Events Up North May 5-11: Fundraisers, book sale, river cleanup

Published May 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM CDT

Events this week include the Grace House grand opening in Grand Rapids, a Bemidji contra dance, theater auditions in Pequot Lakes and a plant sale in Virginia.

It's another busy week in Northern Minnesota. Here are some events to check out:

Spring Fever Pop-up Book Sale - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Area Library
Brown Bag author series - noon at the Brainerd Public Library. Minnesota author Mary Seifert will discuss her new book Maverick, Movies and Murder, the first in a new series.
100+ Women Who Care - Itasca Area - 6 p.m. at Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids
Room 203 Welcome Week - 6 p.m. in Room 203 at Old Central School in Grand Rapids. Fire in the Village hosts a bingo night.
Spring Thaw release party and reading - 7 p.m. at the McMahon Student Center on the Grand Rapids campus of Minnesota North College.

Charlie Maguire presents "Going to Bartalina: Songs & Stories of Commercial Sailing on the Great Lakes" - 2 p.m. at Aurora Public Library
Room 203 Welcome Week - 6 p.m. in Room 203 at Old Central School in Grand Rapids. Fire in the Village hosts a game night.
Auditions for Willy Wonka, the Musical - 6 p.m. at Pequot Lakes High School Auditorium. Roles available for those in third grade through adults.

Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning's program on the Honeyberry Farm - 9:30 a.m. at the Fosston Embassy Community Center
Charlie Maguire presents "Going to Bartalina: Songs & Stories of Commercial Sailing on the Great Lakes" - 2 p.m. at Virginia Public Library
Charlie Maguire presents "Going to Bartalina: Songs & Stories of Commercial Sailing on the Great Lakes" - 5:30 p.m. at Cook Community Center
Room 203 Welcome Week - 6 p.m. in Room 203 at Old Central School in Grand Rapids. Fire in the Village hosts a movie night.

Adopt a River cleanup - 9 a.m. at Veteran's Park in Grand Rapids. Help clean four miles of Mississippi River shoreline. Bags, gloves and refreshments provided. Dress for the weather.
Charlie Maguire presents "Going to Bartalina: Songs & Stories of Commercial Sailing on the Great Lakes" - 10 a.m. at Mountain Iron Public Library
Grace House grand opening - 1 p.m. at the newly renovated Grace House in Grand Rapids
Crossing Arts Alliance 25th anniversary celebration - 5 to 7 p.m. at Sage on Laurel in Brainerd
Auditions for Willy Wonka, the Musical - 6 p.m. at Pequot Lakes High School Auditorium. Roles available for those in 3rd grade through adult.
Room 203 Welcome Week - 6 p.m. in Room 203 at Old Central School in Grand Rapids. Fire in the Village hosts "Crow-aoke."

Charlie Maguire presents "Going to Bartalina: Songs & Stories of Commercial Sailing on the Great Lakes" - 2 p.m. at Hibbing Public Library
Room 203 Welcome Week - doors open at 6 p.m., music at 7 p.m. in Room 203 at Old Central School in Grand Rapids. Fire in the Village hosts musician S. Carey.
Bemidji Symphony Orchestra open house - 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at their new office space on Minnesota Avenue, between Wild Hare and Headwaters Music & Arts
Roast pork dinner to benefit Headwaters Lakes Area Chapter of Let's Go Fishing - 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Park Rapids American Legion. $15 per person.

Spring plant sale - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Olcott Park Greenhouse in Virginia. Proceeds benefit the Olcott Botanical Garden and Metsa Memorial Garden.
Charlie Maguire presents "Going to Bartalina: Songs & Stories of Commercial Sailing on the Great Lakes" - 10 a.m. at Eveleth Public Library
Bemidji Contra Dance - 6:30 p.m. at Rail River Folk School. Dance to live music from the O'Neil Family Band. No experience or partners needed. All ages welcome.

Monthly breakfast buffet - 9 a.m. to noon at Buck Lake Community Center, located 12 miles north of Nashwauk. This month's buffet celebrates mothers and Minnesota statehood with foods like Spam, wild rice and blueberries.

What's going on in your community? Let us know!

Events Up North is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.