ArtWalk |
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| Location | Downtown Ely, MN 55731 |
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| Dates | February 04, 2010 - February 14, 2010 | |
| Description: | Welcome to Winter! Welcome to a land where the sky is so blue and the sun shines so bright that you forget that the temperature has descended past freezing long ago; where snow is carved into beautiful shapes and where the town itself becomes an art gallery. Welcome to the Ely Winter Festival! You might remember it as the Voyageur Winter Festival. But Ely is so much more than its French history. We share our land and our economy with the Native brothers and sisters who lived here first. We are miners and children of miners, resorters, artists, and lovers of the natural area we inhabit. And that includes winter: snow, ice, and all that comes with it! Most of all, we love to PARTY! And that's what the Winter Festival is, a big party. Won't you come and join us? # Support the Festival: buy a Festival pin or T-shirt # Read all the latest Festival News # Get the latest Event Schedule Details # View a Photo Gallery of Snow Sculptures from past Festivals # MAKE IT HAPPEN! Be a Volunteer! # Please give our sponsors your business. We'd love you to become a Sponsor. # Find out more about Ely and about the Festival. This event is made possible in part by grants from the Ely Chamber of Commerce, Iron Range Resources, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, and an Arts Across Minnesota grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature. The History of the Winter Festival 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, Minnesota 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 featuring the Voyageur historical aspect of the area. 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, activites such as a crafts fair, musical concerts, Sled Dog Rides, and several food events have become part of the festivities. Each year, Grand Marshalls are selected from the community, usually based on their service, especially to the Winter Festival. The late Bob Cary and his wife, Edith Sommer Cary, two of the original members of the Ski Club, were honored as Grand Marshals of the 2006 Voyageur Winter Festival. In 2008, Terri and Terry Schocke were honored for their many years of volunteer service with the Festival. In 2007, the name of the festival changed from Voyageur Winter Festival to Ely Winter Festival. The historical aspect is still represented during the two surrounding weekends of the festival and there are always a lot of additional events for the artistically inclined, the musically inclined, those who love the outdoors and those who love to eat! Something for the whole family! | |
| Contact name | Alanna+Johnson | |
| Phone | 218 365-7890 | |
| Event Website | http://www.elywinterfestival.com | |
| Year # | First Year | |
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Search for more info on this event: Google for: Ely ArtWalk |
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| Maps and Directions (from Google Maps) | ||
For ended craft show, fairs and festivals, please go to our archive page.
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