Christopher S. Nelson 
Don McLean: “American Pie” 50th Anniversary Tour. Takes place on Sunday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Big Top 2022 Summer Concert Season Sale: Big Top once again welcomes visitors to the big blue tent from June 17 to September. Tickets are now on sale. Click here for show announcements and to see the complete lineup for the season. Shows this season include: Riders in the Sky, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Home Free, The Greatest Piano Men, Five for Fighting, Cloud Cult, Charlie Berens, Gaelic Storm, Robert Cray, Don McLean, Joyann Parker, Charley Crockett, Tanya Tucker and the Blue Canvas Orchestra.
Residents evacuated: CBC News reports that residents of Kashechewan and Fort Albany First Nations along the James Bay coast have been evacuated to other northern Ontario communities due to flooding. Indigenous Services Canada has confirmed that a precautionary evacuation of vulnerable residents began on April 25 and a full evacuation began on May 5.
The threat of flooding is a constant reality for communities along the James Bay and Hudson Bay coasts, and annual evacuations are frequent for many residents. Last Friday, about 400 people from Kashechewan were airlifted to Thunder Bay. Click here for the full story.
In the street: Outsiders were shooting an independent TV pilot – Canusa Street – in Chisholm recently. The film is about families in a small town bisected by the Canada-US border. the Upper Midwest Film Office got these numbers from the producer to show how such productions affect our local towns. Editor Kon caught up with writer/director Zack Morrison before his first night on set – he went to a Duluth class run by Catalyst Story Institute. He mentioned several times how nice the city was to the crew and that every scene could be shot within a few blocks. Also, the main street of Chisholm looks like a scenic backdrop and the Lost Forty Studios worked beautifully. The full-service film and television studio area has 55,000 square feet of usable studio space. Productions filmed there and eligible for it can reimburse up to 70% of production costs through production incentives. “We were driving through Chisholm yesterday and we love that the flags are still up! We thank the people of Chisholm, Hibbing and surrounding areas for being so welcoming to upcoming productions and we thank #canusastreet! Here are whole seasons! Canusa Street Won Outstanding Comedy Screenplay at the Catalyst Content Festival 2021.
Make plans: Here are some upcoming events to put on a fun list:
Michigan
Monday, May 23: UP’s Munising Farmers and Artisans Market kicks off its season May 23rd. Some of the products sold include: locally grown fruits and vegetables, honey products, maple syrup, baked goods, jams and jellies, perennials, cut flowers, plant sprouts, arts and crafts including jewelry, pottery, photography, paints and prints, fibers, soaps and lotions, wood products and more. The market opens every Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and takes place at Binsfeld Bayshore Park (55 Elm Avenue)
Minnesota
Thursday, May 12: In addition to the limited-edition product launch, Duluth Pack is celebrating the annual in-person event this year with a public event on Thursday, May 12 at the company’s flagship store from 5-8 p.m. There will be exclusive sales and offers for attendees, free beer provided and served by HOOPS Brewing, free raffle gear to be won, plus on-site gear reps. Facebook event link here
Thursday May 12: Tonight, Zenith Bookstore will host an author event with Stephanie Pearson, whose new book 100 Great American Parks just published by National Geographic. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required to attend this event, as is the wearing of face masks over the nose and mouth. The event will take place on Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Click here for more information.
Wisconsin
Saturday May 14: To celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, the Friends of Lake Superior Preserve is partnering with the City of Superior to host a morning bird walk on Wisconsin Point and a morning migratory movie at the Estuaruim in Superior, Wisconsin . The event takes place on Saturday, May 14. Bird walk: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Cinema matinee: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Registration is compulsory. Click here to register.
Ontario
Monday, May 16: Sault Pride, in partnership with International Day of Pink, will host activist Martin Boyce via virtual presence on Monday, May 16 at 1 p.m. in Algoma University’s Doc Brown Lounge (EW205). For more information on Martin Boyce, including a music video, Click here. Link to event at facebook here.
Photo and graphic credits: Big Top Chautauqua; Radio-Canada News; Upper Midwest Film Board; Zack Morrison; UP’s Munising Farmers and Artisans Market; National Geography; Friends of Lake Superior Preserve
