There is a Star Party and a Dark Sky Caravan happening this weekend in Grand Portage. Jesse Gates will help attendees learn about the constellations, and Travis Novitsky will provide field-based night sky photography instruction. The Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at UMD will bring the 9th annual Dark Sky Caravan with events scheduled for August 13-15. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is recognized as the second largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world. The Dark Sky Festival is scheduled for December 10 through 12, 2026, with new activities planned for the area this year.