Harvest Moon vendors spend $ Survey shows economic impact, support for ongoing fall festival
It’s widely known that Ely’s festivals make an economic impact by bringing people to town.
But a survey commissioned by the Ely Chamber of Commerce shows that festival vendors pack their own economic punch.
Results of the survey, released Tuesday at the city’s economic development authority meeting, showed that festival vendors spent over $35,000 on lodging and another $22,000-plus in other shopping during last month’s Harvest Moon Festival.
The Chamber surveyed the festival’s 109 vendors and got a 44 percent response rate, and executive director Eva Sebesta shared the findings with city council members, who double as the city’s EDA.
This year’s Harvest Moon Festival was held Sept. 5-7, and survey respondents indicated on average that they spent $327 on lodging and another $204 on shopping, for a total amount spent of $57,943.
That’s compared to $44,601 last year.
“Lodging was where we saw the bump,” said Sebesta. “I think it was great that there’s more money being left in the community. To see that bump in lodging was a very good thing.”
About three-fourths of the respondents rated this year’s festival, which was hampered at times by cold and rainy weather, as either “very good” or “excellent.”
The Chamber asked vendors about potentially moving the date of next year’s festival, but after feedback, the dates will remain as is.
“We asked vendors about changing the date but it was overwhelming they wanted to keep the dates the same,” said Sebesta. “Some of the responses had to do with being able to produce enough product, and that there’s 28 years of the festival being on a given weekend, and that can be really hard to reeducate people on that. So we will be keeping the festival where it is - it will be the weekend after Labor Day.
Perhaps because of the weather, more vendors reported a drop in sales (45.82 percent) as opposed to sales staying the same or higher (27.09 percent). The rest of the respondents were firsttime Harvest Moon vendors.
Sebesta also reported about plans for upcoming Chamber events, including the Mrs. Claus Holiday Party, which will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Grand Ely Lodge.
New this year is a sensory- friendly time, from 10:30 to 11 a.m., with the regular party to include craft tables, cookies, and a hot cocoa bar, Santa and Mrs. Claus, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We typically see around 100 kids, up to 160,” said Sebesta.
The Chamber will also hold a “Shop Local” promotion on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Fun Halloween bingo at the Ely Community Center with treats and special prizes. Thirty-five players voted on the best costume. Rose Wickman received $25 with the most votes for her hippy costume. Line up: Candy Herberg, Judy Bonderson, Sher Ericson, Rose Wickman, Margie Olson, Bev Tuura, Ashley Gorecki, Linda Lewis and Terry Muhvich.
