Itasca’s Music Under the Pines Series for July

 

Itasca’s Music Under the Pines: Trad & True

Sunday, July 12, 6-7:30 PM

Lake Itasca Amphitheater (Forest Inn if raining)

Trad & True return to the Music Under the Pines stage, playing old-time tunes from the era of front porch and barn dance entertainment on fiddle, banjo, guitar, harmonica, and more! Summer concerts are sponsored in partnership with the Friends of Itasca State Park.

 

Music Under the Pines: Jim and Molly Bauer

Sunday, July 19, 4-5:30 PM

Held inside Forest Inn (near Douglas Lodge)

This duo has a long-standing tradition of performing on the Music Under the Pines stage. Come sway and sing along to a fun mix of folk, folk-rock, and campy favorites. Summer concerts are sponsored in partnership with the Friends of Itasca State Park. The Friends will host an ice cream social at this event.

 

Music Under the Pines: Mark Fogelson

Sunday, July 26, 2026, 6-7:30 PM

Lake Itasca Amphitheater (Forest Inn if raining)

Mark Fogelson is a storyteller at heart, captivating audiences with original, nature-inspired folk songs that are equal parts heartwarming, humorous, and thought-provoking. Summer concerts are sponsored in partnership with the Friends of Itasca State Park.

 

July We Are Water Nature of Science Programs, Water Wise Talks, and Wellness by Water Programs

 

Five Facts in Five Minutes: Focus on Field Science

Friday, July 17, 2026, from 1-2:30 p.m.

Near the Mississippi Headwaters (under the porch of the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center if rain.)

Only have a minute to learn about Itasca State Park? As you visit the Headwaters of the Mississippi River, stop by the nature cart to visit with this week’s special guest, Dr. Beatriz Baselga-Cervera, Assistant Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota and explore the hidden world of freshwater microorganisms. Although they are often invisible to the naked eye, microorganisms are essential engines of freshwater ecosystems – supporting food webs, driving critical nutrient cycles like nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon, and shaping the health of lakes, ponds, and rivers.

This event is part of We Are Water at Itasca, coordinated by the University of Minnesota’s Itasca Biological Station and Itasca State Park.

 

Wellness by Water: Yoga by the Lake

Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 10- 11 a.m.

Meet in the picnic grounds by the Lakeside Museum.

Relax and unwind with Yoga by the Lake, catered to all ages and levels of physical fitness! Enjoy nature while benefitting from yoga as the calming view of Lake Itasca and the towering pines overhead center you.

Notes: Participants should bring a mat, blanket, or beach towel and should wear comfortable clothing. Led by personal yoga trainers. All levels welcome. Following the yoga program check out the “We are Water” traveling exhibit located inside the Lakeside Museum. The exhibit is from June 18-August 10, 2026.

 

Wellness by Water: Watercolor Painting in Nature

Friday, July 24, 2026, from 2-3 p.m.

Meet at the picnic shelter in the picnic grounds. 

Let’s get creative! Come paint next to Lake Itasca and become inspired by the beauty of Itasca State Park. Enjoy the benefits of being outside with our Wellness by Water program.  Following this family-friendly program check out the “We are Water” traveling exhibit located inside the Lakeside Museum. The exhibit is from June 18-August 10, 2026.

 

Wellness by Water: Sound Bath

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 from 3-4 p.m.

Meet in the picnic grounds by the Lakeside Museum.

A sound bath is a relaxing listening experience where participants are “bathed” in the sound waves produced by instruments such as singing bowls, gongs, and chimes.  Bring a blanket, chair or yoga mat and enjoy the familiar sounds of Itasca with some new additions.  This is a listening activity only with a focus on creating calm and relaxation for session participants.

Following the sound bath program check out the “We are Water” traveling exhibit located inside the Lakeside Museum. The exhibit is from June 18-August 10, 2026.

 

Waterwise Science Talk: Protecting Manoomin (Wild Rice), Protecting Water and Everyone

Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 7-8 p.m.

Meet at the Biome Center, University of Minnesota- Itasca Biological Station (along Main Park Drive).                                                                                               

Join the Itasca Biological Station for this public seminar co-presented by Zhaashiigid Nooding (Ojibwe knowledge-holder from the White Earth Nation Reservation, Red Lake Nation citizen) and Crystal Ng (settler hydrologist, professor at University of Minnesota). Manoomin (in Ojibwe), or natural Wild Rice, is an aquatic plant that is central to the cultural identity of Indigenous peoples throughout the Upper Great Lakes region. Tribal harvesters also hold generations of understanding about the natural and human factors that influence its well-being. Zhaashiigid Nooding and Crystal Ng will share their collaboration story of bringing together Indigenous knowledge and western science to protect Manoomin, an endeavor that protects all the water and human and non-human beings around it.

 

 

We Are Water Loon Afternoon Event

 

Itasca’s Presenter’s Under the Pines: Loons- A History of a Minnesota Icon with Steve Maanum

Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 1-1:45 p.m.

Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom.

Join guest presenter and storyteller, Steve Maanum as he takes you on a photographic journey into the lives of the Minnesota state bird. Come learn about the daily habits and behaviors of loons.

 

Loon Bingo

Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 1:45- 2:30 p.m.

Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom.

Let’s play Yodel – the loon version of Bingo! Play for prizes and learn about loon habitat, predators, and prey!

 

Waterwise Science Talk: The Minnesota Loon Restoration Project

Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 2:30-3:15 p.m.

Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom.

Learn how the Minnesota Loon Restoration Project is helping loons thrive through habitat protection, nesting platforms, and volunteer monitoring. Join MN DNR Loon Program Coordinator, Tim Mitchell, for a project update and discover how you can bring this citizen science effort to your lake.

 

Loon Calling Contest

Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Classroom.

Wooo-oooo! Wail, tremolo, yodel, and hoot – come win a prize and impress with your best loon call at our Loon calling competition! Sign up the day of the competition at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center.

 

 

Smokey Bear Day at Itasca!

Smokey Bear Day at Itasca!

Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center

Smokey Bear is back along with wildland fire fighters excited to share their experiences with fire in the forest.  All are welcome to learn about Minnesota’s forests, check out fire trucks and equipment, make a variety of forest crafts and much more. Don’t forget to have your picture taken with Smokey Bear! This come and go event will include many activities for all ages.

 

 

Naturalist Programs July 4-19

July 2026

 

Old Timer’s Cabin and the Civilian Conservation Corps

• Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 10:30 a.m.- Noon
• Monday, July 6, 2026, from 1:30-3 p.m.
• Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 10:30-12 p.m.
• Monday, July 13, 2026, from 1:30-3 p.m.
• Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 1:30-3 p.m.

Held at the Old Timer’s Cabin, located along the boardwalk of Dr. Roberts Trail, below Douglas Lodge, (come and go at your leisure)

Only 4 (massive) logs tall, learn more about this Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed building as well as what life was like in the CCC. Feel free to stop by at your leisure.

 

Five Facts in Five Minutes Series

Near the Mississippi Headwaters (under the porch of the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center if rain.)

• Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 10:30 a.m.- Noon—Minnesota’s State Symbols
• Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 2-3:30 p.m.—Turtles
• Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon—Red, White & Black: The Common Loon, Our State Bird
• Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon—Mysteries at the Headwaters
• Tuesday, July 14, 2026, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon—Wolves, Foxes, and Bobcats!

Only have a minute to learn about Itasca State Park? Check out a unique feature at the naturalist station as you visit the Headwaters of the Mississippi River.

 

Jr. Naturalist: Nature Photo Scavenger Hunt

Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 2-3 p.m.

Meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center.

Come join the naturalist as we learn the very basics of nature photography. Bring a cellphone or borrow a digital camera to test your newly learned skills as we head out on a short walk to find and photograph some of nature’s common sights. At the end you’ll be able to choose your favorite picture to print and bring home with you!

 

Outdoor Kids Series

• Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 1-2:30 p.m.—Fish Painting
• Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 1-2:30 p.m.—Nets, Buckets, Bugs, and More!
• Wednesday, July 15, 2026 from 2-3:30 p.m.—Animal Tracks
• Sunday, July 19, 2026, from 1-2:30 p.m.–Loons

Meet by the Swim Beach/ Playground (at the south end of the picnic grounds on Lake Itasca; come-and-go at your leisure)

Kids of all ages come out and explore nature at your leisure. This program series allows kids to connect with nature through hands-on activities that focus on life around the lake. Have fun discovering Itasca while hanging out at the swimming beach or playground.

 

Trees of Itasca, Walk

• Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 3-3:45 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 1-1:45 p.m.

Meet at the campfire circle by the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.

Interested in learning about the trees of Itasca? Want to know how to identify them yourself?  Join a park naturalist for a walk around the picnic grounds as we discover some of Itasca’s trees and how to identify them.

 

Nocturnal Animals, Campfire

Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 7-7:30 p.m.

Meet at the campfire circle by the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.

Come learn about some of the nocturnal creatures in Itasca State Park! Find out how these animals are adapted to use their senses to be active at night. We will have a campfire, so bring supplies if you would like to fix some s’mores.

 

A Site for the Ages: The Picnic Grounds

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 10:30-11:30

Meet at the Lakeside Museum in the Picnic Grounds

Have you ever had a picnic in Itasca State Park’s picnic grounds and wondered who had eaten a meal in the same place? What would their view have been? Who would they have seen? What kinds of activities could they have done nearby after lunch? Come along on a hike through this area to visualize and learn more about the buildings both past and present, the previous residents, and how the area came to be the picnic grounds. Feel free to bring a lunch to enjoy after the program’s conclusion in this historically rich area.

 

Mississippi Headwaters Mysteries Walk

• Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 1:30 – 2 p.m.
• Friday, July 17, 2026, from 11:30 – Noon

Meet at the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center.

Did you ever wonder: How did Lake Itasca get its name? Have those rocks always been there? Does the river ever freeze? Discover the answer to these mysteries about the Mississippi River and Lake Itasca as we walk to the headwaters.

 

Jr. Naturalist: Lookin’ at Leaves

Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Meet at the campfire circle by the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.

Come learn about trees and their leaves! We will learn why trees have leaves and which leaves belong to which trees! We will create a craft and go on a walk. Join us for lots of leaf fun!

 

Archery in the Parks

Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Meet in the back lot of the North Picnic Grounds/Burial Mounds Parking Area

Archery in the Parks is hands-on instruction shooting a bow and arrow from certified instructors in a safe and supportive environment. Aim for a family adventure with kid-friendly equipment designed for beginners aged 8 and older. Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Personal archery equipment is not allowed. All archery programs are free with a Minnesota State Parks vehicle entrance permit.

This is a come and go program. Participants will be outside for the program. Be prepared to stand in the sun. Bring along sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, insect repellant and water. Program cancelled if it rains.

 

Storytime in Nature- All about Water!

Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 11-11:30 a.m.

Meet by the campfire circle outside the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds (In between Lake Itasca and the picnic shelter)

Kids, do you like to read stories about nature and the outdoors? Join a naturalist volunteer as we enjoy reading stories outside. After the story, have fun making a craft together that you get to take home. NOTES: Adults must accompany children.

 

Family Fishing Fun

• Friday, July 10, 2026, from 10-11:30 a.m.
• Friday, July 17, 2026, from 10-11:30 a.m.

Meet at the Lake Itasca Fishing Pier, below Douglas Lodge.

Kids and adults, are you a ‘first time’ fisher person wanting to try the new skill of fishing? Learn to identify common fish species in Minnesota, do a craft, and have the chance to catch some fish. Suitable for ages 6-12.

NOTES: An adult must accompany children. Bring your own fishing pole or use one provided (limited number). Poles are available on first come first serve basis. Bait provided. Non-Minnesota residents will need a fishing license.

 

A Site for the Ages: The Douglas Lodge Area

Friday, July 10, 2026, from 1-2 p.m.

Meet in the Douglas Lodge Lobby.

Once proclaimed a “jewel set in mud,” Douglas Lodge is a point of pride in Itasca State Park and is Itasca’s oldest surviving structure. Join us on a walking tour around Douglas Lodge and its surroundings to learn more about this “jewel” and how the park developed the “mud” surrounding it into a hotspot of activity. Walk will be about one-third mile in length.

 

Jr. Naturalist: Animal Signs

Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 1:30-2 p.m.

Meet at the Lake Itasca Amphitheater.

Come explore some of the signs that wild animals leave behind. Search for clues that help tell the stories of the many critters from insects, birds, reptiles, mammals and more!

 

Itasca’s Mysteries in History: The Itasca Biological Station

Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Meet at the new Tester’s Hub located at the Itasca Biological Station (along Main Park Drive, watch for signs).

In 1907, the University of Minnesota began its first field classes in Itasca State Park, a tradition that continues today at the Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories. On this tour, you’ll uncover the rich history of this iconic site while learning about cutting-edge biological education and research that takes place here. Visit the Biome Center, a modern hub for current field classes, before stepping back in time to the site of the historic State Park House, where Mary Gibbs once lived in 1903. Along the way, you’ll also explore one of the rare National Youth Administration (NYA) buildings from the 1930s that still stands at the park, a reminder of the era’s impact on the station. The tour also follows the path of the 1920s-era Jefferson Highway, offering insights into how this historic route passed through the station and influenced the park’s development.

 

Jr. Naturalist: Wolves!

Friday, July 17, 2026 from 2-2:45 p.m.

Meet by the campfire circle outside the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds (In between Lake Itasca and the picnic shelter)

Come and join us to explore the fascinating world of wolves! Learn how wolves hunt, communicate, raise pups, and survive in the wild. Perfect for curious kids who love wildlife and want to learn all about the wild ways of wolves!

 

Jr. Naturalist: Mississippi Headwaters River Walk

Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 1-1:45 p.m.

Meet at the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center.

Kids and families, come walk in the water and explore the first stretch of the Mississippi River. This walk in the river will investigate and search for the critters and plants that live along this water trail.

Notes: Wear clothes that can get wet, wear water shoes to protect your feet. Water is quite shallow 1-2 ft in depth but may be deeper in some sections. Small children may need to have life jackets. Adults must accompany children.

 

Deer, Elk, and Moose Campfire

Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 7-7:30 p.m.

Meet at the campfire circle by the Lakeside Museum in the picnic grounds.

Join us sitting around the campfire and learn about the antlered icons of the north and how deer, elk, and moose have been involved in and around the park. You won’t want to miss this elk-lectric opportunity to discover these doe-lightful facts!  Bring your own s’more fixings and enjoy s’mores over the fire!