Evergreen Restaurant, 400 N. Pioneer Rd, Ely

March 19 to March 22

Mahi-Mahi Dinner

Mahi-Mahi, baked potato, choice of soup or garden salad, and dinner roll

Starbeam Bakery

Ely Community Center - Meeting Room, 27 S. 1st Ave E, Ely

Friday, March 20th

4:30 - 7 PM

Starbeam Dark Sky Pop-Up

Ely Public Library

224 E. Chapman St, Ely

Free

Friday, March 20

4:30 PM

Citizen Science and Dark Skies

Citizen science is a way for everyone to contribute data that researchers use to improve our understanding of the world. Learn about some current projects that you can contribute to- there are several that are related to the night sky that only require your time and a smartphone to let you help do things like record satellite streaks or measure light levels for five researchers' data for studies that they are currently working on.

Grand Ely Lodge

Grand Ely Lodge - Bear Den, 400 N Pioneer Rd, Ely

Free movie & seminar

Friday, March 20

5-7 PM

Dark Sky 101 with Jesse Gates

Join Voyageurs Conservancy's Education Specialist and NASA Solar System Ambassador, Jesse Gates, for an educational Dark Sky movie, Northern Nights - Starry Skies, followed by Jesse’s educational seminar.  You are invited to preorder dinner at the Grand Ely Lodge as carryout and dine during the movie.  Please allow the Grand Ely Lodge at least 30-minutes to fill your order.

Dark Sky Viewing

445 Fernberg Trail - Kawishiwi Falls Hiking Trail

Free

Friday, March 20

8 - 10 PM

Dark Sky Viewing

Join Voyageurs Conservancy's Education & Dark Sky Specialist and NASA Solar System Ambassador to learn about the winter stars above and the stories they hold. This beginner-friendly program invites you to step outside, explore key winter constellations and deep sky wonders, and learn how we can protect our view of the cosmos from light pollution. Bring a red light headlamp or flashlight. Arrive between 7:40 and 7:55 to aid with parking. If there is inclement weather, the viewing will move to Saturday, March 21, at the same time and location.

Ely Folk School

Meet at Folk School, 209 E. Sheridan St, Ely, travel to a nearby destination

$33/person

Saturday, March 21

10 AM - Noon

Animal Tracking in the Snow

This class focuses on being outdoors and practicing reading the stories told by tracks in the snow. We meet at the fire ring of the Ely Folk School and travel to a nearby destination to look for and study all the tracks we can find. Bring your curiosity, sense of wonder, and dress warmly! Register online, call, or stop by the Ely Folk School.

Ely Folk School

209 E Sheridan St, Ely

$33/person

Saturday, March 21

10 AM - Noon

Night Sky Photography

This class is for any photographer who looks up at the night sky in amazement and wants to capture its beauty. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced photographer, this class will teach you how to photograph the night sky, the Northern Lights, stars, and star trails.

Dorothy Molter Museum

2002 E Sheridan St - at the Museum

Free

Saturday, March 21

11 AM-3 PM

Dark Sky Festival Open House

Community open house with free admission all day (10-4), special outdoor dark sky and winter rec related activity stations, refreshments, warming fire (possibly)

Piragis Bookstore

105 N Central Ave, Ely

Free

Saturday, March 21

1-3 PM

From Sunspots to Auroras

Join Voyageurs Conservancy's Education Specialist and NASA Solar System Ambassador for a casual drop-in session to safely view the sun through our telescope. View sunspots and solar activity up close, and learn how the sun powers the dazzling northern lights. You’ll also hear about our dark sky programs offered throughout the year and how you can get involved in exploring and protecting the night sky. 

The Art Corner

The Art Corner, 301 W Sheridan St, Ely

$60/person

Saturday, March 21

5-7 PM

Needle-felt Dark Sky"Painting"

"Paint" your own nighttime scene using wool rovin, embroidery, and beads. Needle-felting is a fun and easy medium with beautiful results.

Ely Folk School

209 E Sheridan St, Ely

$63/person

Saturday, March 21

5-7 PM

The Northern Lights in Felt

Students will use a wet felting technique to create northern lights-inspired felts while learning a bit of the science of these amazing phenomena.

Timber Bay Lodge & Houseboats

8347 Timber Bay Rd, Babbitt

Free

Saturday, March 21

6:00 PM

Night Trek & Bonfire

Join us for a night walk through the tall pines, ending with a Bonfire. Enjoy hot drinks, s'mores, and a front row to the Milky Way.

Listening Point

Listening Point Cabin, Burntside Lake

Free - To register, visit: ListeningPointFoundation.org and Book a Tour

Saturday, March 21

7-9 PM

Sunset Hike at Sig Olson's Cabin

Experience the magic of the dark skies on a guided tour of Sigurd Olson's iconic cabin. Immerse yourself, gazing out at the sky from the dock, and hear about Sig's interpretations of the wilderness night skies.

International Wolf Center

1396 Hwy 169, Ely

$13/non-members & $12/members

Saturday, March 21

8-9:30 PM

Howling Safari

Learn about how wolves communicate. After, we will howl under the stars in hopes of a wild wolf pack's response.