EVENTS
We organize a variety of fun events and educational programming throughout the year, including interactive workshops, guided recreational tours, kids’ day camps, live musical performances, and more. Any proceeds made from MDC events and programs are used to further our organization’s mission.
Check out a few of our fan-favorite events and programs below!
Fan-Favorite Events & Programs
Enjoy activities designed for the whole family! Engage with specialists and learn about a variety of topics, from geology to paleontology, spinning to weaving, and more!
Family Discovery Days happen year-round.
Learn about topics germane to Iron Range history and culture during these free evening talks!
The Research Center Presents talks happen in the fall, winter, and spring.
The outdoors is your classroom when you embark on a guided interpretive recreational tour! Learn about Iron Range geology, limnology, history, and culture, as you hike, bike, kayak, and snowshoe through the landscape.
Guided recreational tours happen in summer and winter.
Can’t make it in during the day? Join us on the last Thursday of each month to explore your family history during extended hours! Our research center staff is here to help you until 8:00pm.
Late Night in the Research Center happens year-round.
Family members of all ages love hunting for Easter eggs throughout our Museum! This yearly event typically features a petting zoo and a “kids dance rave,” too.
Easter Festival happens in the spring, typically in April.
Each year, MDC welcomes approximately 1,000 seventh-graders from across the Iron Range to engage in STEM learning activities. This event is made possible thanks to awesome presenters, diligent volunteers, and generous sponsors.
The Iron Range Science & Engineering Festival happens in the spring, typically in May.
Join us for an evening of educational fun in support of the mental well-being of our community’s youth. While you explore local mental health resources and chat with specialists about healthy living strategies, enjoy live music, yummy food, fun games, exciting prizes, and Ride MN BMX stunt shows.
Youth Mental Health Night happens in the spring, typically in June.
Our multi-day kids’ summer camps encourage kids to get their hands dirty while they learn about geology, paleontology, gardening, and more. Camp themes vary keep things fresh. Spots fill up quick!
Camp sessions happen in the summer, typically June-July with potential overflow sessions in August.
Join us for our free, lowkey live music series! Support your local musicians, eat scrumptious food, sip a cold drink, play yard games, and enjoy free Museum admission.
Bands, Brews, & BBQ sessions happen most Thursdays throughout the summer.
Our summer concert series celebrates music, culture, and the great outdoors in the Iron Range’s best open-air amphitheater. Our 2026 lineup includes The Band Perry (with opener Emily Ann Roberts), Wynonna Judd & Melissa Etheridge, and Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Experience (with opener Mae Simpson)!
Concert dates are typically scheduled for June and July evenings, pending artist availability.
Check out classic cars during the Iron Man Car Show! This event is held in collaboration with the Squires Car Club.
The Iron Man Car Show takes place in the summer, typically in July.
Hop in a canoe or kayak and cruise across the Old Glen Mine Pit Lake with MDC’s Executive Director, Char Conger! Afterward, gather around a campfire and exchange stories over a pint of beer.
Paddle & Pints happens in the fall, typically in September.
Over three days, MDC welcomes approximately 600 ninth graders from across the Iron Range for an innovative experience with the goal of changing the way our youth think and talk about mental health, in addition to providing them with tools and resources to utilize throughout the school year. If you are interested in supporting this event or having your school participate, please send a message to youthmentalhealthday@gmail.com.
Youth Mental Health Days happens in the fall, typically in September.
Join us for a night of fun, philanthropy, and discovery during the MDC Annual Gala! During this classy evening, we reflect on the past year and fundraise for the next year, all while enjoying live music, good food, and interactive activities.
The MDC Annual Gala happens in the fall, typically in September.
Ride our historic trolley through the beautiful fall foliage to the Glen Location pumpkin patch. Enjoy delicious fall treats and complimentary warm drinks, and bring your own pumpkin home!
Trolley Pumpkin Days happens in the fall, typically in October.
Solve a mystery during this kid-friendly, after-hours Flashlight Clueseum—that’s “Clue” (as in the board game) and “Museum” combined.
Flashlight Clueseum happens in the fall, typically in October.
Get scary with a Halloween-themed, 21+ Cocktail Clueseum! The mystery is tricky to solve, and costumes are highly encouraged.
Cocktail Clueseum happens in the fall, typically in October.
Support local businesses and artisans (and get your holiday shopping done) during the Holiday Chamber Expo & Artisan Market!
The Holiday Chamber Expo & Artisan Market happens in late fall/early winter, typically in November.
Show off how much of a know-it-all you are during Thursday Night Trivia! Who knew being a nerd could be so fun (or so delicious)?
Thursday Night Trivia Sessions happen throughout the fall and winter.
Enjoy a delectable dinner of special Valentine’s Day-fare, then cuddle up with your special someone as you watch a classic rom-com in the Theater.
Valentine’s Day Dinner & Movie happens in February, usually on the holiday itself.
Are you curious about ancient artifacts? Dig into the past with us! Learn more about the Iron Range’s human history during this fun, interactive, and informative day camp.
Are you curious about fossils? Each summer, join us for a multi-day camp where kids learn about paleontology, dig for real fossils, and even take home their own Cretaceous finds!
Enjoy activities designed for the whole family! Engage with specialists and learn about a variety of topics, from geology to paleontology, spinning to weaving, and more!
Discover who we are and what we offer at the Iron Range Research Center! Orientation tours are held all day on the second Saturday of each month.
Can’t make it in during the day? Join us on the last Thursday of each month to explore your family history during extended hours! Our research center staff is here to help you until 8:00pm.
Join us for our Bands, Brews, & BBQ live music series most Thursdays from 4:00pm to 8:00pm throughout the summer! Support your local musicians, eat scrumptious food, sip a cold drink, play yard games, and enjoy free Museum admission.
Ride our historic trolley through the beautiful fall foliage to the Glen Location pumpkin patch. Enjoy delicious fall treats and complimentary warm drinks, and bring your own pumpkin home! Check back in to see when 2026’s Trolley Pumpkin Days will be held.
Our summer concert series celebrates music, culture, and the great outdoors in the Iron Range’s best open-air amphitheater. Our 2025 lineup includes The Okee Dokee Brothers, Eli Young Band, and Killer Queen!
Each spring, join us for an evening of educational fun in support of the mental well-being of our community’s youth. While you explore local mental health resources and chat with specialists about healthy living strategies, enjoy live music, yummy food, fun games, exciting prizes, and Ride MN BMX stunt shows.
Over three days in September, MDC welcomes approximately 600 ninth graders from across the Iron Range for an innovative experience with the goal of changing the way our youth think and talk about mental health, in addition to providing them with tools and resources to utilize throughout the school year. If you are interested in supporting this event or having your school participate, please send a message to youthmentalhealthday@gmail.com.