Ely gearing up for two days of festivities

ELY —Ely will mark the nation’s 250th birthday this year with a full weekend of celebrations, kicking off Friday evening and running through the fireworks display on Saturday.
The fun starts with Rock the Park at Whiteside Park on Friday, July 3. Willy Martin & Rangers open at 4 p.m., followed by Whiskey River at 6:30 p.m., and Aftershock closing out the night from 9 to 11 p.m. Beverages will be provided by the Ely Fire Relief Association, and food trucks will be on hand. The event requires a button for entry, and $5 buttons are available at Ace Hardware, Zup’s, Zaverl’s Bar, Ely City Hall Clerk’s Office, Ely Liquor, and from various committee members. Earlier in the evening, Zup’s is sponsoring a free watermelon feed at 6 p.m., and there will be a sawdust pile dig at 6:30 p.m. Medallion hunts run from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. in three age brackets: 12 and under, 17 and under, and adults.
The Fourth of July gets an early start with the Ely Track Club’s 4 on the 4th at Miners Lake Trezona Trailhead. The four-mile run begins at 8 a.m., the walk at 8:10 a.m., and a kids race for ages 12 and under at 8:15 a.m.
At 10 a.m., the Ely Legion and VFW Commanders, joined by the Ely Honor Guard, will hold a short patriotic program and flag-raising at the Ely Veterans Memorial at the Miners Drive and Pioneer Road intersection.
The city’s parade steps off at 1 p.m. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. along Fourth Ave., with entrants entering at Boundary St. and Fourth Ave. The route heads from Fourth Ave. and Harvey, turns left onto Harvey St. to Second Ave. East, continues down Sheridan St., then turns right onto Eighth Ave., ending at Whiteside Park. Judging in the Commercial, Non-Commercial, and Most Patriotic categories runs from 10 a.m. to noon. Kids with decorated bikes, trikes, wagons, or in costumes will be judged separately from 11 a.m. to noon in front of the ECR Building at 111 S. Fourth Ave. E, with ribbons and cash prizes on the line.
Anyone wanting to enter the parade can sign up through city hall’s clerk’s office at 218-365-3224, ext. 1. Veterans are invited to ride in the parade. A chair lift is available for those who need it, with a meetup spot at the corner of Fourth and Harvey under the tent.
Young Life is sponsoring activities and food in Whiteside Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with picnic food in the pavilion and games for all ages. Family fun races are set for 2:30 p.m. At noon, the Young Life mattress races return at the south end of the park. Teams can bring their own mattress or borrow one on-site, and first place takes home $25. Live music moves to Semers Park from 3-9 p.m.
The evening closes with fireworks over Miners Lake at 10 p.m., put on by Premier Pyrotechnics.
Donations to support the events can be sent to Ely Events Group, PO Box 231, Ely, MN 55731.