Ely Winter Festival

Ely Winter Festival 10 Days of Celebrating winter in Ely, MN ❄️ February 5-15, 2026! This activity is made possible in part by a grant from the Donald G Gardner Humanities Trust.

This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature's general arts and cultural heritage funds.

Thank you to the local organizations and entities that sponsor us; we couldn't do it without you!
02/15/2026

Thank you to the local organizations and entities that sponsor us; we couldn't do it without you!

People's Choice Winners have been tallied! - 1st Place - Team: The Real Greatest Snowmen • Sculpture: Your Welcome- 2nd ...
02/15/2026

People's Choice Winners have been tallied!

- 1st Place - Team: The Real Greatest Snowmen • Sculpture: Your Welcome

- 2nd Place - Team: Mischief Makers • Sculpture: The Dance

- Third Place - Team: The "Eh" Team • Sculpture: Maybe This One Will Stick

Thank you to all of our fantastic snow carvers, you've all created stunning works of art again this year ❄

Ely Winter Festival is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund; and in part by a grant from Ely’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust. Operating support is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Thank you to our service sponsors!From graphic design and content services to builders to realty and more, we’re gratefu...
02/14/2026

Thank you to our service sponsors!
From graphic design and content services to builders to realty and more, we’re grateful to have the best of the best right here in Ely.

Ely Winter Festival | February 5-15, 2026

Happening now at Silver Rapids Lodge! Head on down to watch the fun. Cribbage TournamentSaturday, February 14 th 2026At ...
02/14/2026

Happening now at Silver Rapids Lodge! Head on down to watch the fun.

Cribbage Tournament
Saturday, February 14 th 2026
At Silver Rapids Lodge
459 Kawishiwi Trail, Ely

Singles Play starts at 9am - $10 per person
Team Play starts at 1pm - $20 per team
Lunch will be available at Noon

Thank you to our sponsor Lake Country Power, our local electricity cooperative!Their mission is to enhance our communiti...
02/12/2026

Thank you to our sponsor Lake Country Power, our local electricity cooperative!

Their mission is to enhance our communities by providing safe, reliable, and affordable energy services to their rural Northern Minnesota members - all 44,000+ of them. Lake Country Power has the largest service area of any electricity cooperative in the state, maintaining more than 8,200 miles of distribution lines within 10,872 square miles of territory.

Ely Winter Festival is grateful to have received a Lake Country Power grant through their Operation Round Up® program. This charitable program is unique to electric co-ops, and is designed to provide financial assistance to worthwhile activities and community projects by “rounding up” members’ electric bills to the nearest dollar. The average donation of each participating Lake Country Power member is less than $6 annually. Among Lake Country Power’s 44,000+ members, 70% of all active electric accounts participate in the program through voluntary contributions. Interested members can opt into the Operation Round Up® program by calling the cooperative at 800-421-9959.

Get the latest news from Lake Country Power at lakecountrypower.coop/posts

It's Ely Trivia Night at Boathouse Brewpub - open to all! Prizes for the winning teams.Cost: $5-$10 suggested donation t...
02/12/2026

It's Ely Trivia Night at Boathouse Brewpub - open to all! Prizes for the winning teams.
Cost: $5-$10 suggested donation to play. All proceeds go to the MN-VC International Studies students traveling to Costa Rica.

6:30 - 8:30 PM at Boathouse Brewpub
47 E Sheridan St. Ely, MN 55731

Ely Winter Festival | February 5-15, 2026

Ely Winter Festival is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund; and in part by a grant from Ely’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust. Operating support is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

02/12/2026

After the cabins were disassembled, they had to be moved. Due to the snowmobile ban taking full effect in 1984, the vast majority of the cabins were moved by dog sled.
Here we can see a dog team in action. There were even two sleds custom built to bring out some of the larger cabin logs.

Collection of the DMM 2012.007.1248.575

02/10/2025

The 2025 International Snow Sculpting Symposium wrapped up on Saturday, and the results are beautiful! Stop down to Whiteside Park this week and see them in person!

Video By: Chris Ellerbroek (Corvid Images)

❄️✨ The 2025 Ely Winter Festival Snow Sculptures are complete! ❄️✨From towering masterpieces to intricate details carved...
02/09/2025

❄️✨ The 2025 Ely Winter Festival Snow Sculptures are complete! ❄️✨

From towering masterpieces to intricate details carved with precision, this year’s sculptures showcase the incredible talent and creativity of our artists. Wander through this winter wonderland and marvel at the icy artistry that brings Ely to life each February.

Which sculpture is your favorite? Drop a comment below! ⬇️




📸 Iconic Images Photography

02/09/2025

✨ The Magic Starts with Rock Country Masonry ✨

Before the first chisel hits the snow, before the first masterpiece comes to life—Rock Country Masonry is working tirelessly behind the scenes, prepping the massive blocks of snow that make the Ely Winter Festival possible. ❄️🏰

And they don’t stop there. Every year, they craft a jaw-dropping, interactive snow sculpture that brings out the kid in all of us. Their stone castles are legendary, their craftsmanship unmatched, and their generosity? Beyond words.

They do it all out of the goodness of their hearts—because they believe in the magic of this festival just as much as we do. 💙

So next time you're wandering through the stunning snow carvings, remember the team that makes it all possible. Drop a comment, give them a high five, or just take a moment to appreciate the incredible Rock Country Masonry team!

👏 THANK YOU for being the heart of this festival! 👏

Address

423 E Sheridan Street, Ste 2
Ely, MN
55731

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ely Winter Festival posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category