Keith Vandervort
ELY – “The real crusher was that Friday was so much fun,” said Adam Zins as he and his wife, Tanja, tried to untangle a wire shelving unit early Saturday morning from under a mangled tent. All around them, in the middle of Whiteside Park, was what remained of the Blueberry/Art Festival. “It looked like a war zone.”
A line of thunderstorms with damaging 70-mph winds driving torrential rains hit Ely at about 6:30 p.m. Friday night, just as the first leg of the three-day Blueberry/Art Festival was wrapping up.
The short but severe storm destroyed scores of arts vendors’ displays and tents, and uprooted big trees in the park, prompting Ely Chamber of Commerce officials late Friday to cancel the remainder of the 2021 festival.
ELY The Ely Blueberry Art Festival was devastated Friday by a fast-moving storm with 60-70 mph winds roared through Whiteside Park, according to published media reports.
Duluth television station WDIO is also reporting the remainder of the festival was canceled due to the damage suffered by numerous vendors.
Around 9:15 p.m. Friday night, Ely Police Chief Chad Houde confirmed the event was being canceled. âDue to the severe storm damage in the Ely area and destruction of many of the Blueberry Arts vendors booths, the Ely Chamber of Commerce has made the decision to cancel the remainder of the Blueberry Festival.ââ
Keith Vandervort
ELY – An intense thunderstorm with damaging winds and torrential rains didn’t last long when it struck here Friday evening, about 6:30 p.m. But in a matter of minutes, the storm downed numerous trees and destroyed dozens of artists’ displays assembled in Whiteside Park as the first day of the three-day Blueberry/Art Festival wrapped up. The storm uprooted trees in the park and blew tents and artwork throughout the park and, in some cases, into neighboring yards.
Festival organizers announced late Friday evening that the remaining two days of the festival will not be held as artists and city officials focus on cleanup.