Burnout pit ignites excitement at 2nd annual Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show in Bemidji

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 5.jpg — Alex Graser and his son, Grayson, participate in the burnout pit in his 鈥�64 AMC Rambler during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

By Annalise Braught

July 14, 2024 at 1:46 PM

BEMIDJI 鈥� Despite temps hovering in the high 80s, community members didn't let that stop them from flocking to the Sanford Center parking lot on Friday and Saturday for the second annual Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 1.jpg — Attendees check out the cars on display at Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

This year's show came back even bigger and better following last July's inaugural show , which hosted more than 3,000 people and 130 cars.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 12.jpg — Attendees check out the cars on display at Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

Festivities kicked off on Friday evening with live music in the beer tent and the first round of a cornhole tournament and continued throughout the day on Saturday, July 13.

The free event gives the community a chance to gather, listen to music, check out hundreds of cars, shop vendors and enjoy summertime in Bemidji with friends and family.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 4.jpg — Children have their faces painted during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 3.jpg — Attendees wait in line at the Kona Ice truck as temps hovered around 89 degrees during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

One of this year's main attractions was the anxiously anticipated burnout pit, which several car enthusiasts took advantage of to show off their vehicle's power with some added thrill 鈥� and smoke.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 9.jpg — A Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 participates in the burnout pit during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 8.jpg — Spectators clap after a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 participated in the burnout pit during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

鈥淲e were so happy with last year鈥檚 car show that we knew we had to go even bigger this year,鈥� Bobby Anderson, general manager of The Sanford Center, said in a release ahead of the event. 鈥淲e鈥檙e keeping everything the community loved last year, but adding even more, starting with adding an extra day to kick off festivities on Friday and the coveted burnout pit.鈥�

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071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 7.jpg — Nate Anderson, Sanford Center operations manager, wets down the pavement between cars in the burnout pit during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 14.jpg — Attendees check out the cars on display at Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 13.jpg — An 鈥渁ttendee鈥� checks out a 1941 Ford Super Delux on display at Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 11.jpg — An attendee participates in the burnout pit on his Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 2.jpg — Vehicles of all kinds are on display for attendees to check out during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 10.jpg — Attendees check out the cars on display at Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 15.jpg — Vehicles of all kinds are on display for attendees to check out during Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

071324.N.BP.BABESBURNOUT - 6.jpg — Attendees check out the cars on display at Babe鈥檚 Burnout Car Show on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Sanford Center parking lot.

By Annalise Braught

Annalise is the editor and a photographer at the Bemidji Pioneer. She is a Mass Communication graduate from Bemidji State University and has a Supervisory Management degree from Northwest Technical College. Her favorite pastime is exploring the great outdoors and capturing its natural beauty on camera. Contact Annalise at (218) 333-9796 or abraught@bemidjipioneer.com.