Going to be on the North Shore in a couple weeks? Want an excuse to head up there? Well, we’ve got one for you. The Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness is hosting the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Grand Marais! The festival features award-winning movies about nature and conservation, from “Ride of the Mergansers” (about the early life of mergansers) to “Bugs of the Underworld” (featuring stunning underwater photography of aquatic insects).

The film festival is at 7:00 on the evenings of August 14 and 15 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts (51 West Fifth Street). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for kids under 12. You can buy tickets at the box office or at online.

Also, we’ll be having an informal get-together at the Gun Flint Tavern after Friday night’s films. Everyone’s invited to come down for socializing and to meet the Friends staff.