Groups & Gatherings
Sporting events, reunions, weddings, business meetings and corporate retreats; if you find yourself planning a large gathering, think outside the box. Emphasis on the outside! Year-round, the North Woods makes a gorgeous back drop for inspiring and memorable moments.Â
Ely has the Venues, Lodging, Dining, amenities, and entertainment to exceed your expectations, but to form a truly unique experience, consider adding in daily excursions, a cocktail hour at a local restaurant or group classes at the Ely Folk School. Not to mention, you can rent the Marquee of Ely’s Historic State Theater to welcome your guests as the drive into town!
Create an experience that celebrates your special event and immerses participants in the essence of this bold, rugged place of land and lakes. Our corner of Minnesota rests within thousands of acres of national forest and borders one million acres of wilderness. Â Ely has more than enough room to accommodate groups of all sizes and looks forward to hosting yours next!Â
Weddings & Celebrations
Dreaming of a Minnesota wedding surrounded by lakes, forests, and Northwoods scenery?
Ely, Minnesota offers a beautiful setting for outdoor weddings, intimate lakefront ceremonies, traditional church weddings, and unforgettable destination celebrations.
Exchange vows along the shore of a quiet lake, celebrate at a Northwoods lodge or resort, choose a traditional church ceremony, or create a one-of-a-kind wilderness wedding. Ely offers wedding venues and settings for everything from an intimate ceremony for two to a large celebration with family and friends.
Summer and fall bring sparkling lakes, colorful forests, beautiful sunsets, and star-filled skies. Winter transforms Ely into a snowy wonderland, creating a spectacular backdrop for couples dreaming of a true Minnesota winter wedding.
Wedding receptions can be just as memorable, with area resorts, lodges, and venues offering options ranging from banquet facilities to relaxed lakeside gatherings, campfires, and outdoor celebrations.
For guests traveling to Ely, a wedding can become a memorable Minnesota vacation. Hiking, paddling, fishing, wildlife viewing, scenic drives, and other outdoor adventures fill the warmer months, while winter brings cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dogsledding.
Whether you’re planning a sophisticated celebration or a simple ceremony surrounded by nature, Ely combines natural beauty, Northwoods hospitality, and year-round adventure to create an unforgettable Minnesota wedding destination.
Meetings
Planning a casual meeting, conference, or evening business gathering? Make it memorable by selecting the perfect setting in Ely that will foster engaging discussion and creative thinking. Ely is home to Venues ranging in size to accommodate an intimate or large attendance list. Every Venue offers a wide variety of amenities to support your goals and guarantee success.
- Projector & Screens
- Whiteboards
- Wi-Fi access
- Podium & Microphones
- Sound System
- Setup & Cleanup
- Rentals & Decorations
Some venues, offer on-site catering with beverages. Others offer premier lodging options. Contact the Visitor’s Center to assist with your meeting needs.
Reunions
Reunions. They’re a time to renew, rejoice and revisit those people, places and events that commemorate your most important connections. There’s no better place to do that than in Ely. Rekindle your connections with family, friends or classmates in the North Woods where you can enjoy our long, temperate summer days paddling, hiking or boating and end those days around the fire under a night sky filled with endless stars.Â
Looking to connect with former Ely Memorial High School graduates, current residents or those in memory? Check out our active community-led Facebook Group, What’s Up Ely, MN? to connect.Â
Ely Camps for Kids
Make your child’s summer especially fun with a camp just for him in Ely, MN. Outdoor activities and skill-building exercises will be fun and educational!
Camp Voyageur
709 Voyageur Rd/ P.O. Box 420
Ely, MN 55731
P: 218-365-6042
Email | Website | Map | Directions
- Accredited
- Day Trips
- Wilderness Trips
- In-Camp Activities
Camp Voyageur a private camp for boys 9-18 specializes in wilderness trips canoeing, hiking and sea kayaking. In-camp program of land and water sports.
Retreats
Whether you are seeking solace with fellow yogis or desire the adventure of developing new skills with your team, the North Woods is an accommodating place offering as much solitude, challenge, and renewal you are seeking.
Ely is a premier location for successful Corporate Retreats, Women’s Soirées and Zen Weekends intended to appease a variety of requirements and preferences. A lot goes into organizing and executing a successful retreat; setting a budget, picking a Venue, Lodging, Dining, and structuring those memorable activities in between energizing, envisioning and strategizing sessions.
Each season allows us to immerse ourselves in nature, not only in activities but in deliberate contemplation of our surroundings; gently lapping waters, the wind rippling through fall leaves or the gentle snow gathering on a window pane. Your goal and ours is that each attendee enjoys their time in Ely and their shared experiences leave them refreshed and reinvigorated.Â
Plan Your Event
Visitor Guide Request
How is the weather in Ely, MN?
Coming up to Ely and wondering about the weather? We may be up north, but it’s not always cold! Just the opposite. Ely has some of the best weather you’ll find, no matter the season.
In Ely, the summer days are long and comfortable while the winters can be chilly and snowy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from -2°F to 77°F and is rarely below -27°F or above 85°F. Depending on the season, precipitation is common in both rainfall and snowfall, and often indicates when fish will be active or when it’s best to make other plans for dinner!
If you want to visit Ely for warm-weather activities, warmest months are from early June to late September. The ideal time of year to visit Ely for cold-weather activities is from mid-November to late March. But if you ask us, there is no bad time to be in Ely.
A fun fact that many people don’t consider when thinking about visiting Ely in the colder months: The acres to recreate almost double in the winter because of thick ice turning the surface of lakes into a cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog-sledding and snowmobiling playground.
But a word of caution: Temperature, snow cover and currents all affect the relative safety of ice. Review the DNR’s ice safety tips here.
And let’s talk about the sky. No matter the season, the BWCAW has been certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, so enjoy those millions of stars. And if you’re one of Aurora’s chosen ones, behold the magic of the Northern Lights and be forever changed.
What should I bring on my trip to Ely, MN?
Our Ely, Minnesota canoe outfitters will supply you with everything you need for Minnesota canoeing except your personal items. You should bring an extra pair of pants, warm shirt, socks, underwear (long johns for spring and fall), jacket, cap or hat, sturdy shoes or boots, sneakers for around the camp, toiletry articles and knife. Optional items include a first aid kit, sunglasses, compass, insect repellant, flashlight, and a rainsuit. Fishing gear should include a spinning or spincast rod and reel and a few of your favorite lures.
Travel Options
How do I get there?
Ely, MN is 115 miles from Duluth, Minnesota, which is serviced by the Duluth International Airport. The airport offers several nonstop flights, many of them with multiple daily trips, from:
- Chicago (United)
- Detroit (Delta)
- Minneapolis (Delta)
- Las Vegas (Allegiant)
- Orlando (Allegiant)
Many area outfitters offer shuttle service from the airport. Simply arrange by calling your outfitter in advance.
We also have a company listed with us that provide transportation:
For more information on scheduling your flight and ground transportation, call your travel agent or visit www.duluthairport.com.
The roads leading to the Ely area are well maintained and easy to travel during all seasons of the year.
Use the map below to get directions to Ely from many major midwestern destinations.