Hibbing's annual "Dylan Days" celebration is coming up next month.
Every year the Dylan Days committee celebrates the life and work of Bob Dylan, who spent his childhood years in Hibbing.

Every year Dylan Days organizers try to add something new to the celebration.

This year, in addition to the creative writing contest, they added a competition for playwrights.

"There's a whole community of amateur playwrights across the country who just want to get their work scene somewhere, and we want to give people the opportunity to do that."

Author and Bob Dylan biographer Toby Thompson will headline the literary event on May 24th.

There were more than 700 entries for that competition.

"what started as a local event for Minnesota writers has expanded into something much bigger, and I think that shows the appeal of not only Bob Dylan but the Iron Range as a whole."

Also new this year is an exhibit at Ironworld in Chisholm called "Tangled up in Ore" which looks at Iron Range influences in Dylan's life and work.

"We hope to turn the exhibit into a long range plan for a permanent spot up here."

Hundreds of artists and musicians from around the country are expected to join in the festivities this may...It's not just a celebration of Bob Dylan, but of the Iron Range art scene as a whole.

"You get a different perspective from people and what often said is how much they enjoyed area and I think folks miss out on the fact we have a really special thing here and that's another reason we do Dylan Days, is to celebrate the special thing we've got."

Dylan contemporary Ramblin' Jack Elliott will headline this year's concert to benefit the Hibbing arts council.

Organizers say they try to keep the venues small and intimate so there are lots of opportunities to interact with other writers and musicians.

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