PLEASE NOTE: Your free event news can be posted on the Ely Echo newspaper’s Community Calendar. Send your info to: [email protected].
NLAA’s Reflections Dance Company presents Water 2.0, an exploration of water issues in a changing world. Water gives life, and can take it away. Experience the power and beauty of dance accompanied by live music. Water 2.0 will be presented on Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Minnesota North College Vermilion Fine Arts Theater.
The Ely Weavers and Fiber Arts Group will meet on Monday, Aug. 11 at 11:30 a.m. at the Grand Ely Lodge.
At the Ely Public Library on Monday, August 11 at 3 p.m. will be the Friends of the Library Bookclub. The book for discussion this month is Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. You do not need to be a member of Friends of the Library to attend.
Ely for Ely Monthly Gathering topic will be On the Trail with Ely’s Economic Development with John Fedo, economic development consultant on Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. at the Ely Regional Trailhead. The program is free and open to all and includes continental breakfast The Ely Regional Trailhead Open House event will be Wednesday, August 27 from 5-8 p.m. with the ribbon cutting slated for 6 p.m.
Mixed Precipitation will perform The Pickup Truck Opera, Vol. 5: The Return of King Idomeneo, on August 13 at 7 p.m. in Whiteside Park.
At the Ely Public Library on Wednesday, August 13 at 3:30 p.m. the program will be Will Sings Songs – for all ages. Driven by audience participation, Will’s songs are guaranteed to get kids moving, grooving, laughing, and singing.
At the Ely Public Library on Thursday, August 14 at noon the program will be Save the Monarchs – for adults/older teens. Discover the life cycle of these exquisite creatures and ways to contribute to conservation efforts. Patrons will walk away with information and seeds to plant milkweed. Pre-registration required, sponsored by Friends of the Library.
The 10th annual Ride, Raffle ‘N Roll for ALS will be held Saturday, Aug. 16, starting at Timber Hall in Embarrass. Pancake breakfast available for purchase and open to the public 8-10 a.m. Ride registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. Proceeds benefit Never Surrender Inc. through the 2026 Black Woods Blizzard Tour. For more information, call or text Travis Erickson at 218-780-8944.
Heritage Fest at Ely’s Historic Pioneer Mine in the Miners Dry is a daylong event celebrating Iron Range Heritage to be held in Ely on Aug. 16 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The event features food, live music, a Slovenian Polka Party, refreshments, a bake sale with ethnic favorites, and free Pioneer Mine Museum tours. Admission to this event is free and open to the public. The Pioneer Mine is located at 105 Miners Lake Landing Road in Ely (across from Grand Ely Lodge).
The next Braver Angels Gathering will be on Wednesday, August 20 at the Ely Community Center for a “Depolarization Workshop” from 6-9 p.m. Learn and practice better ways to disagree. Led by Braver Angels state moderator Tim Gustafson. The previously scheduled date of August 12 has been cancelled.
The newly renovated Ely Community Center will held a grand reopening celebration on Aug. 22, from 4-8 p.m. The open house-style event will showcase the newly revamped spaces, including the main hall, meeting room, and commercial kitchen, and offer community members the chance to explore how the space can be used for events and gatherings. Ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Free appetizers and punch will be served, and remarks will begin at 5 p.m., followed by live music from the Chickadee Dee Dees at 5:30 p.m. A slideshow of the building’s transformation will also be on display.
Everyone is welcome to play MahJong at the Ely Community Center on Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m.
