October 25 and 26 saw Lake County experiencing the natural beauty of the night sky through the Superior Dark Sky Experience. Hosted by Starry Skies North, the Minnesota chapter of DarkSky International, the Superior Dark Sky Experience offered attendees a chance to learn more about light pollution and the importance of dark sky preservation.
The events of Friday, October 25 were held at the Mary MacDonald Building in Silver Bay. At 3:30 p.m. Todd Burlet, president of Starry Skies North and delegate for DarkSky International, kicked off the events with a talk about Dark Sky and answered questions from attendees. According to the schedule, “The only thing Todd loves more than talking about and advocating for Dark Sky is getting others fired up about it!”
At 4:30 Tettegouche State Park Naturalist Kurt Mead spoke about how light pollution affects wildlife and how citizens can help protect wildlife from light pollution’s harmful effects. Some of those changes to reduce light pollution include using shielded lights and turning off unnecessary lighting.
The 2023 documentary Northern Nights, Starry Skies, co-produced by PBS North and Hamline University Center for Global Environmental Education was shown at 5:00. It featured starry skies, cultural astronomers, and ways to reduce light pollution. This was followed by an open discussion and Q&A, as well as a summary of the next day’s events.
The events of Saturday, October 26 were held at the Finland Community Center. Again at 3:00 p.m. Todd Burlet welcomed attendees. Author and photographer Travis Novitsky spoke next about the importance of night skies to the Ojibwa and Dakota cultures and his new book, Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, & Living Connections to the Cosmos. According to his Amazon biography, Novitsky is a “lifelong resident of the north shore of Lake Superior” and a “nature and wildlife photographer living in Grand Portage, Minnesota.”
From 4:00 to 6:00 on Saturday, Friends of Finland and the Finland Food Chain served Booya, hot dogs, and chips. The Silver Bay Public Library also had take and make dark sky crafts: scratch off space themed bookmarks, coloring pages, and a cool night sky painting project for children, and astronomy kits featuring books and binoculars available to check out from the library. Library Director Shannon Walz said, “It was such a great event with amazing speakers, an awesome film and it was so cool to look through the telescopes and night vision goggles on Saturday night.”
Northern Nights, Starry Skies was shown again, followed by a panel discussion Q&A. Travis Novitsky shared about the Superior Dark Sky Experience Q&A session in a Facebook post: “Then, last night, I was an honored guest once again, this time for Lake County’s Superior Dark Sky Experience in Finland, MN. I shared a presentation of my work and there was a screening of the Northern Nights, Starry Skies documentary followed by the longest Q&A session that I have participated in so far. I am always amazed at how much interest there is around the subject of dark skies. I am continually humbled by the impact that my work is having on others, and grateful for the seemingly endless support that you all send my way.”
Kurt Mead revisited light pollution’s impact on wildlife, and then it was time for the anticipated “Intro to Night Sky Photography”. Led by photographers Andy and Jill Beim, attendees learned how to capture the Milky Way and Northern Lights on camera in an indoor class and outdoor hands-on workshop.
At 7:00 p.m., the night closed with telescope and night vision stargazing. A campfire and s’mores were on site, and a musician, Bump Blomberg, performed for attendees at the event.
Amy Grillo shared her thoughts on the event: “I was encouraged by the genuine interest and questions regarding ‘So, what is Dark Sky?’ Folks want to know. We are the gateway to one of the largest Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world! Grateful for the community and local businesses that hopped on board to support Dark Sky!!”
Todd Burtlet added, “I was impressed by the local businesses that joined the festival by offering dark sky specials. The community is clearly interested in protecting Silver Bay’s dark skies.”
Many local businesses offered themed specials during the Superior Dark Sky Experience. Black Beach Inn of Silver Bay had a “Dark Skies Rate Special” and North Shore Area Partners held a Dark Sky Painting Workshop October 22. Food and drink establishments joined the dark sky theme as well. Two One Ate offered Northern Lights Dark Chocolate Ice Cream, Zoe’s Pizza had a Dark Sky Pizza, Northwoods Grill featured a Dark Sky Bourbon Burger, and Tracks and Racks served a Dark Sky Poutine. Our Place, the Green Door, and the Silver Bay Lounge had themed drinks (Dark Beer, Leinenkugel Dark Lager or Obbnik Aurora Waters Gin Cocktail, and Dark and Stormy, respectively).
To learn more about Starry Skies North and DarkSky International, visit starryskiesnorth.org. Be sure to take some time throughout the year to stand amazed at the glorious display afforded us along the North Shore and across our region.
