After last week's storm damage, people are encouraged to shop with Ely Blueberry/Art Festival vendors virtually.

The Ely Chamber said festival attendance was strong throughout the day on July 23, but by 7 p.m., tents and art were everywhere in Whiteside Park. Strong storms had destroyed many of the booths, forcing the Chamber to cancel the rest of the weekend. 

However, Chamber staff decided to keep it going virtually. There is now an online site to shop arts and crafts. People can also make donations to vendors for tent, display, and merchandise losses.  

"No one expected the storm to hit with the intensity it did," Ely Chamber of Commerce Event Director Ellen Cashman said. "Tents that had cement blocks holding them down were picked up and carried more than a block away. Other tents were crushed by falling trees and branches. The devastation was horrible." 

There were no injuries reported. 

The virtual festival will be open through Aug. 31.

To see the original report and read related stories, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website. https://www.wdio.com/news/storm-damage-ely-blueberryart-festival-virtual/6187106/