PLEASE NOTE: Your free event news can be posted on the Ely Echo newspaper’s Community Calendar. Send your info to: [email protected].
The Weavers and Fiber Artists group will meet on Monday, Aug. 10, at the Grand Ely Lodge at 11:30 a.m.
At the Ely Public Library on Monday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. the program will be Friends of the Library Bookclub – for adults and older teens. Book to be discussed: H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital will be hosting a “ Mind Matters Youth Night” on Tuesday, Aug. 11 from from 5:30-7 p.m. at The Hub on Miners Drive for ages 9-14. A special surprise from Lutheran Social Services has been announced that they will be raffling two new bikes.
At the Ely Public Library on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. the program will be Armchair Traveler: Uganda and Rwanda with Rene Settergren - for adults. Do you want to see the world, but your budget or time commitments keep you from going everywhere? This month, Rene Settergren will talk about observing wild gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda.
At the Ely Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. the program will be Get Crafty: Art Roulette - For teens and adults (ages 12 and up). Everyone will walk out with a unique, community-created piece of art. Every five minutes you’ll pass the canvas to the person next to you, until everyone has a chance, ending with your original canvas. What will it look like at the end? Registration is required.
Ely Indivisible will be hosting Dr. Anna Madsen on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Ely Community Center. Madsen is an ordained Lutheran pastor, serving as a public theologian for the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA and a co-founder the Two Harbors Breakwall Indivisible. She will put on both the hats of Christian theologian and Indivisible activist to provide context for the theology of Christian Nationalists.
Lake Vermilion Cultural Center in Tower will host Sam Miltich and band with their newest musical project, “ Miletici: New Music from the Old Country” on Aug. 14 from 7-9 p.m. at the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center.
Heritage Fest 2026 kicks off on Friday, Aug. 14 from 5-8 p.m. at Ely’s Historic State Theater. Four short films about Ely’s history and an art show by famous artist Albin Zaverl will be open to the public. Free admission.
On Saturday, Aug. 15 Heritage Fest 2026 continues with youth activities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pioneer Mine, across from Grand Ely Lodge. There will be a Kids Museum Scavenger Hunt for ages 4-12 at 9:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. A Youth Scavenger Hunt for ages 10-18 features cash prizes of $400, $200 and $100 for teams of one to four at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. All ages can take part in a selfie photo booth, arts and crafts projects and a cookie mining game. Admission is free.
Starting at 11 a.m. Heritage Fest 2026 will have a bake sale, food trucks, live entertainment, a walk and talk history tour, a polka party and taste of Slovenia, all at the Pioneer Mine site across from Grand Ely Lodge. Live entertainment includes Steve Solkela from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at the polka party Bernie Palcher at 2 p.m., Fred Godec and Barb at 3:30 p.m. and Roseanne Biondich Omersa from 5-7 p.m. Free admission.
Bring your lawn chair to Whiteside Park on Monday, August 17, at 5 p.m., to hear the Jumpin’ Jehosafats. The JJs play dixieland jazz, spirituals and original tunes, and they are a lot of fun. Ely’s Suzanne Mades (flute) and Elton Brown (tuba) have been part of this Twin Cities-based band for decades. Free-will contributions will support Northern Lights Clubhouse, Well Being Development’s program supporting adults experiencing mental health and other challenges. The band will play in the open-air pavilion (where the audience can sit under cover in case of rain).
Two authors giving talks and selling their books in the coming weeks at the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center in Tower. On Aug. 17 at 6:30 pm, Stephanie Hansen, cookbook author & host of Emmy award-winning TV show “Taste Buds with Stephanie,” will be there at 6:30 pm. She is the author of two True North Cabin Cookbooks. Author Dave Pearsall will be back at St. Mary’s Hall to introduce his newest book,
Immigrants – The Story of America: A Book for Our Time on Aug. 19 beginning at 7 pm.
Ely Watercolor Club had to change the date of the show to Aug. 20-23. The club will again present paintings and greeting cards this summer at Ely’s Miner’s Dry building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
