The insanely popular National Gallery Nights return this fall on the second Thursday of each month, starting on September 14 and returning on October 12 and November 9. This year’s programs correspond to the themes “Block Party,” “Nightmare at the Museum,” and “Indigenous Futures,” respectively. 

Those lucky enough to get their hands on the event’s coveted tickets, which are free and granted through a lottery system, can expect evenings of music, performances, art making, and pop-up talks throughout the art museum, where food, gelato, and drinks will also be available for purchase.

But don’t worry if the odds aren’t in your favor—you can still get in on the artsy fun outside the museum. For the first time, and in an effort to include as many people as possible, the museum will provide non-ticketed programming outdoors on the 4th Street plaza. Additionally, like last year, the gallery will offer limited first-come, first-serve tickets at the door starting at 5:30 PM the night of each event.

Here’s a closer look at what to expect during each Thursday—plus, when to mark your calendar for lottery tickets. Alternatively, you can sign up for alerts here.

Block Party on September 14 

Lift your glass to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop—whose origin is pinpointed to August 10, 1973—during the gallery’s Block Party night. Outside the museum, The Missing Element, a music and dance group, will bring breakdancing and beat boxing to the plaza while Chalk Riot! and other local artists create street art and murals. Inside the museum, ticket-holders can enjoy performances by the Ladies of Hip-Hop Dance Collective and a dance party hosted by DJ Bizzy and DJ Little Bacon Bear.

The lottery opens on Monday, September 4, and closes on Thursday, September 7, at noon. Winners will be announced on Friday, September 8.

Nightmare at the Museum on October 12

Celebrate spooky season at the museum’s Halloween-themed party, during which museum staff will share haunted art stories. Forget a costume? Decorate and don your own masquerade mask instead or opt for some face-painting before heading to the dance floor for the Monster Mash. Outside the museum, watch a screening of Ghostbusters, which will be accompanied by a live, remixed soundtrack, courtesy of DJ 2-Tone and a part of the SHAOLIN JAZZ’s Can I Kick It? series.

The lottery opens on Monday, October 2, and closes Thursday, October 5, at noon. Winners will be announced on Friday, October 6.

Indigenous Futures on November 9

Corresponding with the gallery’s exhibition The Land Carries Our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans, Indigenous Futures night will explore how native peoples are influencing the present and shaping the future through gallery talks and a performance from Native Alaskan artist of Tlingit and Unangax̂ ancestry Nicholas Galanin. Known for blending music with art and touching upon themes of environmental justice, Galanin will perform electro-soul pieces under his alias Ya Tseen, which means “be alive” in Tlingit. As part of the event, guests can also make their own art inspired by nature.

The lottery opens on Monday, October 30, and closes Thursday, November 2, at noon. Winners will be announced on Friday, November 3.

Assistant Editor

DULUTH — Whether you’re ready for romance, ready to rock or just “Confused,” the Twin Ports have activities for you to enjoy this week.

The annual juried Art in Bayfront Park festival hits the harbor Saturday and Sunday. Expect over 100 artists working in various disciplines including, not to be forgotten, the culinary arts. This year’s commemorative poster features a design by Minneapolis artist Barret Lee: “a friendly yeti painted over a collage of historic Duluth newsprint,” as the event’s

website

explains.

For information on the free festival, see

artinbayfrontpark.com.

Richard Linklater’s 1993 film became an instant classic not just for its depiction of high school culture in the psychedelic ’70s, but for its affectionate portrait of a generation coming of age in a disillusioned era. The movie’s ensemble cast includes a number of actors who would become well-known, including Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich and Parker Posey. It’s Matthew McConaughey, though, who steals the show, playing a 20-something who just can’t leave high school behind.

The film has had a cultural impact well beyond its $8 million box office take. “The Pelican Brief” netted nearly $200 million the same year, but don’t expect any 30th anniversary screenings of that one.

For tickets and information on Wednesday’s “Dazed and Confused” screening at Zeitgeist, see

zeitgeistarts.com.

Minneapolis residents have grown to love “ArtCars”: automobiles customized with whimsical trappings. They’re seen in an annual parade through the Mill City, and now they’re coming north for a weekend of fun in Silver Bay. The festivities start with a Thursday discussion forum at Reunion Hall, continues with a Friday “sneak peek” at City Center Park and culminates in an ArtCar Beach Bash at Black Beach. The bash will include crafts, activities, competitions and food vendors.

For details, see

artcarparade.com.

Last year’s inaugural Twin Ports Music Festival came together spontaneously, when a bluegrass jam west of St. Cloud was canceled and several acts regrouped for a concert in Superior. This year, the festival returns with a two-day lineup at Earth Rider Brewery. On each day, Saturday and Sunday, one act holds down the Cedar Lounge while four more rotate through the outdoor Festival Grounds stage. Artists include the Cactus Blossoms (6 p.m. Friday) and Serbian American blues performer Ana Popovic.

For details and tickets, see

twinportsmusicfestival.com.

All the memes, all the CGI, all the Jeff Goldblum chuckles couldn’t have made “Jurassic Park” a smash hit 30 years ago without the soaring score of John Williams. On Saturday, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra is going big, performing the entire score live while the film screens in Symphony Hall. Jason Seber, a gifted conductor known for bringing orchestral music to accessible contexts, will hold the baton for the highly anticipated show.

For tickets and details, see

decc.org.

Can you believe it’s only been a dozen years since Castle Danger Brewery opened in its namesake North Shore community, serving 13 local establishments and selling growlers three nights a week? Today, having moved to a larger facility in Two Harbors, Castle Danger is the Northland’s largest brewery, with plenty of reason to celebrate. Water Cat, Big Wave Dave and the Ripples, A Band Called Truman and Woodblind will play a free (“and family friendly!”) party at the brewery Saturday.

For details, see

castledangerbrewery.com.

Bookstore Romance Day isn’t about falling in love with a bookstore, though bookworms may well swoon at the sight of their favorite indie retailer. The national event is a celebration of romance fiction: one of the most popular book genres and yet one that’s still commonly stigmatized.

On Saturday, Zenith Bookstore will be hosting Duluth author Tashia Hart (“Native Love Jams”) and offering artisan chocolate bars to buyers of “Blind Date with a Book” wrapped packages. See

zenithbookstore.com

for details.

Meanwhile, the Bookstore at Fitger’s is hosting author Julie McElwain (of the Kendra Donovan series) on Saturday, then Heidi Shertok (“Unorthodox Love”) on Sunday — plus offering “the biggest Blind Date with a Book you can imagine, quizzes, games” and, yes, chocolate. See

facebook.com/fitgersbooks

for details.

Arts and entertainment reporter Jay Gabler joined the Duluth News Tribune in 2022. His previous experience includes eight years as a digital producer at The Current (Minnesota Public Radio), four years as theater critic at Minneapolis alt-weekly City Pages, and six years as arts editor at the Twin Cities Daily Planet. He’s a co-founder of pop culture and creative writing blog The Tangential; he’s also a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance. You can reach him at jgabler@duluthnews.com or 218-279-5536.