Events & Activities

'Tis the season to learn about winter living at Split Rock Lighthouse and the Christmas traditions of the 1930s. Explore our keeper’s home on a guided tour and help us decorate for Christmas at the lighthouse. Guests will have the opportunity to create a vintage ornament during their guided experience, which they can add to the tree in the keeper’s home or take home to hang on their own tree. Create a new family tradition by visiting Split Rock Lighthouse this holiday season!
Tours are offered every Saturday at 2:30 p.m. beginning November 30, 2024, and daily December 28 – 31.
Limit 10 people per tour.
Cost is $20/adult; $10/child; MNHS members save 20% off. Tickets www.mnhs.org/events

Have you ever wondered about all the shapes, sizes, and colors feathers come in? How do birds fly, anyway? How are owls so silent? Stop by the nature cart in the visitor center to learn about the amazing features of bird feathers!

Free parking is available in the wayside rest, the main lot.

Join Interpretive Park Naturalist on a tour of Gooseberry Falls State Park's major waterfalls. On this walk, you can see multiple views of Upper, Middle and Lower Falls. The tour covers about 2/3 of a mile on varying terrain, including over 200 stairs. Contact Mic for more details on the route and alternate options. Along the way you will learn how the waterfalls were formed and how Gooseberry Falls State Park came to be.

Depending on guests walking availability or strollers, guests may want to choose one waterfall or a combination. The whole route is a combination of paved paths, boardwalk and packed gravel, with chances to walk next to the river on rocky substrate.

Meet outside of the Visitor Center.

Join us for a fun night of live music, great beer, and good company!

Stop in and Listen to some Awesome Music!



FREE entry 21+

t's time to get ugly! Dress in your best Ugly Sweater and come listen to live music by Sidestreet Detour!
SILVER BAY LOUNGE
Music starting @ 8:00pm!!
Ugly Sweater Contest with prizes at 11pm
Drink Specials & Prizes
Stop in and Listen to some Awesome Music!
See YOU @ the SBL!
FREE entry 21+

Santa at the Lighthouse

Have you ever wanted an epic backdrop for your family photos with Santa Claus? Do you like donating to a worthy cause? On December 14 and 15, you can do both. With an item donation, you can get your photo taken with Santa against the backdrop of a wintry Split Rock Lighthouse. On both days, children ages 5-17 will be free. Adults can get in free if they bring an item to donate. All items donated are going to the Silver Bay Veterans Home.

Giving Guide for Silver Bay Vets Home:

Candy, disposable razors (3-blade), combs/brushes, toothbrushes, denture cleaner and adhesive, band-aids, men's aftershave (alcohol-free), lotion, shaving cream, nail files and clippers, toothbrush, body wash/shampoo/conditioner, deodorant/anti-perspirant, mouthwash (alcohol-free), gift card (McDonalds, Visa, Subway, Culvers), pajama sets and comfy pants (large), long-sleeve t-shirts (all sizes), sweatpants and shirts (large)

After meeting so many wonderful kids last year, Santa has made it a point to visit Split Rock Lighthouse again this year! Come meet Santa on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. On both days, children 17 and under are free. Adults can also explore the station grounds for free if they bring a donation to the Silver Bay Veterans Home. See the giving guide below.
Don’t forget to take your picture with Santa during your visit!
In addition to Santa, on Saturday, December 14, MNHS Press author John Coy will be on-site signing his book So Cold!

Rocky Wall Entertainment is pleased to present Gene LaFond and The Wild Unkown for a FREE Saturday night Happy Holidays concert at the Silver Bay Reunion Hall.
We are excited to launch our first winter Reunion Hall concert to celebrate the holiday season in Silver Bay.
Gene LaFond, who has made his home in Silver Bay since 2014, was a founding member of the band "The Mere Mortals" which, along with the late Larry Kegan, were invited to perform twice at Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit Concert in San Francisco. LaFond has opened for Bob Dylan, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Kinky Friedman, and has performed numerous sold-out concerts in the Midwest over the years with his band The Wild Unknown. Most recently he has been performing along the North Shore with his partner Amy Grillo.

Need to do some last minute holiday shopping? Join your local Vendors at the Silver Bay Lounge on Sunday, Dec. 15th from 11am-5pm.
Drink specials, snacks and more!
Shop local with your local vendors:
Cindy Rowlee- Pampered Chef
Lyz Wagner- Tupperware
Audrey Nelson- Scentsy
Debbie Ahlbeck- Paparrazi Jewelry
Donna McCurdy- Wolke- Avon & Color Street
Christine Althaus- Just Plain Sorrel Creations

Stop in the visitor center to uncover details about North America's most elusive and moose-sterious creatures found in our neck of the woods, the moose. Learn about their unique adaptations and characteristics and maybe you'll become a Moose Superfan.

Make sure not to be a Christmas grinch and miss the Bad Santa Christmas bash, where we are doling out prizes for the 'Best Christmas Outfit' and serving up naughty drinks like a hot peppermint patty and eggo-nog on the rocks.
Get ready for a night of unforgettable music as Indecent Proposal hits the stage at The Green Door in Beaver Bay, MN! Join us on December 21st from 7-11 PM for a mix of high-energy hits, crowd favorites, and a few surprises along the way.Whether you're a long-time fan or new to our sound, this night promises good vibes, great music, and memories you won’t forget. Bring your friends, grab a drink, and let’s close out the year in style. See you there!

Douglas County Mafia is BACK @ the SILVER BAY LOUNGE Friday (12/27/24) starting @ 8:00pm!!




Douglas County Mafia is a 4 piece band hailing from Superior Wisconsin. They play lots of 80’s rock and honkey tonk classics sure to get you out on the dance floor!




Stop in and Listen to some Awesome Music!



FREE entry 21+

Catherine Meier strives to create in visual artistic form artworks that speak to intricate, beautiful, and unseen understandings of land and place. In the end, she makes drawings and moving images that create spaces of quiet, deep stillness. Her work becomes the story of time told through the language of place. The drawings for this exhibition explore the edge-line of where rock, water, and sky meet, the diaphanous light and color that interplay between the lake and the sky, and the continually shifting appearance of the shores of Tettegouche State Park.

Catherine Meier is a fiscal year 2024 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Lace your own snowshoes in this two-day workshop. You will get all the instruction and assistance you will need to lace your own pair of Ojibwe-style snowshoes, from the knots to tie to the intricacies of weaving the three areas of decking on each snowshoe. The final varnishing of the finished snowshoes will be done at home.

Registration is required. Call Tettegouche at 218 353.8809 or visit the Park's online Events Calendar for more info. $190 for the snowshoes and bindings. Varnish is not included. Send us an email or stop in at the Visitor Center to reserve your spot! kurt.mead@state.mn.us

Winter travel over frozen rivers is a good way to see the landscape from a different and unique perspective. Wildlife use these natural corridors in the winter, leaving signs of their passage. Join the Park Naturalist for a guided snowshoe hike from the bridge up to the Cascades of the Baptism River. Participants may use a pair of our rental snowshoes (for free) or bring your own trusty pair. Loaner snowshoes will be available on a first come, first served basis, so please arrive a little early to get your pair. Should river ice conditions not be ideal (it will be scouted ahead of time) this hike will be moved to the lakeside trails in the Cart-In Campground. This event will be canceled if the temperature is below -10F. No fees. Please arrive ahead of time so that we can all leave together, especially if you need a loaner pair of snowshoes.

Hear live music from Soulhead @ the historic Green Door on Saturday (January 18th, 2025) starting @ 8:00 pm!!
Soulhead is a young Twin Ports-based energetic rock blues and funk group. They play classic covers with a twist and upbeat originals sure to get you off your feet!

FREE entry 21+

Join the Tettegouche State Park Naturalist and other staff for a one-day introduction to winter camping. We will build a traditional quinzhee, an insulated snowcave, for sleeping. Also covered will be topics such as cooking outdoors in the snow, tricks for staying dry and warm in the winter, and we will discuss some methods of transporting gear through the snow. This one-day workshop will cover everything you need to know about camping in the winter. Participants who CHOOSE to do so will be able to sleep in the constructed quinzhees and try out the skills they have just learned. Come for just a day of winter fun and learning, or make a weekend out of it. You choose. No bugs! No poisonous plants! Lots of fun! Please register by calling the Park Naturalist at 218 353.8809 or emailing kurt.mead@state.mn.us

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Sidestreet Detour @ the historic Green Door on Saturday (Feb 14th, 2025) starting @ 8:00 pm!!

FREE entry 21+

Join us for a day of winter magic with a Scandinavian twist! This free event offers something for everyone.

Outdoor Activities:

Play traditional games like Kubb.
Rumor has it there may be a Herring Toss or even Fish Bowling!
Guided snowshoe hike through snowy trails (limited snowshoes available—please bring your own).
Warm up with s’mores at the outdoor fireplace.
Indoor Fun:

Live music by the Scandinavian Trio will fill the air with Nordic charm.
Delight in Scandinavian folk stories during children’s story time.
Make your own troll.
Enjoy free popcorn and hot apple cider.
Afternoon Presentation:
Topic to be announced soon!

Food Truck:
Johnny B’s will be on-site with delicious food for purchase.

Come celebrate winter, Scandinavian culture, and the great outdoors with us! Mark your calendars!

Ice fishing is more than just staring down a dark hole in the ice! Whether you are a beginner or an experienced angler, join Tettegouche staff for a day of ice fishing on Lax Lake. All of the fishing gear you need will be provided for this experience, just come dressed for the weather and bring whatever food, water, and warm beverages you?ll need for the day. Park in the Lax Lake Road boat access lot and walk out to the big red tent across the lake.

Free!

Winter travel over frozen rivers is a good way to see the landscape from a different and unique perspective. Wildlife use these natural corridors in the winter, leaving signs of their passage. Join the Park Naturalist for a guided snowshoe hike from the bridge up to the Cascades of the Baptism River. Participants may use a pair of our rental snowshoes (for free) or bring your own trusty pair. Loaner snowshoes will be available on a first come, first served basis, so please arrive a little early to get your pair. Should river ice conditions not be ideal (it will be scouted ahead of time) this hike will be moved to the lakeside trails in the Cart-In Campground. This event will be canceled if the temperature is below -10F. No fees. Please arrive ahead of time so that we can all leave together, especially if you need a loaner pair of snowshoes.

Tettegouche hosts monthly, juried art shows in the Visitor Center. We hold a reception for these artists on the first Friday of the month.

This month we are showing artwork by Richard Love. Meet the artist. Eat some snacks.