Events Up North Sept. 14-20: Monarch butterfly festival in Bemidji, mental health walk in Grand Rapids

Published September 11, 2026 at 7:39 AM CDT

Events this week include a food truck festival in Virginia, a fern walk at Itasca State Park and an open house at Ripple River Gallery near Deerwood.

September is in full swing in Northern Minnesota! Here's what's happening:

Brown Bag Author Series - noon at Brainerd Public Library. Author Cary Griffith will talk about his latest book, Grizzly Narrows: A Sam Rivers Mystery.

Mesabi Trail ribbon cutting - 1-3 p.m. at Tower Depot Park in Tower. Celebrate 30 years of the trail and its recent completion.
Shaping the Nation history presentation - 2 p.m. at McIntosh Public Library. Doug Ohman will talk about 250 years of American history, with special attention on Minnesota events and contributions.

Itasca Community Connect - 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Yanmar Arena in Grand Rapids. Find a variety of community services such as employment assistance, housing assistance and mental health resources.
Open Garden - 1-4 p.m. at Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River
BLADE Recovery Walk - 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Park in Brainerd
Freedom of Information program - 5 p.m. at Kathryn A. Martin Library at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Hosted by Aaron Brown with panelists from the Duluth News Tribune, Minnesota Star Tribune and KAXE's News Director Chelsey Perkins.
Community Resilience Conversation - 5:30-7 p.m. at I.S.D. 318 Educational Services Building in Grand Rapids (former Southwest Elementary School). Register.
Star Party and Hike - 7:30 p.m. at Clay Boswell boat landing in Cohasset. This is part of Minnesota's Statewide Star Party.

Bean Bags for the Brave - 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Hibbing Memorial Building. Proceeds benefit United for Veterans.
Fern Walk - 2 p.m. at Itasca State Park. Meet at Forest Inn.
Minnesota Libraries Read Together - 4-6 p.m. at Bemidji Public Library. Silently read any book you choose together with community members.
Star Party - 7-10 p.m. at Paulucci Space Theater in Hibbing. This is part of Minnesota's Statewide Star Party.

Young Artists - 10 a.m.-noon outdoors at Bagley Public Library. Ages 5 and up can explore the art of Jackson Pollock. Wear clothes that can get messy!
Fall open house - Noon-3 p.m. at Ripple River Gallery near Deerwood. Meet artists, create your own art and take a walk in the woods while supporting Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation.
Revive Virginia Food Truck Festival - Noon-6 p.m. on Chestnut Street in downtown Virginia
Monarch Butterfly Festival - 1-4 p.m. at Headwaters Peace Center in Bemidji
Zion Lutheran Church 125th anniversary celebration - 6:30 p.m. concert with Pat and Donna Surface at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. Pie social to follow.

Zion Lutheran Church 125th anniversary celebration worship - 9:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids
Kaleva Hall's 120th birthday party - 2-4 p.m. at Kaleva Hall in Virginia
NAMI Walk - 2:30 p.m. registration, 3 p.m. walk at Klockow Brewing in Grand Rapids

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.