Vendors will set up at Whiteside Park’s nationally recognized Harvest Moon Festival for the 32nd year late next week, from Friday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 13.
USA Today has counted the event among the nation’s top 10 best fall festivals for three consecutive years, with 2026 rankings still open for voting.
Though she angled for a top-five finish last year, Ely Chamber of Commerce event director Kristen Switajewski said this year might be a tougher contest. Rankings solidify on Monday, Sept. 7, meaning Harvest Moon can’t leverage its usual advantage — voting throughout the festival, with plenty of encouragement from vendors.
“I do feel we had a great push last year because we had a lot of vendors that said, ‘Don’t forget to vote! Don’t forget to vote!’” Switajewski said. “We loaded the park with signs.”
This year’s vendor numbers slightly top last year’s, with approximately 120 merchants to last year’s 109.
Those on the list for 2026’s cancelled Blueberry/ Art Festival received two options: roll their fee over to Harvest Moon or to 2027’s upcoming Blueberry/Art event.
Switajewski said she saw a handful of vendors accept the Harvest Moon option, though most decided to attend the future Blueberry/ Art Festival. Many of those vendors who decided to set up this September will be first-time Harvest Moon attendees.
“What happens is a lot of vendors book their shows out at the beginning (of the season),” Switajewski said. “We had a lot of vendors that said they already had dates when we offered for them to come to Harvest.”
Switajewski hopes for larger crowds than usual at this year’s Harvest Moon, due to attendees hoping to purchase artwork and other wares they may have missed the chance to acquire due to the Blueberry/Art Festival cancellation.
The Chamber estimates attendance numbers based on vendor sales. Switajewski said Harvest Moon may draw 15,000 visitors to Ely, as compared to Blueberry/ Art’s nearly 40,000 annual attendees.
Though there will again be no entertainment this year, Switajewski said it is likely in the cards for future festivals, both Harvest Moon and Blueberry/Art. Live performances were eliminated a number of years back due to budget constraints.
Attendees can still check out blacksmithing demonstrations by Duluth’s Forging Community, who have become a Harvest Moon staple.
Food court options will range from barbecue to Mexican cuisine, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and more. The Kiwanis Club will again sell pies.
The Chamber’s website lists one-of-a-kind art, pottery, woodcrafts and more as examples of the festival’s art and craft offerings.
Switajewski encourages festival attendees to hit up Ely’s downtown shopping district for Harvest Business Days specials. A number of local shops will run promotions.
“We’re trying to help balance the flow down to the community, because we want the businesses to succeed, even more this year than in the past. Everyone’s hurting because of the fires,” Switajewski said.
Harvest Moon typically comes together through the work of the Chamber of Commerce’s small team of two to three staff members, alongside a handful of volunteers and the festival’s board members.
Six volunteers will help “make the magic happen” at this year’s Harvest Moon, Switajewski said, plus another six for booth judging.
“I thank everyone every day,” Switajewski said.
Switajewski frames the festival as a large reunion among attendees, volunteers and organizers.
“I personally am excited to see the vendors and the attendees, the ones that purposefully come to the festivals,” Switajewski said. “They’re family, so it’s exciting to see them once or twice a year.”
Art and craft vendors will maintain open booths from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday’s hours will be limited to 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The food court will welcome shoppers from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Sunday.
