Another crowded start

Whiteside Park was filled with vendors and visitors.Parking spaces were filled for blocks around the park and Ely even had some traffic jams.A typical Friday afternoon in Ely?That's hardly the case 51 weeks out of the year, but when that Friday is the opening day of Blueberry/Art Festival, it’s no surprise.The 24th annual festival kicked off Friday under sunny skies, with comfortable temperatures and in traditional fashion, with crowds filling the park well before the official noon start-up.By the end of the weekend, more than 45,000 people were expected to pass through the park for the arts and crafts show.A steady stream of cars filed into Ely Friday morning, and license plates from around the country were spotted near Whiteside.The festival attracts quite a mix - from former Ely residents returning home for the weekend to tourists who make the Blueberry spectacular part of their annual vacation plans.Almost 250 vendors had set up shop by Friday, among them 221 arts and craft exhibitors - including about 40 here for the first time.The newcomers were among the lucky selected from a festival waiting list, and there was no shortage of customers waiting to browse and buy.Handmade furniture, tie-dyed T-shirts, clothing, clocks and leatherwork were among the many items being offered for sale in the festival.Lines were already forming at many booths Friday, and the west end of the park included a food and drink corridor with about 30 different options - everything from festival staples such as hamburgers and fried bread to items such as gyro sandwiches and cheese curds.Some festival-goers stopped for a break and a beverage at the beer tent operated by the Ely Jaycees, while others took in festival entertainment.A dunk tank, children’s games, storytelling, and entertainment in the park bandshell were all in the offing throughout the festival, which wrapped up Sunday afternoon.Putting it all together is a task in itself for the Ely Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event.Chamber organizers were busy on opening day making sure exhibitors were in their proper space, and tending to any and all last-minute details.And despite the mass of humanity descending on the park and the need for some to venture out onto the surrounding avenues just for elbow-room, the event appeared to begin without a hitch.Lodging facilities were filled around the region last weekend, and the community’s streets and sidewalks were busy during the week.And near the park, others were hoping to cash in on some festival overflow.Members of Ely’s high school cross country ski team were allowed to man school parking lots and sold parking space for $5 per vehicle.Several signs, meanwhile, directed festival visitors to the Ely Arena, where for the fifth consecutive year, Ely’s high school hockey team held a flea market and craft show.The flea market serves as the only fundraiser of the year for the high school hockey program.