.jpg)
February brings a host of winter events to the Ely area starting today with the Fun Run and continuing this week with the annual Ely Winter Festival.
While Elyites are enjoying mild conditions at the end of the week, we’re thankful that snow remains abundant at least in comparison to the rest of the state.
On Thursday temperatures reached 50 degrees in the Twin Cities and there was nothing but brown to be seen. That could bode well not only for our upcoming winter events but even beyond as those looking for winter recreation may have to point their vehicles north to find snow.
When we have snow, the money flows to our gas stations, restaurants, bars, hotels, resorts and retail stores. We may notice the snowmobiles the most but there are plenty of folks who come here to enjoy cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing and even snowshoeing.
Ely excels in serving up winter activities and we’re glad to have winter tourism, especially after a nearly non-existent winter a year ago.
The events are really a bonus but highlight what Ely has to offer and give folks the opportunity to get out of the house or cabin. The Fun Run started as a snowmobile event over two decades ago and has morphed into a multi-modal event where people travel but car or truck or if the weather deals us a fastball, even by motorcycle.
Each year the Fun Run provides over $20,000 to our three area snowmobile clubs, Ely Igloo, Vermilion Penguins and the Babbitt Snowmobile and ATV Club.
The Winter Festival includes the return of the Beardfest, some concerts, classes at the Folk School, a ski event at Hidden Valley, ArtWalk with over 400 pieces of local artwork, history night presentations and of course the professional snow sculpting symposium in Whiteside Park.
Our hope is that people come to town to check out these events and find Ely is a pretty cool place to spend time in the winter.
