Welcome to Dylan Days
Welcome to the online home of Dylan Days, an organization supporting the arts and honoring Bob Dylan in his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota. Over the years Dylan Days has built a grassroots tradition including the singer/songwriter contest, writing contest and literary showcase, visual arts competition, Bobby Zimmerman bus tour, live music and more.
Dylan Days Schedule 2013
May 23-26, 2013
HIBBING, Minn. ─ Bob Dylan's northeastern Minnesota hometown celebrates his 72nd birthday and continued artistic accomplishment with an exciting lineup of Dylan Days arts and entertainment activities from May 23-26, 2013. This is the 12th year of major Dylan Days activities in Hibbing, continuing an informal tradition that began in 1991. All events are within walking distance in downtown Hibbing. Most events are free with purchase of a souvenir Dylan Days button, available for $5 at Zimmy's and Howard Street Booksellers. Admission and Tickets
Contact us with questions.
This Year's Events
Thursday, May 23, 2013 (Day 1)
Duluth's Dylan FestBlood on the Tracks Express: 5:30-11 pm at Fitger’s Complex in Duluth, MN. Take the North Shore Scenic Railroad to the American Legion in Two Harbors, MN and back with dinner and live bands on board sponsored by our friends and partners at Duluth Dylan Fest. Cost $30. Find out more.
Friday, May 24, 2013 (Day 2)
Dylan Days Writing Like a Rolling Stone Workshop: 1-3 pm at Hibbing Memorial Building Dining Room. Join Duluth poet laureate (2010-2012) Sheila Packa for a poetry workshop. Participants will do a few writing exercises in a safe and encouraging atmosphere. Participants also will create poems inspired by some Dylan lyrics, personal memories, and places. We will develop metaphor, create sound and rhythm, and explore some publishing possibilities. This class is suitable for beginning and intermediate writers.
Dylan Days Literary Showcase: 3:15-4:30 pm at Hibbing Memorial Building Little Theater, featuring winners of the B.J. Rolfzen Creative Writing Contest and keynote by Sheila Packa. Dylan
Days Singer/Songwriter Contest, Friday Division: 7 pm-midnight at Zimmy’s. Competitors from all over the world sing one Dylan song and one original. Gary Ivan from New York returns as our emcee for the 12th consecutive year. Our oldest, most popular tradition. Reservations required.
Saturday, May 25, 2013 (Day 3)
Dylan Days Bus Tour: 10:30 am-2:30 pm departing from Zimmy’s, the popular interpretive, interactive tour of Hibbing showing the town Dylan knew, his potential influences, along with the town today through storytelling and history. Cost $25.
Book Signing: 2:30-3:30 pm at Howard Street Booksellers, featuring acclaimed poet and Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) professor M. L. Liebler signing his book, “Working Words: Punching the Clock and Kicking Out the Jams”
Dylan Days 2013 U.S. Postal Cancellation: 2-5 pm at Zimmy's. A creative, unique postal cancellation stamp featuring a limited edition Dylan Days image that may be used on memorabilia or actual mail.
Local Artists Demonstrations: 2-5 pm at Zimmy’s, featuring Cherry Glass, a northern Minnesota family owned business that makes a variety of functional and non-functional art; Jeff Argir and his wood art; and others.
Dylan Days Singer/Songwriter Contest, Saturday Division: 5-7 pm at Zimmy’s. Competitors from all over the world sing one Dylan song and one original. The contest is so popular we need two divisions in order to accommodate the number of participants!!
Live Music: 7-9 pm at Zimmy’s, featuring Mark Rubin a Duluth Singer/Songwriter who also happens to be the chief prosecutor for St. Louis County!!
Live Music: 9 pm-midnight at Zimmy’s, featuring “The Adjustments” a Duluth, MN based folk-rock blues-funk band who will be performing lots of Dylan songs.
Sunday, May 26, 2013 (Day 4)
Dylan Days Farewell Brunch: 10 am-noon at Zimmy's, featuring a local Ojibwe blessing by Sharon Williams, final judging of the art contest entries, and an open-mike music sharing time. Cost $11.
From its humble origins as a spontaneous jam session, to its growth as part of the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce, to its current status as a fast growing, independent community arts organization, Dylan Days seeks to enhance the arts community in Northern Minnesota in addition to conducting these annual events. Dylan Days works with many community partners, including schools, the city, the chamber of commerce and other artistic groups. We operate off the advertising revenue for our annual publication, "Talkin' Blues," the program and literary journal of Dylan Days.
For information on Dylan Days events, ticket information, or to inquire about participating in a Dylan Days activity, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
For more about Northeastern Minnesota's Iron Range, visit the Iron Range Tourism Bureau.