This May 24, Bob Dylan turns 77. His twin hometowns of Duluth and Hibbing, Minnesota, prepare to celebrate with live music, tours and cultural activities.

From May 19-27, the Duluth Dylan Festival brings something for fans of Dylan and the arts every day. The Hibbing Dylan Project also offers activities on May 19.

Some of you might remember that I was heavily involved in the Hibbing Dylan Days event when that was a going concern. We folded up a few years ago, but others have carried on Dylan-related programming in Duluth and Hibbing.

I still believe very much in the idea that Bob Dylan’s Northern Minnesota roots reflect something important about our history and culture.

Here’s the event schedule for the 2018 Duluth Dylan Festival and Hibbing Dylan Project:

SATURDAY, MAY 19TH

William Pagel Archives Bob Dylan Exhibit Opening Reception and John Bushey Memorial Lecture with David Pichaske, author of Songs of the North Country: A Midwest Framework to the Songs of Bob Dylan

6–8 p.m. | Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum | Free
Exhibit runs May 19–June 29

In Hibbing, the Hibbing Public Library Dylan room will be open for special hours 1-2 p.m. The Hibbing Historical Society Museum will also be open special hours from 1-6 p.m. From 2:30-4:30 the Hibbing Dylan Project will conduct a bus tour of Dylan sites in his Iron Range hometown of Hibbing. For more information, see the Hibbing Dylan Project website.

SUNDAY, MAY 20TH

Big Wu – Armory Arts & Music Center Concert
5 p.m. for dinner | 6:30 show | The Sports Garden
Tickets Eventbrite.com & Electric Fetus

Dylan Pub Trivia
9 p.m. | Carmody Irish Pub | Free

MONDAY, MAY 21ST

Visions of Duluth Art Show Opening Reception at Zeitgeist Atrium
5–7 p.m. | Free | Show runs May 20–27

TUESDAY, MAY 22ND

Geno LaFond and Amy Grillo
6–8 p.m. | Sir Ben’s Tavern

Dylan Fest Open Mic hosted by Marc Gartman
9–11 p.m. | Sir Ben’s Tavern | Free

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23RD

Shakespeare’s in the Alley: A Tribute to Bob Dylan largescale text-based art installation by Skye
Artist talk 5:30 p.m. | The Depot Great Hall | Free
Exhibit runs May 21-29 (Museum fee)

Poets of the North Country
6:30–8 p.m. | The Depot Great Hall | Free

Highway 61 Band and Courtney Yasmineh with Rob Genadek
8:30 p.m. | The Rex at Fitger’s | $5

THURSDAY, MAY 24TH

Front Porch concert with Greg Tiburzi
3 p.m. | Bob Dylan Boyhood Home, 519 W. 3rd Ave E | Free

Blood on the Tracks Express
Rolling-train music fest: Duluth to Two Harbors
Boarding 5:30 p.m. at The Depot | Tickets: Eventbrite.com

FRIDAY, MAY 25TH

Dylan Fest Singer-Songwriter Contest
Sacred Heart Music Center 7 p.m. | Valentini’s Food Truck on site
Contest sign up duluthdylanfest@gmail.com | Free

SATURDAY, MAY 26TH

John Bushey Memorial Lecture with Richard F. Thomas, author of Why Bob Dylan Matters
1–2 p.m. | Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum | Free

Dylan Fest Party with Cowboy Angel Blue
8 p.m. | Carmody Irish Pub | Free

SUNDAY, MAY 27TH

Farewell Brunch with Jim Hall
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Zeitgeist Café | Free