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Annual snowmobile event, fundraiser and prize giveaway will go on
One of the area’s most popular winter events figures to be bigger than ever in 2025.
Whether or not enough measurable snow covers local snowmobile trails, the Fun Run snowmobile event will go on as planned on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Snowmobiling is at the heart of the annual extravaganza, with proceeds going to support area trails.
But in its 22-year existence, the Fun Run has proven it does not require snow to carry on - or for participants to have a good time.
A year ago, an absence of snow prompted almost all of the 1,000plus participants to travel between checkpoints in Ely, Babbitt and Tower by car - and many were in attendance for an evening wrap-up party where hundreds of prizes were given away.
Organizers say to expect more of the same this year.
“This year we anticipate having even more prizes than ever, hundreds and hundreds of prizes,” said Jim Zupancich, longtime event co-chairman.
Zupancich and others associated with the event are hoping that more snow will fall and allow more participants to take part by snowmobile, but the Fun Run participants have proven to be a resourceful bunch.
“Last year we had no snow and I think almost everybody went by car,” said Zupancich. “We had over 1,000 people and not all of the people went to Fortune Bay but we had a lot of people there.”
The 2024 event will be the 21st in the history of the Fun Run. It’s become a staple on the area’s winter calendar and is billed as a family fun event.
“This is fun for the whole family,” said Zupancich. “A great way to break up the winter, get out and go and win a lot of prizes.”
The big draw this year, as in every year with the Fun Run, are the prizes associated with the event.
The list seems to grow every year, both in number and value.
Participants, for either a $25 advance entry or $30 on the day of the event, can increase their opportunities to win prizes by stopping at all three checkpoints in Ely, Babbitt and Tower.
In addition to the activities during the day, the event concludes with an evening wrap-up party that usually brings several hundred people to Fortune Bay Resort and Casino.
While all participants are entered into a drawing for $1,000 in cash and numerous other prizes, there will be several hundred prizes given away in all.
“Last year we had the biggest event and the most prizes ever and this year we anticipate having even more,” said Zupancich. “We’ve got a bunch of 70-inch color TVs, a giant generator, hundreds and hundreds of prizes.”
The event is known for the assortment of prizes given away, including a fan favorite - a year’s supply of toilet paper.
That includes golf and hotel packages at Fortune Bay, a year’s supply of milk, cheese and bread, Zup’s and Blomberg’s gift cards and more. Fortune Bay will also be home to several raffle tables with prizes valued in the hundreds of dollars, or even more .
Proceeds from the Fun Run support area snowmobile trails, but the event has evolved in its two decades and now serves as one of the top family-fun events of the winter for the Ely, Babbitt and Tower communities.
“People like the Fun Run event because it’s something fun to do during the winter and the money raised stays right here to benefit our local snowmobile trail system,” said event co-chairperson Nick Wognum.
Three businesses serve as check- in points but the influx of people usually helps other restaurants and shops in each community.
This year the check-in points are Grand Ely Lodge, Fish Tales Tavern in Babbitt and Good Old Days in Tower “We have people out looking for door prizes right now and if your business would like to donate get a hold of me or Nick or drop off prizes at the Ely Echo or Zup’s,” said Zupancich. “We want to thank everyone for being so generous in the past, and the many volunteers we have as well..”
At Fortune Bay, the hotel is almost always sold out during Fun Run weekend with hundreds of others coming to the casino for the wrap-up party.
“We’re going to start that a little earlier this year, and we’ll be giving prizes away starting at 7:15,” said Zupancich. “We’d like to get everything done by 10 o’clock.”
The event has also provided a mid-winter economic boom and perhaps most importantly, a lot of fun.
Those wishing to take part in the Fun Run may sign up online at www.snowmobilefunrun.com. Registration forms are also available at Zup’s in Ely and Blomberg’s in Ely and Babbitt.
Same-day registrations are also available, but for $30.
While organizers are keeping their eyes on the weather forecast and hoping for a more usual winter - and one with enough snow to make trail riding a possibility in early-February - they say nothing will stand in the way of the 2025 Fun Run.
