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Annual Ely winter party starts today and runs all week

Keith Vandervort
Posted 2/2/22

ELY – The countdown has ended and this community’s major winter celebration has arrived. The 2022 Ely Winter Festival runs from today, Feb. 3, through Sunday, Feb. 13.Organizers say a …

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Annual Ely winter party starts today and runs all week

Posted

ELY – The countdown has ended and this community’s major winter celebration has arrived. The 2022 Ely Winter Festival runs from today, Feb. 3, through Sunday, Feb. 13.
Organizers say a more typical celebration will be held this year after the 2021 celebration was dialed back due to COVID-19 public health concerns.
Longtime local artist and snow carver Nancy Scheibe, with help from Randy Greiner and Heidi Favet, worked last weekend to create the signature Winter Festival pin at Front Porch Coffee and Tea Co.
The 2022 Winter Festival pin was designed by Nancy Ensley and depicts the most popular part of Ely’s seasonal celebration.
“This is the first time I carved a snow carver carving snow,” Scheibe said.
The festival kicks off tonight with an opening ceremony in Whiteside Park, beginning at 6:30 p.m., with a torchlight procession and lighting.
“There are plenty of activities to fill your schedules,” said organizer Shauna Vega. “The board and volunteers have been busy putting all the final details together and we are ready to bring back some time-honored favorite events.”
The Snow Sculpting Symposium, Ely ArtWalk, snowshoe hikes with the Listening Point Foundation and the Great Nordic Beardfest are all back for this year.
The snow sculpture symposium includes sculpting teams from Minnesota, the upper Midwest, Germany, and Argentina. Starting today, Whiteside Park will be full of visitors flocking to see the snow sculptures as they take shape.
A full schedule and more festival information can be found on the event’s website at www.elywinterfestival.com. It will include additional details about events and COVID-19 updates. A brochure with all the details is available at many local businesses all over town.
The amateur snow sculpting contest also returns this year. Amateur individuals, families, and groups have been carving their creations this week. Judging and prizes will be awarded Saturday afternoon.
The Great Nordic Beardfest will be conducted at two venues over two days, at the Boathouse Brewpub and Restaurant tonight, and at Ely’s Historic State Theater on Saturday. Check out their website, www.greatnordicbeardfest.com. for more information and to register.
Tonight, at the Boathouse, the Belt Tournament competition begins at 7 p.m. Music will be provided by Steven Solkela and The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank. Admission is $10 or $5 with a Winter Festival pin.
Doors open at the Ely State Theater at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5 for the main event competition. Admission is $25. Tickets are available online at www.movies.elystatetheater.org.
Music by Waffle House Melee, Charlie Parr, and Black-Eyed Snakes.
Snowshoe hike tours out to Sigurd Olson’s historic Listening Point will be available through the ten days of the festival.
The Ely Folk School will be hosting a variety of classes, from Diamond Willow Walking Stick Carving and Pasty Making to Crafting a Gemstone Necklace and Date Night Pottery all week. For more information, go to www.elyfolkschool.org.
Winter camping demonstrations at Whiteside Park, Whirlwind outdoor activities and museum tours at the Dorothy Molter Museum, Vermilion Law Enforcement Ice Fishing Tournament, snowshoe hiking on Burntside Lake, and more outdoor recreational activities will be available.
The windows of many downtown Ely businesses will be turned into a walking art gallery as the Ely Art Walk returns for local artists to display their best works.
The Ely Winter Festival is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
This activity is also made possible by a grant from the Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.
“The Ely Winter Festival would like to thank Veterans on the Lake, Raven Words Press, Twin Metals Minnesota, Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, Grand Ely Lodge, and Ely Family Dental for their generous support,” Board Member Shauna Vega said.
For more information, contact Shauna Vega at 218-365-SNOW or Shauna@elywinterfestival.com.