Ely Winter Festival Schedule of Events

We will be adding more events and details as they finalize, so please visit often!

Click here to view Event Listings in calendar form.
Click here to print off the event schedule.
New to Ely?  Want to know where everything's located?  Here's a great Google map with all the event locations.

Sat - Jan 31 1:00 PM		LEARN TO CARVE A SNOWBLOCK! FREE Amateur Snow Carving Workshop - Free in Whiteside Park sponsored by Ely Greenstone Public Arts. All ages welcome!
Mon - Feb 02 -- Fri - Feb 06		Amateur Snow Carving Contest Nothern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA) sponsors an Amateur Snow Carving Contest February 1 - 7 with judging at 10 a.m. on Sunday, February 8th.  Click here for more information and an entry form.
Thu - Feb 05 -- Sat - Feb 07		INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTING SYMPOSIUM - FREE! Watch Snow Sculptors from all over the world carve huge blocks of compressed snow in Ely's Whiteside Park.
Fri - Feb 06 -- Mon - Feb 16		Ely Winter Festival / Ely ArtWalk Snow carvings in Whiteside Park, art in merchant windows throughout town.  Visit elyartwalk.org for more info on the ArtWalk.
Fri - Feb 06 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM		Concession Stand Open Ely Girl's Softball, the Touchdown Club, and Ely Blue Line are hosting a Concession Stand with Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Hot Cider, Hot Dogs, and Tacos-in-a-Bag by the ice rink in Whiteside Park.
Fri - Feb 06 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM		Kizer Spaghetti Feed Annual fundraiser for community service group held downstairs in the Community Center (1st Ave & Harvey St).  Adults $6.00, 12 and under $3.00.
Fri - Feb 06 7:00 PM		Tyler Fish Arctic Trip Event On Friday, February 6 at 7pm Tyler Fish will give a presentation about his upcoming unsupported trek to the North Pole at the Wolf Center auditorium, with multimedia, pictures, and video.  There will also be a display of expedition gear. Q and A to follow.  This is a once in a lifetime experience!  Visit www.northpole09.com for more info on the trek. Admission is FREE (donations to the expedition are welcome, and t-shirts will be for sale).
Sat - Feb 07 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM		Historic Voyageur Encampment Historic reenactment of a winter encampment from the fur trade era.  Extremely interesting to discover how voyageurs survived in extreme conditions.  FREE.  Cocoa and hot drinks served.  Whiteside Park
Sat - Feb 07 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM		Vermilion Community College Open House Vermilion is hosting their Winter Open House, so feel free to stop by  to meet with Faculty and Staff, tour the campus and on-campus apartments, learn more about Vermilion’s academic programs. A complimentary lunch and live music will be provided! Stop by the registration table for a chance to win a prize!  Please register for the open house by completing the Registration Form or by calling the enrollment office at 800-657-3608.  www.vcc.edu
Sat - Feb 07 -- Sun - Feb 08 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM		Concession Stand Open Ely Girl's Softball, the Touchdown Club, and Ely Blue Line are hosting a Concession Stand with Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Hot Cider, Hot Dogs, and Tacos-in-a-Bag by the ice rink in Whiteside Park.
Sat - Feb 07 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM		NLAA ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR Arts and Crafts by local and regional artists on display and for sale at the Ely Community Center Cafeteria, (30 S. 1st Ave E.) Admission $1 - FREE with EWF pin.  www.elyarts.org  218-365-5070
Sat - Feb 07 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM		Fish Fry Veterans on the Lake sponsors their annual fish feast at their resort. 161 Fernberg Road.  veterans-on-the-lake.com  218-365-6900  adults $9 ($8 with button), 4-12 $6, under 4 Free.
Sat - Feb 07 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM		ArtWalk Opening Come to the Chocolate Moose (Sheridan St and Central Ave) to meet ArtWalk artists over a hot drink and cookie. Art activities for children. FREE
Sat - Feb 07 2:00 PM		Concert: Gold Wing Express Highly entertaining bluegrass band Gold Wing Express from Branson, MO in a fundraising concert for Northwoods Hospice Respite Partners in Washington Auditorium.  Tickets $15
Sat - Feb 07 7:00 PM		MUKLUK BALL The Mukluk Ball at the historic Ely Community Center Ballroom (30 S. 1st Ave. E).  Tickets still available from www.mukluks.com, at the store on Sheridan St in Ely or call 218-365-6634.  $25 (Must be 21)
Sun - Feb 08 10:00 AM		JUDGING OF AMATUER SNOW SCULPTING CONTEST NLAA Judges the Amateur Snow Sculpting Contest (20 teams)in Whiteside Park (520 E. Sheridan St.). This is a FREE event and fun for all ages! See who wins a chance to Carve with the Professionals in 2009! Hot Food and drinks available!
Sun - Feb 08 10:00 AM - 2:45 PM		Dog Sled Rides Treat yourself to a one plus mile ride. Lakeside winter bonfire, complimentary hot cocoa, tea or coffee, cookies and fresh popcorn before or after your ride in front of the Lodge hearth. Departures every 15 minutes. $25 each rider.  Reserve by credit card at Northern Lights Lodge website or call 218-827-2501.
Tue - Feb 10 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM		'I Love To Read' FAIR The Ely School’s CAPP arts committee and Northern Lakes Arts Association will bring author/illustrator Erik Brooks to Ely for a visit. His book, Practically Perfect Pajamas, inspired the committee to host a pajama party for pre-school through 6th grade kids and their parents at the Elementary School Music Room in the JFK. Erik will talk about how he comes up with his ideas and the marvelous book characters. There will be fun "hands-on" activities and refreshments.
Fri - Feb 13 11:00 AM		Snowshoe Trip to Hegman Pictographs Outward Bound is your host as you snowshoe to the Hegman Pictographs.  Limited to 20, so call to reserve your spot 218-365-5761.
Fri - Feb 13 7:00 PM		McInnis' Kitchen in Concert Northern Lakes Arts Association presents McInnis' Kitchen, a group from Duluth, MN that specializes in traditional and original music of the Atlantic Maritimes, Newfoundland, Scotland and Ireland.  Washington Auditorium.  Tickets available at Music Outfitters.  $11 adult, $9 NLAA members and senior citizens, $7 students
Sat - Feb 14 6:00 PM		Dorothy Molter Museum Fundraising Dinner Have a Heart for Dorothy!  Valentines Day Dinner at the Grand Ely Lodge.  Live music, silent auction. Champagne Chicken and Roast Beef Buffet. $30 per person.  Reservations required - please call 218-365-4451. www.rootbeerlady.com
Sun - Feb 15 10:00 AM - 2:45 PM		Dog Sled Rides Treat yourself to a one plus mile ride. Lakeside winter bonfire, complimentary hot cocoa, tea or coffee, cookies and fresh popcorn before or after your ride in front of the Lodge hearth. Departures every 15 minutes. $25 each rider.  Reserve by credit card at Northern Lights Lodge website or call 218-827-2501.