February 5-15, 2009
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  Family Event
  Musical Event
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Ely Winter Festival Schedule of Events

Ely Winter Festival logo 08

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

Click here to view Event Listings in calendar form.

Sat - Jan 26
1:00 PM
  LEARN TO CARVE A SNOWBLOCK! FREE
Amateur Snow Carving Workshop-Free in Whiteside Park(520 E. Sheridan St). sponsored by www.elygreenstone.org All ages welcome!
Thu - Jan 31 -- Sat - Feb 02
  INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTING SYMPOSIUM - FREE!
Professional Snow Sculpters from all over the world carve huge blocks of compressed snow in Whiteside Park in downtown Ely.  Sculpting 1/31 - 2/3.
Thu - Jan 31
6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
  *Snow Carver's Jam* at the BoatHouse Brew Pub
THE BOATHOUSE BREW PUB (formerly Cranberry's), 47 E. Sheridan St, hosts the SNOW CARVER'S JAM SESSION! Meet the International Teams and Jam with the locals. NO COVER CHARGE! Enjoy the'Carver's Buffet' $12
Fri - Feb 01
4:30 PM
  Kizer Spagetti Feed - Fundraiser
Ely Community Center Cafeteria (30 S. 1st Ave E.) Kizer Spagetti Feed Fundraiser - Carb up for a good cause! Adults $7.50 12 & under $3.50
Fri - Feb 01
7:00 PM
  EWF OPENING CEREMONY
The Official Start of the Ely Winter Festival at Washington Auditorium,(600 E. Harvey St.) Admission: Adults $5 Kids $3 ($1 off with the EWF pin!) GRAND MARCH, Mayor's Proclaimation and Induction of Grand Marshall. 
Sat - Feb 02
8:00 AM
  $$Kwazy Wabbit Pool Tournament$$
CASH Pay Out PRIZES! The Kwazy Wabbit Bar (11 N. Central Ave). Register 218-365-5199 or stop in.  $10 per person. Wear your Ely Winter Festival Pin and get $1 off your first drink! FREE FOOD!
Sat - Feb 02
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  MEET SLED DOGS and MUSHERS! FREE!
FREE! in Whiteside Park! The Wolftrack Classic Sled Dog Race Committee invites you to meet sled dogs and mushers that will be participating in the upcoming race.
Sat - Feb 02
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  Vermilion Community College OPEN HOUSE
Vermilion Community College campus located at 1700 E. Camp St. Complimentary Lunch and gift. Register at www.vcc.edu or call 800-657-3608
Sat - Feb 02
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 02
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Veterans On The Lake Fish Fry
FAMILY FISH FRY! Veterans on the Lake  Located just outside Ely heading east (Fernberg Road) Fundraiser for this resort for handicapped vets.  218-365-6900
Sat - Feb 02
11:00 AM
  Wilderness Trek Nordic Ski Race
Register online at www.elynordic.org or before 11 am at Hidden Valley Ski Area (just outside Ely on E. Hwy 169). Adult Races (7K & 15K) Age Group Divisions, Masters Division, Awards Ceremony.
Sat - Feb 02
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  Ely ArtWalk Opening 'Meet and Greet'
Meet and greet the Ely Artwalk artists on the porch of the Chocolate Moose Cafe (101 N. Central Ave) FREE refreshments! FREE kids activities! 218-365-7890 www.elyartwalk.org
Sat - Feb 02
2:00 PM
  Concert: Gold Wing Express
Direct from Branson, MO comes award-winning bluegrass band Gold Wing Express offering some great entertainment for all ages. This concert is a fundraiser for Northwoods Hospice Respite Partners in Washington Auditorium (600 E. Harvey St.). $15 per person. Tickets available in advance from Northwoods Partners and around town.
Sat - Feb 02
7:00 PM
  MUKLUK BALL!
Lamont Cranston Blues Band plays, Patti Steger and Don Shelby (WCCO) emcee the Mukluk Ball at the historic Ely Community Center Ballroom (30 S. 1st Ave. E). Doors open at 7pm music starts at 8pm. Admission $25 (You must be 21)Purchase tickets at www.mukluks.com
Sun - Feb 03
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
  DOG SLED RIDES!
Northern Lights Lodge (Hwy 21 between Ely and Babbit) hosts Sled Dog Rides at their beautiful lakeside location. Price includes ride on a one-mile trail loop, refreshments and snack, information about Ely’s dog sledding history and photo ops.  There will be seating and a roaring bonfire at the edge of beautiful Bear Island Lake as well as a toasty fire in the Lodge. Please reserve in advance at northern-lights-lodge.com or call 1-218-827-2501.  Pre-registration necessary.  Please call 218-827-2501. $25 per person.
Sun - Feb 03
10:00 AM
  JUDGING OF AMATUER SNOW SCULPTING CONTEST
NLAA Judges the Amatuer 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! 
Mon - Feb 04
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  NEW! VFW Billiards Tournament
The VFW in Ely will be hosting a billiards tournament to raise money in support of the Vietnam Memorial traveling wall that will make a stop in Ely in July.  Entry fee: $5- All proceeds will go to the  Vietnam Wall project.  Winner: will receive their own 2008 Ely Winterfest Pin!  So come on down to the VFW and test your skills with a pool cue, or watch your friends as they do!
Mon - Feb 04
6:00 PM
  Dorothy Molter Museum Fundraising Dinner
The Dorothy Molter Museum hosts an evening of good food, entertainment, silent auction and much more at the Grand Ely Lodge (400 N. Pioneer Rd). 6pm Social Time 6:30 Dinner  $25 per person www.rootbeerlady.com or call 218-365-4451
Fri - Feb 08
11:00 AM
  Hegman Lake Snowshoe Tour-FREE
Register with Ely's Outward Bound Wilderness School 218-365-5761  They supply the snowshoes and one of their expert guides to journey into Hegman Lake to see ages old 'pictographs'. Tour begins at 11am and lasts several hours. Pre Register- it's FREE!
Fri - Feb 08
7:00 PM
  NLAA 'WARM WOMEN OF THE NORTH' IN CONCERT
Washington Auditorium (600 E. Harvey St.)An eclectic group of talented women from Duluth.  This is a fundraiser for Northern Lakes Arts Association www.elyarts.org Adults $10, NLAA $9, Students $7 info: 218-365-5070
Sat - Feb 09
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  NLAA 'I Love To Read' FAIR
 JFK Lounge (600 E. Harvey St) Fun arts and reading for grades 1-6 FREE supplies and instructors. Hosted by NLAA, CAPP, & Greenstone Public Arts FREE!
Sat - Feb 09
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  SKI JOURING Lesson and Demo FREE!
The Wolftrack Classic Sled Dog Race Committee will hold a ski jouring (dog pulling skiier) lesson and demo at the Ely High School Track Field (across from Whiteside Park) from 11am to 1pm. FREE! For more information: www.wolftrackclassic.com
Sat - Feb 09
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  WATER COLOR PAINTING CLASS
Learn Water Color technique from Ellen Pickering at the VCC.(1700 E. Camp St) $15  Pre-Register at 218-365-7828 Hosted by Ely Greenstone Public Arts www.elygreenstone.org
Sat - Feb 09
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  CHILI FEED!!!! Blue Line Club Fundraiser
The Ely Blue Line Hockey Club www.elyhockey.org Chili Feed at the Ely Moose Club (10 W. Pattison St.) $5 per person (7 and under FREE!!) Bring the family!
Sun - Feb 10
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
  WOLF HOWLING CONTEST
International Wolf Center (1396 Hwy 169)- FREE Admission for this event between 10 - 10:30am!  All ages welcome! Great Prizes! 218-365-4695
Sun - Feb 10
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
  DOG SLED RIDES!
Northern Lights Lodge (Hwy 21 between Ely and Babbit) hosts Sled Dog Rides at their beautiful lakeside location. Price includes ride on a one-mile trail loop, refreshments and snack, information about Ely’s dog sledding history and photo ops.  There will be seating and a roaring bonfire at the edge of beautiful Bear Island Lake as well as a toasty fire in the Lodge. Please reserve in advance at northern-lights-lodge.com or call 1-218-827-2501.  Pre-registration necessary.  Please call 218-827-2501. $25 per person.
Sun - Feb 10
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
  Jackpine Bob Cary FUN SKI DAY! CHILI FEED!
Minnesota Youth Ski League hosts a XC ski FUN DAY at Hidden Valley. Bring the family-great Chili for a good cause. $5 adults $3 kids ($1 off with EWF pin) No trail fees all day! Special 2pm Ceremony!!!!!
Sun - Feb 10
2:00 PM
  Final Judging of SNOWBEAR CONTEST!
The North American Bear Center will have the final judging for the SNOWBEAR CONTEST today at the Center in the main lobby 2pm.  Submitted photos of 'snowbears' (rolled snow sculptures) around the town of Ely.  WINNERS ANNOUNCED! PRIZES!

Run your mouse over the events on the calendar to see the details pop up. Click on the day to see all event details.
February 2008
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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1
  INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTING SYMPOSIUM - FREE!
  Kizer Spagetti Feed - Fundraiser
  EWF OPENING CEREMONY
2
  INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTING SYMPOSIUM - FREE!
  $$Kwazy Wabbit Pool Tournament$$
  Vermilion Community College OPEN HOUSE
  MEET SLED DOGS and MUSHERS! FREE!
  NLAA ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR
  Wilderness Trek Nordic Ski Race
  Veterans On The Lake Fish Fry
  Ely ArtWalk Opening 'Meet and Greet'
  Concert: Gold Wing Express
  MUKLUK BALL!
3
  JUDGING OF AMATUER SNOW SCULPTING CONTEST
  DOG SLED RIDES!
4
  NEW! VFW Billiards Tournament
  Dorothy Molter Museum Fundraising Dinner
5
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8
  Hegman Lake Snowshoe Tour-FREE
  NLAA 'WARM WOMEN OF THE NORTH' IN CONCERT
9
  NLAA 'I Love To Read' FAIR
  WATER COLOR PAINTING CLASS
  SKI JOURING Lesson and Demo FREE!
  CHILI FEED!!!! Blue Line Club Fundraiser
10
  WOLF HOWLING CONTEST
  DOG SLED RIDES!
  Jackpine Bob Cary FUN SKI DAY! CHILI FEED!
  Final Judging of SNOWBEAR CONTEST!
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  Art Event
  Family Event
  Musical Event
  Sport Event
  Multiple Categories