Health and Fitness
National Learn to Row Day 2026
Duluth Rowing Club presents hosts this opportunity to check out its facility, try rowing on a rowing machine and/or give rowing on the water a shot.
St Louis County Wear Orange Community Event
Wear Orange to raise awareness for gun violence prevention. There will be a few speakers to share actions we can all take to end gun violence. There will be informational tables including Be SMART, Moms Demand Action, grief counseling, suicide prevention, ERPOs and more. Enjoy free coffee, donuts, orange juice and oranges. We will ring a bell for the loved ones we’ve lost to gun violence including speaker Melissa Hortman. Remember to wear orange.
Adventure Book Club: Tree Trek
Author Stephanie Mirocha talks about her book Tree Trek: A Daughter’s Walk Through Grief during this outdoor event. In Tree Trek, Mirocha weaves together accessible tree identification with her deeply personal journey through grief, revealing how the natural world can serve as both companion and guide toward healing.
The discussion takes place at Fairmount Park next to Lake Superior Zoo and is followed by an optional one-hour hike led by Duluth Parks and Recreation.
Registration is required on the Parks and Recreation website.
Thunderbird Warrior Challenge 2026
The second annual Thunderbird Warrior Challenge in Bayfield is Wisconsin’s northernmost trail run and the only run with views of the Apostle Islands. The event features 50k, 25k and 10k trail run options and a 5k run with obstacles. There are also games, entertainment and activities throughout the day.
The run courses feature a mix of rolling trails, technical singletrack and panoramic vistas of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands. Runners explore diverse terrains, including old-growth maple stands and sandy pine forests, with challenging climbs and descents through glacial topography. Notable highlights include passing the historic Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area and taking in views from Mt. Ashwabay.
The challenge kicks off at 6 a.m. with the 50k trail run, followed by the 25k and 10k races at 8 a.m., and a 5K fun run and obstacle course at 9 a.m.
This event is also a chance to honor veterans and first responders, with discounts for those groups and free entry for active-duty military personnel.
All proceeds from the event benefit Camp Benesi and Mt. Ashwabay Outdoor Recreation Area.
Camp Benesi is a nonprofit recreational getaway for veterans and Gold Star families who are grieving loss or dealing with the effects of military service. Created in honor of MSGT. Jonathan J. Dunbar, who was killed in action in 2018, Camp Benesi’s mission is to provide a safe and peaceful retreat for its guests to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and connect with others who share similar experiences. It offers free lodging, meals and activities at no cost to its guests.
Mt. Ashwabay is a nonprofit ski and recreation area dedicated to promoting outdoor activities and community engagement throughout the greater Chequamegon Bay area.
On-site (primitive) camping is available for those looking to immerse themselves in the event and the beautiful natural surroundings.
John S. Werner Memorial 5K Run-Walk 2026
St. Louis County Historical Society and its Veterans Memorial Hall hold an annual 5k run/walk to honor the memory of Command Sergeant Major John S. Werner. The start time is 9 a.m. with a short ceremony at 8:45 a.m. The entry fee is $35. Runners can register via runsignup.com.
Dave Anderson of Northern News Now and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the master of ceremonies.
CSM Werner was committed to the mission of St. Louis County Historical Society and to veterans. He was steadfast in his work to preserve the storied lineage of local veterans so their memories remain a lasting part of the fabric of the community.
Proceeds benefit the programs of SLCHS’s Veterans Memorial Hall, including the society’s annual Remembrance Dinner, the Mike Colalillo Scholarship, VMH’s “History in a Pint” programs, Veterans Day commemorations and improvements to Medal of Honor Row at the St. Louis County Depot.
Yoga & Beer with Madeline of Runa Yoga
An hour of yoga followed by an Earth Rider beer every second Sunday through October.
Tickets are available at runayoga.com
Community Sound Bath
Halcyon House hosts a community-focused sound bath on the second Sunday of each month. Participants can bring a yoga mat, pillow, blanket or anything to help get cozy on the floor for an hour of relaxation.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Participants are invited to hang around afterward to share tea and stories.
Registration is available at ticketleap.com.
Hartley Sustainability Workshop Series
This workshop series aims to connect community members with local environmental experts to instruct about local environmental challenges and solutions shaping the region. Workshops take place on the third Thursday of each month and will run through July 2026.
Whipper Snapper Races for Kids 2026
Whipper Snapper kids’ races are held each year in Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park on Grandma’s Marathon weekend. These races are free and open to children ages 14 and under. All participants receive a ribbon at the completion of the race.
The free short-distance races are a way to introduce kids to running or keep the fire burning bright for future marathon finishers.
A festival sponsored by the Young Athletes Foundation features activities for the kids, including a bounce house, climbing wall, face painting and balance bikes.
Schedule
2 to 5 p.m. – YAF Festival for Kids
2 to 3:30 p.m. – In-Person Registration
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Whipper Snapper Races
Starting Times and Race Groups
3:30 p.m. – Mascot races
3:45 p.m. – Ages 4 and younger
4:15 p.m. – Ages 5-6
4:40 p.m. – Ages 7-8
4:50 p.m. – Ages 9-14
Pre-registration information is at grandmasmarathon.com.
Grandma’s Marathon 2026
The 50th annual Grandma’s Marathon is a 26.2-mile race on scenic Highway 61 along the north shore of Lake Superior. It begins just outside of Two Harbors and finishes in Duluth’s Canal Park.
The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon begins at 6:15 a.m. on the edge of Duluth’s city limits and follows the regular marathon course through the heart of Duluth.
The full marathon starts at 7:45 a.m. The winner should cross the finish line around 10 a.m.
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.
Yoga & Beer with Madeline of Runa Yoga
An hour of yoga followed by an Earth Rider beer every second Sunday through October.
Tickets are available at runayoga.com
Hartley Sustainability Workshop Series
This workshop series aims to connect community members with local environmental experts to instruct about local environmental challenges and solutions shaping the region. Workshops take place on the third Thursday of each month and will run through July 2026.
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.
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.
Yoga & Beer with Madeline of Runa Yoga
An hour of yoga followed by an Earth Rider beer every second Sunday through October.
Tickets are available at runayoga.com
Lake Superior Community Health Center Duluth Block Party
Lake Superior Community Health Center Duluth hosts its annual free block party as part of National Community Health Center Week. The event features food trucks, live music, dogs for adoption from PJ’s Rescue and more,
Tables are set up for various services offered at Lake Superior Community Health Center, and there are opportunities to enter drawings.
Bog Bathing: Sensory Immersion in the Wetlands Workshop
This two-hour, slow, sensory-rich immersion experience is inspired by forest bathing principles, adapted specifically for the unique wetland ecosystem of Sax-Zim Bog by Amelia Chapman, Friends of Sax-Zim Bog host/naturalist and Mental Health Practitioner. Participants are guided through intentional practices to slow down, attune to the landscape and experience the bog as a co-regulator for their nervous systems. This is profoundly slow and sensory-focused — not a typical nature walk. Participants might only cover a short distance, stopping frequently to truly receive what the bog offers. The group explores how trees exist in relationship and communication with each other, and practice feeling the capacity for co-regulation with the living world. All invitations are optional; participants practice listening to their own body’s wisdom.
The cost of this event is $30 for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members and Minnesota Master Naturalists. The $40 for nonmembers fee includes a membership.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 1 p.m. The workshop concludes at 3 p.m.
Ecstatic Dance Duluth
Ecstatic dance is free-form movement inspired by music. The Ecstatic Dance Duluth group holds dances on the second Friday and last Sunday of each month from September through May. The focus is on exercise without a nightclub vibe.
Ecstatic Dance Duluth dances offer a sober, non-guided, non-judgmental space to explore moving to music, in whatever way feels right, in the company of other humans doing the same. The group gathers to move on a wood dance floor to an 80-minute eclectic playlist, different for each dance, that starts slow, revs up to high energy, then cools back down.
Send an email to ecstaticdanceduluth @ gmail.com to receive invitations to Ecstatic Dance Duluth events. Check the Ecstatic Dance Duluth Facebook page for up-to-date information about last-minute cancelations due to weather, etc.
Yoga & Beer with Madeline of Runa Yoga
An hour of yoga followed by an Earth Rider beer every second Sunday through October.
Tickets are available at runayoga.com
Ecstatic Dance Duluth
Ecstatic dance is free-form movement inspired by music. The Ecstatic Dance Duluth group holds dances on the second Friday and last Sunday of each month from September through May. The focus is on exercise without a nightclub vibe.
Ecstatic Dance Duluth dances offer a sober, non-guided, non-judgmental space to explore moving to music, in whatever way feels right, in the company of other humans doing the same. The group gathers to move on a wood dance floor to an 80-minute eclectic playlist, different for each dance, that starts slow, revs up to high energy, then cools back down.
Send an email to ecstaticdanceduluth @ gmail.com to receive invitations to Ecstatic Dance Duluth events. Check the Ecstatic Dance Duluth Facebook page for up-to-date information about last-minute cancelations due to weather, etc.
Yoga & Beer with Madeline of Runa Yoga
An hour of yoga followed by an Earth Rider beer every second Sunday through October.
Tickets are available at runayoga.com