Fall Festival

Sep 22–24, 2023.

Fall Festival 2023

Get ready to fall into fun! The highly-anticipated Fall Festival is just around the corner, so mark your calendars and round up your crew! It’s time to reconnect with the Chequamegon Bay and relive those cherished memories at Northland College. Activities are scheduled Friday, September 22, through Sunday, September 24, with plenty of time to reconnect with friends throughout the region.

New to the weekend this year is Camp Brother Bear at Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Megaplex! This outdoor event celebrates the adventurous spirit in us all and honors the legacy of our own Bjorn Norgaard ’10. Enjoy wooded campsites, a full day of outdoor programs, eight courses of disc golf, and dancing the night away under the stars to Bad Columbus, Floydian Slip, and the Big Wu!

Book your rooms or find a site at Camp Brother Bear—there will be a shuttle service to and from the Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Course. You can play on campus during the day and enjoy Northwoods camping under the stars at night.

Fall Festival awaits, so get ready to embrace the spirit of the season. Join us at Northland College and make memories that will warm your heart for years to come. Let’s celebrate together!

Fall Festival Schedule

Friday, September 22

	Native American Museum and Indigenous Cultures Center Open House 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Indigenous Cultures Center, Mead Hall	View exhibits on beadwork, wild rice, bison, and more in Northland College’s Native American Museum. Faculty and students will be available to provide additional information on the exhibits. You can also see what’s new in the Indigenous Cultures Center and find out more about upcoming events. Learn More!
	Tour of Campus 1–3 p.m. Check-in table at the Ponzio Campus Center	When was the last time you were on campus? What has changed since your last visit? Take a tour with a current student and get an updated perspective on Northland today, or visit Ori-Anne Pagel ’69 in the Archives to learn about Northland’s past. More details on other specific tours coming soon!
	Manoominikewin Workshops—Wild Rice Processing and Rice Knocker Making 3–6 p.m. Hulings Rice Food Center	As part of our Manoominikewin Workshops, people can participate for free and learn how to process wild rice through parching, dancing, and winnowing. These workshops are open to all Northland College students, faculty, and staff, as well as interested community members. Learn more!
	Cancelled Downtown Beer Garden and Music 6–9 p.m.	This event has been cancelled. If you’d still like to hang out with fellow alumni, come drop by the Stagecoach in Ashland!
	1973 Football Team Gathering 6–9 p.m. The Office Bar (Ashland, Wisconsin)	Join the team at The Office Bar for a pint, some Frankie’s Pizza, and some good memories. Hosted by the 1973 football team, this event is open to all Northlanders as a connection point before Saturday’s festivities begin.

Saturday, September 23

	Athletic Hall of Fame Induction 9 a.m.–12 p.m. John N. Allen Fitness Center	Celebrating the athletic accomplishments of LumberJacks and LumberJills throughout Northland’s history, the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction is an all call for Northland athletes. Call your teammates and join us for a morning of refreshments and remarks about our 2023 inductees. The reception begins at 9 a.m., and the program begins at 10 a.m. Inductees: Richie Peterson ’73—Football John Allen ’77—Football, Basketball, Builder Dave Landers ’03—Baseball Tricia Darrington ’04—Softball
	National Public Lands Day of Service-Day Outing 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Offsite	National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, this celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. Join SOEI student leaders in a day of caring for and giving back to the local public lands that help make a Northland way of life so wonderful. We’ll be partnering with regional federal land managers to repair, restore, and conserve local trails and green spaces. No previous trail work experience necessary! There will be two worksites:. One group will go to the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and work from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The second group will go to the Rainbow Lakes Wilderness (near Drummond) and will work from about 9:30 until 4:30, with a hike to the work site as part of their day. Transportation, experienced instructors, lunch, and all equipment provided. To Register: Send an email with your name and phone number to soeioutings@northland.edu. Registration closes at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 22nd.
	Cancelled Forest Lodge Educational Campus (Cable, Wisconsin) 11 a.m.–3 p.m.	Take a scenic fall ride to Forest Lodge, a historic north woods vacation estate established by Mary Griggs Burke’s family in the early 20th century. Today, the US Forest Service and Northland College jointly manage the property and programming. You’re invited to catch a ride on our shuttles or take your own vehicle and enjoy an afternoon adventure exploring the grounds of Forest Lodge on Lake Namekagon.
	Lacrosse Alumni Scrimmage 12:00–1:30 p.m. Ponzio Stadium	The first batch of lacrosse alumni are ready to take to the field and square off against the current LumberJacks lineup for the 2023–2024 season. Don’t miss this good-natured competition of Northland’s youngest NCAA program.
	Orange and Blue Reception 3–5 p.m. Alvord Theatre, Ponzio Campus Center	Enjoy an early evening reception with delicious refreshments and a festive Orange and Blue atmosphere as we honor and recognize Dr. Andy Matheus ’85 with the Distinguished Alumni Award and present the Class of 1973 with their Brownell Keys. Enjoy time to mix and mingle with old friends and make new connections as we reconnect and share in this celebration of our Northland!
	Northland College Football Reunion 5:30–7:00 p.m. John N. Allen Fitness Center	Organized by the 1973 Northland College football team in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations and the Athletics Department, we invite you to a reunion of athletes and fans of former football teams. Reminisce with slideshows and old photos while enjoying tailgate themed hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar in the John N. Allen Fitness Center. This evening of fun and comradery is open to all who want to celebrate with the LumberJacks football program.

Sunday, September 24

Chequamegon Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (CUUF) Service
10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Alvord Theatre, Ponzio Campus Center

Led by Minister Stacy Craig, a Northland alum, CUUF will gather on campus to reflect and inspire. All are welcome to join in the Alvord Theatre for a chance to congregate with community members and fellow alumni.

Registration

Hotels Near Northland College

Alumni and friends are encouraged to make reservations early because of our community’s busy tourist season.

AmericInn Motel and Suites
3009 Lake Shore Drive East
Ashland, WI 54806
866-378-9950

Best Western The Hotel Chequamegon
101 Lake Shore Drive West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-9095

Blue Wave Inn
2521 Lake Shore Drive West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-685-2583

Cobblestone Inn & Suites
818 Main Street West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-5066

Quality Inn Ashland—Lake Superior
30600 US Highway 2
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-5235

River Rock Inn
1200 Lake Shore Drive West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-3232

Super 8 of Ashland
1610 Lake Shore Drive West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-9377

Wild Rice Retreat
84860 Old San Road
Bayfield, WI 54814
715-779-0178

Camping Near Northland College

Join us at Camp Brother Bear

City of Ashland Camping
First come, first served—pay at the park.
Prentice Park—Tent and RV camping
Park Road
Ashland, WI 54806

Kreher Park—RV only
200 Prentice Ave North
Ashland, WI 54806

City of Washburn Camping
Memorial Park and Campground
600 East Memorial Park Drive
Washburn, WI 54891

Thompson’s West End Park and Campground
401 South Eighth Avenue West
Washburn, WI 54891

City of Bayfield Camping
Dalrymple Campground
86070 State Highway 13
Bayfield, WI 54814

Find More Lodging Options

Find more indoor lodging and camping options through one of our local chambers of commerce:

Northland College