Family Fun and Youth-oriented
UMD Planetarium Show: Out There: The Quest for Extrasolar Worlds
For thousands of years, mankind thought the Earth was the center of the Universe. It is now known that planets like Earth are nothing special in the cosmos. The Sun is just one ordinary star among hundreds of billions in the Milky Way galaxy. With the world’s most powerful telescopes, humans are able to explore more and more of the universe. What has been found so far has surpassed even the wildest expectations of scientists as well as authors of science fiction. Most stars have planets — it turns out they are more common than thought. A huge diversity of different worlds is out there, just waiting to be discovered.
Each show is followed by a live presentation of the night’s sky.
Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for senior citizens ages 60 and up, kids ages 3-12 and University of Minnesota Duluth students; and free for kids age 2 and under. Tickets are available at tickets.umn.edu or at the door. UMD students are required to show their student identification for the discounted admission.
Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Food and drinks are not allowed in the planetarium. Proof of purchase must be ready to show at the door.
Park Point Art Fair 2026
The 54th annual Park Point Art Fair is an outdoor visual arts showcase featuring more than 100 juried artists working in clay, photography, painting, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, wood and glass. Held at the Park Point Recreation Area, rain or shine, the event offers the chance to meet the juried artists showing and selling fine art and craft, while enjoying live music, food venders and more.
The event is presented by the Park Point Community Club. Proceeds support youth, environmental and civic projects in the community. Admission and parking are free.
Forces of Flight with the Duluth Children’s Museum
Children and their caregivers can learn about the science of flight from Duluth Children’s Museum representatives during this event by hearing a story and making and testing paper airplanes and gliders.
This program is sponsored by Anderson-Claffy American Legion Post 109.
Teen Open Studio
Students ages 13–17 are invited to explore their creativity at the Duluth Art Institute’s Lincoln Park Building during spring sessions of Teen Open Studio. Attendees can bring headphones and creative ideas; art supplies are provided, but students can also bringing their own.
A $50 registration fee covers all 26 sessions, which run from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April 2 to June 30. Attending every session is not necessary. Registration is available at duluthart.org.
Mount Rushmore, Amelia Earhart and Escape Rooms
Historical reenactors present interpretations of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and Amelia Earhart on Independence Day at the Bong Center after the Fourth of July Parade. Additionally, there is a Mission Marge Escape Room presented by Escape Room Parties.
Admission to the center is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $10 for students ages 12-17, $8 for children ages 6-11 and $5 for military veterans.
Dragonflies and Damselflies Field Trip
This field trip will focus on seeing and catching adult dragonflies and damselflies. All ages and ability levels are welcome. Extra nets and hand lenses are available for those who would like to use them. Registration is required.
The Golden Ticket: A Celebration of Aging Carnival
A celebration of growing older with joy and laughter during which attendees can enjoy games, health and wellness activities, a classic car show, live entertainment, food trucks, educational speakers, bingo and more. Presented by The Northland Aging Care Network.
Registration for the free event is available at eventbrite.com.
Movies in the Park: Apollo 13
The Downtown Duluth organization presents Movies in the Park at Leif Erikson Park every Friday at sunset from mid-July to August. Start times differ slightly each week due to adjust for the sunset. All of the selected movies are family-friendly and rated PG or PG-13.
Fix-it Clinic
Whether it’s cracked, torn, stained, missing a piece or just not working properly, broken things can be made good as new with the right skills and tools. WLSSD has partnered with Duluth Folk School and Duluth Makerspace to host regular events where people can learn how to fix their stuff. Volunteers specialize in a variety of repair skills, including electronics and small appliances, woodworking and furniture, watches and jewelry, clothing and upholstery, sports and outdoor gear, ceramics, artwork and more.
People can sign up in advance to be paired with a skilled volunteer or volunteer their skills to help fix other folks’ stuff. For more information or to register visit wlssd.com/fix-it or call 218-722-3336. Walk-ins are welcome but not guaranteed a time slot.
Fix-it clinics are held on the second Saturday of alternating months.
Summer Camp: DIY Room Décor with Tiffany Fenner
Kids ages 9–13 learn to make their rooms into the an artist space during this Duluth Art Institute summer camp. Campers complete a variety of papier-mâché and clay projects to decorate their space. Projects include clay coaster sets, shelves and oil diffuser beads.
Sessions are July 13-19 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $170 for DAI members and $210 for nonmembers. Registration is available at duluthart.org.
Girls Connected: An Outdoor Experience for Girls and Gender-expansive Youth
This weeklong experience is for girls and gender expansive youth entering grades 5-8 who seek to discover their inner strength and authentic voice in a supportive outdoor space.
Sessions are from 1 to 3 p.m. July 13-17. The cost is $120 for the weeklong camp. Registration and more information is available at svalja.yoga.
AAD Shrine Circus 2026
The Shrine Circus returns for its annual Duluth stop with two shows on July 13 and one on July 14. The all-new 2026 spectacular promises “three rings of magic” with animals, acrobats, magical illusions and “stunts that will thrill the entire family.”
Arrive one hour early for free pre-show fun with animal rides, giant inflatables, a circus train, face painting and hands-on activities for every age.
AAD Shrine Circus 2026
The Shrine Circus returns for its annual Duluth stop with two shows on July 13 and one on July 14. The all-new 2026 spectacular promises “three rings of magic” with animals, acrobats, magical illusions and “stunts that will thrill the entire family.”
Arrive one hour early for free pre-show fun with animal rides, giant inflatables, a circus train, face painting and hands-on activities for every age.
AAD Shrine Circus 2026
The Shrine Circus returns for its annual Duluth stop with two shows on July 13 and one on July 14. The all-new 2026 spectacular promises “three rings of magic” with animals, acrobats, magical illusions and “stunts that will thrill the entire family.”
Arrive one hour early for free pre-show fun with animal rides, giant inflatables, a circus train, face painting and hands-on activities for every age.
Park Point 5-Miler and 2-Mile Walk 2026
The 55th annual Park Point 5-Miler starts near the Park Point Pavilion. Participants run down Minnesota Avenue before finishing back near the pavilion. They have the choice of a 5-mile run or a 2-mile walk.
This is the last of three races in the annual KP Challenge, in which participants commit to three races throughout the spring and summer. The others are the Saint Fennessy 4K and Fitger’s 5K. The aim of the challenge is to help participants keep on a regular training schedule and consistently complete longer distance races. Net proceeds benefit the Young Athletes Foundation, a Grandma’s Marathon program focused on the promotion and development of youth athletics.
In celebration of its 50th year, Grandma’s Marathon is offering free entries for those ages 18 and under to each of the five Young Athletes Foundation races in 2026.
Adult Entry Fee Scale
Jan. 1 to May 15 – $20
May 16 to June 30 – $30
July 1 to race day – $40
Register at raceroster.com.
LLO Science on Deck
Scientists and staff of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Large Lakes Observatory invite the community to board and tour the Blue Heron research vessel on the Duluth Harbor behind the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The Science on Deck event is free and runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tours are provided by scientists, crew and students to provide an overview of the R/V Blue Heron’s layout and research capabilities.
This edition of Science on Deck is a collaboration with the Duluth Public Library for its “Libraries Love Lakes.” It offers interaction with graduate students working on freshwater research. In addition, lists of lake-related literature are provided and a special guest author gives a presentation at 1:30 p.m.
The Blue Heron is part of the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System and is chartered by research scientists to explore any of the Great Lakes. For more info visit scse.d.umn.edu.
Movies in the Park: Zootopia 2
The Downtown Duluth organization presents Movies in the Park at Leif Erikson Park every Friday at sunset from mid-July to August. Start times differ slightly each week due to adjust for the sunset. All of the selected movies are family-friendly and rated PG or PG-13.
Maxton Gudowski 5k Memorial Run/Walk
This year, all proceeds from online race registration will go to Cooper Community Care, a nonprofit organization based in Superior and dedicated to reducing the impact of poverty on local families and ensuring a more equitable education for all children in the community. There will also be a raffle on the day of the race, with proceeds going to Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center.
Meet in the Park 2026
Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative hosts the annual Meet in the Park to bring neighbors and community resources together to build social connectedness. The event features a two bounce houses, relay races, a mobile library, snacks and beverages, sidewalk chalk, water painting, face painting, Zoomobile, a five-senses exhibit, Big Red Bookshelf, basketball, nature play activities, resources, games, activities, giveaways, drawings and more.
Summer Cap: Soft Sculpture with Lauren Faherty
Through a variety of media, this class allows for 2D and 3D experimentation. Students can design a plush character, explore the basics of hand and machine sewing, and incorporate storytelling through comics and graphic drawing. The class is designed for ages 9–13.
The five sessions run July 20-24 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $170 for DAI members and $210 for nonmembers. Registration is available at duluthart.org.
Ready Set Grow
The Every Child Ready Duluth Coalition is bringing early childhood learning to a different community location every month. Parents are invited to play and learn with their little ones, meet other families and connect with community resources.
Light snacks are provided. Activities are geared to children ages 5 and younger but the whole family is welcome to participate.
Bugs at the Library
Discover the aquatic insects that live in Minnesota waters during this Nature Connect event. Participants have the chance to interact with live insects while learning all about their life cycles, adaptations, what they can tell us about water quality, and roles in the ecosystem.
This program includes live invertebrates in interactive touch tanks. It is for all ages and takes place in the Two Harbors Library Meeting Room.
Movies in the Park: Freakier Friday
The Downtown Duluth organization presents Movies in the Park at Leif Erikson Park every Friday at sunset from mid-July to August. Start times differ slightly each week due to adjust for the sunset. All of the selected movies are family-friendly and rated PG or PG-13.
Summer Camp: Patterns in Beadwork with Airlea Defoe
Instructor Airlea Indaniss DeFoe teaches students ages 9–12 how to make patterns in beadwork using color theory, drawing and counting. To develop these skills, students make beaded wall art that hangs down to create an image.
Sessions are July 27-31 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $170 for Duluth Art Institute members and $210 for nonmembers. Registration is available at duluthart.org.
Movies in the Park: Lilo & Stitch
The Downtown Duluth organization presents Movies in the Park at Leif Erikson Park every Friday at sunset from mid-July to August. Start times differ slightly each week due to adjust for the sunset. All of the selected movies are family-friendly and rated PG or PG-13.