Festival

Lady's Slipper Celebration: Nature, History, Cultures and Arts Along the Byway

Click here to view the festival schedule.

Lady Slipper The Lady's Slipper Celebration is a festival that encompasses the time when the area’s lady’s slipper orchids usually bloom. The event celebrates the area’s natural environment-especially the beautiful, abundant showy lady’s slippers. The celebration also showcases the diverse arts of the area and the byway’s unique history and rich cultural heritage. The celebration is a two day event beginning Saturday, June 23rd in Blackduck and continuing on Sunday, June 24th at the Norway Beach Visitor Center, 4 miles east of Cass Lake.

LPTV Common Ground - Lady Slipper Festival in Blackduck, MN

What will be happening during the celebration?

On Saturday in Blackduck the celebration includes: tours of lady’s slipper sites, food, live music, and “Art around Town” featuring talented artists from the local area. Plan to tour and attend special programs at historic CCC Camp Rabideau, located 7 miles south of Blackduck.

On Sunday at Norway Beach Visitor Center the features the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig dance exhibition, singing and drumming group. The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is hosting a fish fry with a walleye and wild rice lunch. Nature hikes, nature photography and orchid presentations will be available.

For schedules and current status of the celebration, search for Lady Slipper Scenic Byway on Facebook. Activities, schedules and maps will be available at the celebration locations.

Things to Consider about Celebration Activities:

Seating at the Blackduck Wayside Rest is limited. Stay all day and listen to music and remember to bring a comfortable chair or a blanket.

For the next several years the Lady Slipper Scenic Byway will be undergoing construction. Check the “Construction Alert” link.
Because this is a nature-focused event, please remember that nature does not set its’ schedule to our convenience. In the event of very bad weather some events and activities may have to be altered or canceled.

Concerning the orchid bloom, Showy Lady’s Slippers bloom near the celebration targeted dates, but weather conditions and temperatures can cause peak blooming to vary by a week or two. You will be assured of seeing lady’s slipper plants, and if they are not at the peak of blooming, we should be able to find blossoms where local conditions are either warmer or cooler than the area in general. That’s nature!

Artists who have registered by phone may use paypal or download the printable form to remit registration fee. See below.

Legacy Program This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.