FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cook County, MN proclaims April 15-22, 2023 as International Dark Sky Week
The Cook County board of commissioners and the Grand Portage Tribal Council adopt the proclamation to champion dark skies in the region.
Cook County, Minn. – March 27, 2023 – Celebrating the night sky has been a top priority in Northeastern Minnesota for the past several years. On March 14, 2023, the Cook County board of commissioners officially proclaimed April 15-22, 2023 as International Dark Sky Week. The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Council has also adopted the proclamation.
This initiative was brought forward by Starry Skies North - Cook County, the local chapter of the International Dark Sky Association. International Dark Sky Week is a global initiative that celebrates the night sky by promoting dark sky exploration and building preservation awareness.
“The night sky is something that is an incredible and unique natural resource,” says Linda Jurek, Executive Director of Visit Cook County. “For centuries the night sky has been revered by our ancestors as sacred and important. It is truly something to celebrate.”
In 2018, Visit Cook County launched its first Dark Sky Festival held annually in December. Starting with only a handful of presentations and activities, this event has grown and continues to bring in experts in night sky and space exploration. The 2023 event will be held December 7-9, 2023.
About Visit Cook County
Visit Cook County encompasses the northeastern Minnesota communities of Lutsen, Tofte, Schroeder, Grand Marais, the Gunflint Trail and Grand Portage, commonly referred to as “the Arrowhead” and the “North Shore of Lake Superior”. Grand Marais, Minn., has earned several national accolades — most recently it was named USA Today’s Best Midwestern Small Town, Outside Magazine’s The 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2016, and Budget Travel’s 2015 Coolest Small Town in America. Rekindle your sense of adventure by exploring the Superior National Forest or paddling through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Discover what makes the communities of Cook County, Minn. “Naturally Unforgettable.” Connect on social media using #donorthmn, Twitter @CookCoVisitors, Facebook, or Instagram @donorthmn. Learn more at www.visitcookcounty.com.
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