Ely Winter Festival

Dive into celebrating Minnesota winter at the Ely Winter Festival. There are fun activities for everyone!

February is one of the best times to enjoy the Ely area, as it’s time for the annual Ely Winter Festival! The festival runs for more than a week starting February 6th and continuing until February 16th, 2025.

Some of the activities include:

• Snow Sculpting Symposium
• Art Walk
• Dorothy Molter Whirlwind! Community Event
• Folk School Classes
• Listening Point Snowshoe Tour
• Ely Film Festival
• Candlelight Ski
• plus more!

The process of snow sculpting is truly amazing! Think for a moment about all the time spent planning, not to mention constructing, turning blocks of snow into detailed snow sculptures. It is takes so much creativity, perseverance, and the right winter gear! Check the photos from previous years to get an idea of the creations that have been made. Make a plan to check out these creations in person!

On Saturday, February 15th, it’s both the Candlelight Ski and the Ely Nordic Loppet! The Candlelight ski and Hot Cocoa Cup race is FREE. The 5k, 10k and 20k have a small registration fee that supports the Ely Nordic Ski & Bike Club and the maintenance of their beautiful trail system. There will also be live music and tacos in the chalet between the races and the candlelight ski.

Support the festival by purchasing products. Purchase festival pins and shirts at Northern Grounds, the Festival Headquarters. In addition, products can also be viewed online.

Taking place February 6th-16th, there will be activities for everyone. Check out the full schedule here.

Follow the Ely Winter Festival on Facebook for more information and regular updates.