ELY - The annual Ely Winter Festival celebrates its 35th year when it gets underway on Thursday, Feb. 7 and organizers say this year’s event will offer plenty of traditional favorites as well as exciting new additions. The event runs through Sunday, Feb. 17.

The International Snow-sculpting Symposium is set for Feb. 7-10 as 18 teams from across Minnesota, including some from Ely, and even other countries, will compete to create amazing art from huge blocks of snow at Ely’s Whiteside Park.

“If you live in Ely, you’ve probably seen the snow blocks going up,” said Shauna Vega, one of the EWF organizers. “Volunteers brave the cold to set up the forms, which employees of the city of Ely fill.”

This year’s international competition includes a new team from Ukraine, as well as a returning team from Argentina. “Team Bon Temps is moving up from amateur to professional,” said Vega.

During the first weekend, visitors to Whiteside Park can thaw chilly toes and fingers in the large warming tent, complete with stove. Again this year, Ely Flower and Seed will create and maintain a skating rink in the park, Vega said.

Winter Festival Kickoff activities start at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8. Ely skiers, hockey players, ice skaters, dancers, and the Ely High School’s percussion section join forces for a high-energy evening. The fire cauldron will be lit and will burn during the weekend. Everyone can enjoy cookies and hot chocolate.

Other opportunities at Whiteside Park during the first weekend include winter camping demonstrations, an annual Kubb tournament, kicksled demonstrations, and a fat bike tour of local trails, with rentals available.

New activities for 2019 include a meditation labyrinth in the park, created by Tranquility Wellness Center, and a chili cook-off contest to benefit the Ely Area Food Shelf at the park pavilion.

“Literally hundreds of events are listed in our brochure,” Vega said. “Take advantage of as many of them as you can. Have you wanted to visit Sigurd Olson’s cabin at Listening Point? How about hiking to the pictographs at Hegman Lake? The Ely Folk School offers almost 20 classes during the festival. Fill up at Veterans on the Lake’s fish fry Saturday, Feb. 9.”

Vega also encouraged people to take part in the Hidden Valley candlelight ski, set for Saturday, Feb. 9, beginning at 5 p.m. “The Hidden Valley Ski Area is a gem of Ely, maintained by the Ely Nordic Ski Club. They’ll have hot cocoa and a bonfire,” she said.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, the Nordic Ski Club has scheduled kids races and silly fun at 2:30 p.m., a 10K Ski Tour at 3:30 p.m., and 10K and 20K Fat Bike Races at 5:30 p.m.

The windows at dozens of Ely’s businesses will be filled with the work of the community’s numerous artists, displayed by the folks at the Ely Artwalk. Brochures with a map and descriptions are located all over town.

New snow sculptures to help get the word out about the festival can be seen at Fortune Bay, the Grand Ely Lodge, and Veterans on the Lake. Kara Polyner and Rachel Colber of Underground Optimists carved three blocks at Fortune Bay. Team Stocks, led by Jaymie Stocks, tackled the block at the GEL. “Jaymie is headed to the national snow-sculpting competition later in the month,” Vega said. “She and her team have won awards there in the past.” Navy Veteran Timothy Young carved the snow block at Vets on the Lake.

Look for the snow carving of the official 2019 Ely Winter Festival pin, with an image of a pine marten, at the Front Porch this weekend, directed by Nancy Scheibe. “We hoped to get the carving done last weekend, but the sub-zero temperatures delayed our work,” Scheibe said.

Northern Grounds at 2 W. Sheridan St. is the official 2019 Ely Winter Festival headquarters. Those interested can obtain festival information and buy a pin or a t-shirt to support the festival.

All events and sponsors are also listed on the website, elywinterfestival.com.

The Ely Winter Festival and the Ely ArtWalk are funded in part by grants from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund), the Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust, the Ely Chamber of Commerce, Fortune Bay Resort and Casino, Miller Hill Subaru, and local merchants, organizations, and individuals.

How it all began

In 1984, the Ely Ski Club (now known as the Ely Nordic Ski Club) started a cross-country ski race running from Tower to Ely called the Wilderness Trek. Local businesses and craftspeople set up booths at the finish line. Food and live music added to the festivities.

Starting in 1988, Bill and Gloria Miller volunteered numerous hours to create and direct more activities at the finish line of the Wilderness Trek. Their focus was on expanding to a three-day weekend promoting outdoor activities and education about the history of the Ely area.

In 1995, the Millers and their army of volunteers called on Bob Maidl to organize a Snow Sculpting Symposium in concert with an expanded 10-day festival surrounding the Wilderness Trek and highlighting the area’s Voyageur connection. Steger Mukluks hosted the first Mukluk Ball. The first commemorative pin was designed especially for the festival.

Then, in 1998, as part of the Voyageur Winter Festival, the Ely ArtWalk was created to promote local artists and their work by providing exhibition space in the windows of Ely’s downtown merchants. That year, 16 artists participated, displaying 30 pieces of art in a handful of stores. In 2004, the Ely ArtWalk became its own entity and by 2006 included over 170 artists, 600 pieces of art and 55 stores participating in the event.

Over the years, activities such as a crafts fair, musical concerts, sled dog rides, and several food events have become part of the festivities. In 2007, the name of the festival changed from Voyageur Winter Festival to Ely Winter Festival.

Whatever the name, the festival always offers a great way to enjoy all that winter in the North Country has to offer. “There’s always something for the whole family,” said Vega.