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DULUTH — Summer's always welcome in the Twin Ports, but perhaps never more so than after locals have endured Every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day is precious for vitamin D, and for the tourist trade that helps power Duluth's economy.

Here's a starter guide to some of the big events planned this year.

The smelt have been running for a while already, but in Duluth, they must run before they can parade. How else could there be a smelt fry at the end of the second line puppet prance down the Lakewalk? This year's presentation of the Smelt Queen, with all its attendant theatrics, takes place on Sunday, May 28. The Brass Messengers will return to add a little Big Easy flair. The following day, West Duluth's annual Memorial Day Parade rolls down Grand and Central avenues.

When it comes to theme trains, the North Shore Scenic Railroad leaves no branch unexplored. This summer's offerings include the Pizza Party Express, Summer BBQ in the Sky View, a Grandma's Marathon Viewer, a Father's Day BBQ, Day Out with Thomas, Murder Mystery Express and Pride Festival Party Train. The year's first theme train rolls out on June 2: a Lilac Lovefest Din and Gin Train, with Vikre spirits to sample while you look at the lilacs popping up during peak season

Seduction, betrayal, booze runs and bites on the ear ... just another summer in Duluth, right? Also in Sicily, the setting of Pietro Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana." The one-act opera, which premiered in 1890, is being staged by Lyric Opera of the North under the stage direction of Marni Raab, a member of Broadway's final "Phantom of the Opera" cast. Dane Suarez and Duluth Playhouse regular Lacy Sauter are among the stars of the production, which can be seen at UMD's Marshall Performing Arts Center on June 9 and June 11 Also this weekend, watch for the return of Trans Joy Fest at Gichi-Ode Akiing

While the Beargrease sled dogs sleep it off in the shade, come summertime the Northland's human runners step up to take their turn going all-out before crowds of curious spectators. Grandma's Marathon takes place on June 17, surrounded by ancillary events including other (shorter) races as well as food, drink and entertainment Also this weekend, Juneteenth celebrations include the annual NAACP event at Central Hillside Community Center, on June 18

The annual Rhubarb Festival supports the work of Duluth social services nonprofit CHUM, but it's not like Northlanders need any excuse to go all in on rhubarb. On June 24 the festival returns to the Holy Rosary campus of Stella Maris Academy, with organizers promising "pie, pie, and more pie." Iconic mascot Rhubarbara will be there, and ... she's bringing a friend! "You'll have to join us to find out who they are," write organizers about Duluth's newest mascot Also this weekend, vendors fill Minnesota Point for the Park Point Art Fair

The Zenith City has become a major Independence Day destination, and the holiday is the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center's time to shine. In addition to the expected July 4 festivities, entertainment over the long weekend includes Flo Rida at Bayfront Festival Park and the Guess Who at Symphony Hall (both June 30). On July 3, cover band Hairball take the Bayfront stage to ape the glam metal greats

You can quibble with the selections — did 25 percent of this year's picks really need to be Minion movies? — but it's hard to argue with the stunning setting of Downtown Duluth's annual Movies in the Park series. Leif Erikson Park, in the East Hillside neighborhood, will host on Friday nights from July 7 through Aug. 25. The series kicks off with "Top Gun: Maverick," a blockbuster so popular that born last year at the nearby St. Luke's were named Maverick Also this weekend, on July 8, Trampled By Turtles take the Bayfront Festival Park stage as one of the summer's top concert draws

Duluth may not have a monorail (or, an incline railway), but the city still pulls above its weight when it comes to fun forms of transportation. Case in point: the annual Duluth Airshow, which this year features everything from Navy jets to a parachute team to a jet truck. Maverick will even be on site at the Duluth International Airport, represented by celebrity impersonator "California Tom Cruise." The show takes place July 15-16 Meanwhile, the Reggae and World Music Festival fills Bayfront Festival Park with good vibrations on Saturday as Pioneer Hall hosts the region's largest dog show

As Taste of Minnesota returns to the Twin Cities, the festival Taste of Duluth is still going by its new name: Festival by the Lake. The 2021 name change was meant to reflect the fact that the event is not just focused on food: music, shopping and other activities are all part of the mix at Bayfront Festival Park on July 22

The tenth anniversary of Bent Paddle Brewing makes this year a watershed for Duluth's craft brewing industry, which has boomed along with the sector statewide. There aren't many bigger regional brew fests, and certainly none more beautiful, than All Pints North, which the Bent Paddle team was instrumental in founding at Bayfront Festival Park. Over 100 Minnesota breweries and brewpubs are participating in this year's event on July 29; Big Wave Dave and the Ripples, and Fenestra Funk, will provide the soundtrack

It's hard not to have neighborhood spirit when the name of your neighborhood is Spirit Valley. The West Duluth commercial corridor and residential community is celebrating Spirit Valley Days Aug. 3-6. Events will include a parade, car show and craft fair. It's a good opportunity to get better acquainted with the neighborhood that includes Zenith Bookstore, Wussow's Concert Cafe and the West Theatre Back at Bayfront Festival Park, the City on the Hill Music Festival features Christian artists including Casting Crowns and Crowde.

This year's Bayfront Blues Festival is consolidating, switching it up from the two-stage model to a single-stage setup. Charlie Musselwhite, Elvin Bishop's Big Front Trio and a host of other ringers will perform from Aug. 11 through Aug. 13. They'll join a rich history: nearly 500 artists have performed at the festival since its founding in 1989

While the DECC won't be hosting this year, there will be some T. Rex roars and, likely, ensuing screams heard in the harborside venue. The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra will perform John Williams' soaring score live on Aug. 19 as the movie plays on a Symphony Hall screen. "The Minnesota Orchestra does these all the time," DSSO executive director Brandon VanWaeyenberghe said in April when the event was announced. "For us to take the leap to do something like this is really great for our community" Outside the DECC walls, Art in Bayfront Park will bring creators of all sorts together with collectors and the curious

The annual Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival returned to Barker's Island last year after a two-year pandemic hiatus: over 1,000 people hopped in the water to compete in the charity races. "A dragon boat is basically a great big canoe," co-chair Charlie Johnson told the News Tribune. "They're 40-something feet long, 22 people get in them side by side with somebody else, hip to hip. It's a drag race right through the harbor here in Lake Superior." Dragon Boat Festival events take place this year on Aug. 25 and 26 At Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, the annual two-day Tribute Fest raises funds for homeless veterans with artists covering classic rockers

While Duluth Superior Pride may have originally been scheduled near Labor Day because that's when Bayfront Festival Park was available, the event's timing has the benefit of giving Minnesota two major Pride festivals they can attend at two different times each summer. Twin Cities Pride is scheduled for June 23-25, then Duluth Superior Pride brings it home from Aug. 31 through Sept. 4. The big Bayfront party takes place on Saturday, with the Pride Parade taking over Tower Avenue in Superior the following afternoon