Lowland Conifer Forest Plant Community Investigation
The Sax-Zim Bog is a network of habitats, but what makes those habitats so distinct from one another? Environmental conditions like precipitation and temperature help mold ecosystems, as do the soils and substrates that influence the plant communities. This field trip seeks out the beautiful lowland conifer forests the greater Sax-Zim Bog ecosystem is most known for. Participants learn how to define and better know Lowland Conifer Forest Plant Communities.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 3 p.m.
Introduction to Mosses Field Trip
Journey into the world of mosses on this introductory field trip discussing both the natural history and identification of this diverse and challenging group. Mosses are all around in the Sax-Zim Bog, and they make up an important part in both the creation and support of bog ecosystems. However, mosses and their bryophyte relatives can be difficult to identify. With a group of species that is hard to identify, it is always a good approach to start by learning the familiar and common species. This field trip uses this approach to help familiarize attendees with common mosses.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 2 p.m.
Tiger Beetles Field Trip
Tiger beetles are a colorful, yet overlooked group of beetles that are becoming quite popular to amateur entomologists and naturalists. The species is often found in gravel pits or open sandy areas. Their large eyes, bright colors and tenacious attitudes are something to experience. Participants in this field trip learn a little more about these colorful and fast predators. The trip will likely encounter all eight species of tiger beetle in the region, with a chance to document the final species present in the region.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at noon. The field trip concludes at 5 p.m.
Species Finding Field Trip: Grapeferns
With all the biodiversity in the greater Sax-Zim Bog ecosystem, seeing the uncommon, rare or difficult-to-find species can require special, targeted effort. This is the fourth of this year’s new, species-focused field trip series. The trip is focused on finding one of the coolest groups of ferns: Grapeferns! These little ferns are somewhat sensitive, but, oddly, they prefer disturbed habitats. This trip explores the species diversity of Grapeferns in the Sax-Zim Bog. Attendees can expect some hiking and lots of time on their hands and knees searching for these small and delicate ferns.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 3 p.m.
Concert in the Corn 2026
Day three out of four of Concert in the Corn features a lineup of Brantley Gilbert, Craig Morgan, Chris Kroeze, The Northwood’s Band and Hay River Sisters.
Concert and campground tickets can be purchased at concertinthecornwi.com.
Concert in the Corn 2026
The four-day Concert in the Corn in Mason, about 100 miles southeast of Duluth, kicks off with Johnny Wad, Nick Kuka and The Rocky Mountain Regulators.
Concert and campground tickets can be purchased at concertinthecornwi.com.
Fall Migration Field Trip #1
Migration in the fall season offers some fun but challenging bird watching in northern Minnesota, as many breeding species start to head south. One of the main challenges in Sax-Zim Bog during fall migration is the sheer abundance of habitat for these en-route birds. This is fantastic for the birds, but it can be quite difficult for the birders hoping to see them. This bird-focused field trip seeks to share some of what the Sax-Zim Bog has to offer and demonstrate how to best navigate the area during fall migration.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 8 a.m. The field trip concludes at 2 p.m.
Rocky Wall Benefit House Concert: Lolo’s Ghost
Lolo’s Ghost is spending a full weekend in Silver Bay, where they will be performing an up-close and personal show to help raise funds for Rocky Wall Entertainment.
The show is at a private residence, with 40 living room tickets and 20 deck tickets available. Attendees can park in the lot at the intersection of Mt. Rockwood Road and Rocky Wall Road. Silver Bay Shuttle is providing rides to and from the concert venue.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at zeffy.com. A portion of each ticket purchased is considered a tax-deductible donation to Rocky Wall Entertainment.
Galls and Leaf Miner Exploration Field Trip
This new field trip offers an introductory look into the weird, wonderful world of flies, moths and mites, and the often identifiable signs they create on plants. Explore and learn to start noticing the easily-overlooked evidence of these creatures on leaves, stems and branches. Hand lenses are available for use during the field trip.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 3 p.m.
The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers are marking the 30th anniversary of their landmark album, “Bringing Down the Horse” with a nationwide U.S. tour — making sure to stop at the Big Top.
The Wallflowers have drawn inspiration from a slew of first-generation American songwriters, including The Band and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They will not only be paying tribute to their own album by playing it in full, but are also set to play Tom Petty’s “Long After Dark” in its entirety.
Tickets can be purchased at bigtop.org.