This episode features a round up of events happening in or around Ely, Minnesota this summer, with an emphasis on events in July and August.

What’s Up Ely celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest. In addition to being a gateway to great outdoors, Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene.

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! With an abundance of opportunities for social engagement and adventure, how is one to know where to start? Let us help!

• Quick PSA: EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides
• Reflections Dance Company, Molly Olson, & More – Episode 1
• Looking Ahead to Blueberries, Blueberry Pie, & Blueberry Art Festival in Ely – Episode 10
• Tofte Lake Center, Liz Engelman, & More – Episode 12
• Indigenous Drumming in Whiteside Park – July 11 
• Nature Writing with Listening Point Foundation 
• Sister Act – NLAA Musical 
• Brainstorm Bakery Live Music Events 
• Pickleball Tournament - July 19
• Motherhood Walk and Talk – Questions? Call Paula 218-606-3082
• Ely Pickleball Club
• Plastic People film – July 30 
• Heritage Fest – August 16
• Forest North Podcast 

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Frank Ivancich and Tom Coombe. They’ll be discussing Ely’s strong tradition of baseball excellence. This conversation is happening in the midst of an exciting season, and in anticipation of Ely hosting the 2025 Division II Senior State Baseball Tournament that will take place July 30 through August 2. 

Tom is the athletic director at Ely’s Memorial High School, the head baseball coach for Minnesota North Vermilion Iron Hawks, as well as the team manager for Ely’s Legion team. 

Frank is the head coach of the Ely Timberwolves baseball team, and assistant Legion Coach, and a leader of the Ely Baseball Association, which runs the entire summer program, as well as the Junior High program.  

Show Notes

• Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]
• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• Ely Legion Baseball
• Ely Little League 
• Minnesota North - Vermilion Iron Hawks baseball 
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Explore Minnesota
• Forest North Podcast

This episode features a round up of events happening in or around Ely, Minnesota this summer, with an emphasis on events in June. 

What’s Up Ely celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest. In addition to being a gateway to great outdoors, Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. 

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! With an abundance of opportunities for social engagement and adventure, how is one to know where to start? Let us help! 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides
• Ely Dog Park Fundraiser 
• Motherhood Walk and Talk – Questions? Call Paula 218-606-3082
• Volunteer for Sister Act  
• VEMA
• Fifth Annual Iron Range Juneteenth Community Celebration 
• Northwoods Summer Fun Run (& Jump into the Lake!!) 
• WELY live stream 
• Summer Solstice Power Word & Wood Burning Class 
• Awaken Your Purpose 
• Ely Wellness Collaborative
• Ely Pride Instagram 
• Fourth of July in Ely
• Forest North Podcast 

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Bert Kuizenga, an actor, reality TV show host, travel show host, and artist from The Netherlands. Bert, his wife Astrid, and a Dutch cameraman named Mourtis are in Ely as part of a trip to Minnesota in collaboration with Explore Minnesota Tourism. To that end, we also have with us here today Jen Schak, the Global Marketing Manager for Explore MN. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey with your ideas and feedback: [email protected]
• Visit Ely Adventure Guides 
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Explore Minnesota
• Ron Reizen (Dutch Travel Program)  
• Forest North Podcast

This episode features a round up of events happening in or around Ely, Minnesota this summer, with an emphasis on events in June. 

What’s Up Ely celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest. In addition to being a gateway to great outdoors, Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. 

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! With an abundance of opportunities for social engagement and adventure, how is one to know where to start? Let us help! 

Quick PSA: EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides
• National Trails Day Hike
• Ely Folk School 10th Birthday Celebrations (June 5-8) 
• Ely Dog Park Fundraiser 
• ArtisticEly Arts in Action Workshop: Felted Landscapes 
• Motherhood Walk and Talk – Questions? Call Paula 218-606-3082
• Holding Space: A Director’s Reflections on Next to Normal 
• Volunteer for Next to Normal
• Volunteer for Sister Act  
• VEMA
• Fifth Annual Iron Range Juneteenth Community Celebration 
• Northwoods Summer Fun Run (& Jump into the Lake!!) 
• WELY live stream 
• Summer Solstice Power Word & Wood Burning Class 
• Forest North Podcast 
• Hidden Valley Hammer MTB Race Series 
• Team Borealis 
• Fourth of July in Ely

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Rachel Hedlund, the Northern Education Coordinator for Friends of the Boundary Waters. Rachel’s work includes collaborating with other organizations to guide Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness excursions for youth. 

From the first time Rachel put a canoe on her shoulders, she knew she would spend the rest of her life connected to the outdoors. She spent five years guiding at Camp Menogyn and worked ten years for the Voyageur Outward Bound School. Rachel has led 50-day canoe trips in the Arctic, and has been a part of some rad adventures, such as paddling from International Falls to Lake Superior in 99 hours, and racing in the Yukon River Quest in 2016. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• No Boundaries to the Boundary Waters 
• Forest North Podcast

What’s Up Ely celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest. In addition to being a gateway to great outdoors, Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. 

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! With an abundance of opportunities for social engagement and adventure, how is one to know where to start? Let us help! 

This episode features a round up of events happening in or around Ely, Minnesota in May 2025. 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides
• What's Up Ely Podcast with Abby Dare
• Mother’s Day Tea Party 
• Norwegian Lefse class 
• Spring Edibles class 
• Youth Carrot Cake class
• History Happy Hour podcast 
• Hidden Valley Hammer MTB Race Series 
• Thor Leseman Musician
• Glass on Glass Mosaic class at The Art Corner 

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Kelsey Cooke, a historian and the executive director of the Ely-Winton Historical Society. Kelsey also serves as a mine interpreter for the Soudan Underground Mine. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Ely-Winton Historical Society 
• Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park
• Ely Echo Introducing Kelsey Cooke
• Forest North Podcast

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with our Ely, Minnesota friends and neighbors Chris Glazer and Tad Drechsler, the team behind Boundary Waters Catering, a new venture in town. Together Chris and Tad have over 45 years of experience in the food service industry, including cooking, bartending, large scale catering events, and French fine dining. Chris Glazer is the founder and owner of Boundary Waters Catering. He credits his Ma with his passion for food. Tad Drechsler is the executive chef of Boundary Waters Catering. He’s been working in professional kitchens for over 20 years. He particularly enjoys using local and seasonal ingredients. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• https://boundarywaterscatering.com/
• Forest North Podcast

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is growing and evolving! We are expanding to produce four episodes per month, with two dedicated solely to rounding up a selection of Ely-area events, and two episodes dedicated to Ely-area-inspired inquiry and conversation.

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is brought to you by Visit Ely, the Ely Area Tourism Bureau. This episode is an April & May 2025 event round up, featuring special guest Megan Wind. 

Megan Wind is a multidisciplinary creative with a background in dance, design, and creative problem solving. In her previous life, she was a professional tap dancer.  Since moving to Ely in 2023, she has actively contributed to the region’s arts community, blending her passion for the performing arts with a decade of experience in nonprofit communications. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Northern Lakes Arts Association and is a teacher and choreographer with Reflections Dance Company. Megan is dedicated to fostering the arts in Northeastern Minnesota as a powerful tool for community connection, tourism, and economic vitality.

• EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides
• Dancing with the Ely Stars 
• Empowering Young Minds Through Creative Expression (NLAA Blog)  
• We Are Water Exhibit in Ely 
• Ely Wellness Collaborative
• Ely Wellness Collaborative April Gathering  
• Rudy's Annual Spring Wheeler Ride
• Hand Pie Demonstration (Live Online) 
• 100+ Women Who Care Ely MN
• Mother’s Day Tea Party 
• History Happy Hour podcast