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Ely festival rated one of best fall events in nation, per USA Today poll
Ely’s annual fall festival has gained some lofty national recognition.
The Harvest Moon Festival, which was held here from Sept. 6-8, got 10th place in USA Today’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Award for the Best Fall Festival.
“We are so excited to place in the top 10,” said Kristen Switajewski, festival coordinator for event sponsor Ely Chamber of Commerce. “This will really help further promote our fall festival, which has plenty of room to grow.”
Voting wrapped up earlier this month and the Ely festival slid into 10th place in balloting conducted online.
The Harvest Moon Festival, which has been in existence for 30 years, was ranked as one of the top 20 contenders for the USA Today award for the second year in a row.
Voting followed in September and the Ely Chamber went all out to garner votes.
To get the word out, Chamber staff posted the voting link on social media and had signs posted at each of Whiteside Park’s entrances during the festival.
“We even had the staff at the Frozen Tundra in our Harvest Moon food court encouraging people to vote for the festival – they apparently did a fantastic job,” said Switajewski.
The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, held in Evansvile, Indiana, was voted the top festival in the nation.
Ely placed behind festivals from such diverse locales as Verona, Wisc., to Mesilla, NM and Seven Springs, PA.
The event has carved an identity of its own as a smaller, more laid-back version of the July Blueberry/Art Festival, and for the second consecutive year, fans of the Harvest Moon had the chance to vote to give it national acclaim.
This year’s festival included approximately 120 arts and craft exhibitors and a food court, and came on the heels of Ely’s signature summer event - the Blueberry/Art Festival.
Switajewski directed both festivals on behalf of the Chamber.
“Kristen took on the festival coordinator role in 2023. She has done a phenomenal job of promoting the festival to both exhibitors and the public. She has offered fresh new ideas, and both our Harvest Moon and Blueberry/Art festivals have benefited significantly,” said Eva Sebesta, executive director.
