Reunion countdown is on

Reunion countdown is on Advance registration reaches 865 for first All-Class event since ’04

After more than a year of planning, Ely’s All-ClassReunion has gone from something off in a distance to an event that’s fast approaching.

The festivities begin in about two weeks, with the grand celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Ely Memorial High School running from June 29-July 6.

After a slow start, registration for the event has picked up steam.

Reunion co-chair Diana Mavetz Petrich said that advance registrations reached 865 earlier this week and that the number is growing by the day.

“There are more coming, and there are a lot of people saying I haven’t registered yet,” said Mavetz Petrich, a 1979 Ely graduate.

Registration is still being accepted and can be done on the reunion website at www. elyallclassreunion.com.

Cost is $25 per person and is required to take part in most reunion events, including both Rock the Park concerts that mark the start and end of the festivities.

Online registration will be cut off the day before the reunion, but in-person registration will be accepted at check-in tables once the reunion begins.

All participants will get a “goodie bag” including trinkets and memorabilia as well as a lanyard, and businesses still have time to donate items to be included.

A large banner promoting the reunion is now up outside the school, on Harvey Street, and that too has helped build anticipation for the event.

“The big sign is up outside the school and that is getting people’s attention,” said Mavetz Petrich. “I think now more people are talking about it and saying they are going, and then other people are jumping on the wagon as well.”

The reunion is being planned by Mavetz Petrich and a large committee that has taken on numerous tasks and planned a slew of events.

It encompasses two weekends, intertwines with Ely’s July 4 celebration, and includes many individual or multi-class gatherings as well as reunion specific events.

Ely’s last all-class reunion was in 2004, and others were held in 1995 and 1976.

A full schedule can be found on the website, but highlights by day include:

• Saturday, June 29 - Rock the Park, 4 to 11 p.m., featuring the polka music of Hank Thunander, followed by Honkytonks and Hangovers and the Northwoods Band;

• Sunday, June 30 - Nondemoninational service at Whiteside Park, and pontoon boat rides on Shagawa Lake;

• Monday, July 1 - Ely’s mining heritage to be celebrated at the Pioneer Mine complex including tours and music, and an all-class mixer that evening also at the mine complex with the music of the Four Blue Teardrops;

• Tuesday, July 2 - Ely Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pioneer Mine complex during the evening and an alumni golf tournament during the day;

• Wednesday, July 3 - Day at School featuring tours and a look at recent renovations, a spaghetti dinner open to the public at the school cafeteria and an evening variety show at Washington Auditorium;

• Thursday, July 4 - Ely’s traditional July 4 activities including the parade, event and children’s games at Whiteside Park and the fireworks display at dusk;

• Friday, July 5 - pickleball tournament and the Ely Alumni Baseball Game;

• Saturday, July 6 - Second Rock the Park concert with Rockabilly Revue, Duluth and Nashville artist Rafe Carlson and The Reckoning.

Food trucks will be set up in the park and beverages will be on sale during the Rock the Park events, and a couple of new wrinkles have been added including Young Life sponsoring inflatables for kids, and a sawdust pile dive for prizes, along with a medallion hunt and a free watermelon feed have also been added to the July 6 event.

As part of the reunion, numerous classes or groups of classes have set up reunions - at private homes and businesses, or at venues including the Senior Center, Whiteside Park pavilion, Veterans on the Lake and Semers Park.

Volunteer help is still needed for some reunion events, and Mavetz Petrich said those interested can reach out at [email protected].

She said help is needed for set up at various events as well as clean up at the Pioneer Mine Miners Dry after completion of events there.