Winter is the longest and most defining season in the North. With snowy days and dark nights, this season is a time both for outdoor adventure and for gathering to share traditions, meals, and stories.

The Winterers’ Gathering and Arctic Film Festival celebrates the crafts, customs, history, and stories that have been inspired by winter. Featuring winter-centric coursework, a winter tent camp, gear sale, film festival, speakers, and more, this is a classic event to welcome the start of the chilliest season.

The 2024 Winterers’ Gathering will welcome special guest instructor Niilá Omma to teach a knifemaking course. Niilá is duojár, a traditional Sámi craftsman, from Skelefteå, Sweden. He uses mainly reindeer antler and birch to make knives, cups, boxes, jewelry and other traditional items, and sells his work in Sweden and internationally. This is his first visit to North House Folk School.

All Weekend

Presentations
Event Seminars are 45 minute presentations that cover a variety of winter-related topics: from camping tips to travelogues, cultural reflections to winter sport secrets, these inspiring talks offer something for everyone and take place throughout the weekend.

Skill Share Demonstrations
These short intensive sessions focus on particularly handy skills. Dress for a partially heated environment. Free to attend, materials fee occasionally applies, payable at door. Blacksmith Shop.

Arctic Film Festival
This one-of-a-kind festival features films from around the globe that visually tell the story of the North. Documentaries, features and shorts showcase arctic landscapes, traditional cultures, northern adventures and changing climates. All film screenings are free and held in the Blue Building.

Schedule of Events:

The Great Gear and Ski Sale
Bring your outdoor equipment to sell or get in on some great bargains and buy. Registration forms will be available that morning, and an online form will be available soon. Backcountry skis to winter canvas tents. Ice skates to kites. Winter boots to down jackets. All are welcome.

The Deep Freeze Chili Feed
Bundle up and grab your bowl for this traditional winter favorite: chili and freshly baked cornbread. Hot chili (your choice: vegetarian or meat) is cooked up in the kettle and enjoyed in the company of other hearty winterers. Details coming later this fall!