ELY – Northern Minnesota’s premier fall celebration is back, with the 31st annual Harvest Moon Festival set to transform Whiteside Park into a bustling marketplace of regional artisans and craftspeople Sept. 5-7.
The three-day event will host 109 vendors displaying their wares across 132 booths, offering everything from handcrafted pottery and original paintings to custom jewelry and woodwork.
“The Harvest Moon Festival is a true celebration of creativity and community,” said Kristen Switajewski, event director for the Ely Chamber of Commerce. “We are incredibly proud to host so many talented artists and vendors.”
The festival draws visitors from across the region to this gateway city near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Beyond the vendor booths, attendees can enjoy fresh-baked pies from the local Kiwanis Club in the pavilion and live music broadcasts from WELY 103.9 FM at the bandshell throughout the weekend.
The celebration extends beyond the park boundaries, coinciding with the Harvest Days shopping event running Thursday through Sunday. Downtown Ely businesses will offer special promotions during the four-day period.
See more Harvest Moon coverage, including a vendor list and map, on pages 1B – 3B in this week’s paper.