BEMIDJI 鈥� With 168 days left until Christmas Eve, the First City of Lights Foundation announced a new addition to Bemidji鈥檚 winter light display and a local partnership.
Executive Director Josh Peterson announced the newest addition to the light display on Wednesday after a sparkling success with the "Greatest Gift" last year and the Paul Bunyan Christmas Pixel Tree before that.
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Originally set for June 25, the halfway point to Christmas, the announcement was rescheduled due to the storm that swept through Bemidji on June 21.
鈥淏ecause of the storm and everything that took place that week, we kind of held off on doing this announcement because we had to reevaluate some of the things that we needed to do here,鈥� Peterson explained.
Addressing the notable absence of trees at the park following the storm, Peterson noted that the foundation is working closely with Park Superintendent Scott Schroeder to keep the same amount of lights and potentially add more to trees that have never been illuminated before.
The big reveal
For this year's light display addition, Peterson announced a local partnership with 7 Brew, a drive-thru coffee shop that popped up along Paul Bunyan Drive last winter.
"When 7 Brew came into town, the energy and excitement around that company and having an establishment in Bemidji was so strong," Peterson said. "We simply reached out and asked, 'Would you guys like to be part of the First City of Lights Night We Light Celebration?'
"They were all on board and made the commitment to help bring the Paul-Bunyan-sized cocoa mug to Paul Bunyan Park this holiday season."
With the help of 7 Brew鈥檚 owner, Max Wilson, Peterson uncovered a poster for the newest addition, titled "Cup of Cheer."
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Peterson said the display came to fruition after he was inspired by a giant cocoa mug display he saw at the TransWorld Christmas Trade Show in St. Louis.
鈥淲e saw this display three years ago on the trade show floor and you know we had to find a batch that can go with this cool display,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne thing about our display for First City Lights is everything is Paul Bunyan size.鈥�
"Cup of Cheer" is a giant hot cocoa mug measuring at 20 feet tall and just shy of 15 feet wide, becoming the third largest display following last year鈥檚 newest edition of the "Greatest Gift."
鈥淭here is actually going to be a serving window, and it will be a sampling station for 7 Brew to provide some Christmas cheer to the guests down here at Paul Bunyan Park,鈥� Peterson explained.
On select nights, 7 Brew will be handing out free samples to guests.
"Bemidji embraced us so, so warmly," Wilson said. "And it being such a Christmas-spirited town, I think it was kind of the perfect way of us complimenting Bemidji the way that they have been so kind to us."
Wilson also hopes to serve samples to guests in years to come during Bemidji鈥檚 winter light display.
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鈥淲e are so excited to be here for Christmas this year and throughout the holiday season to continue serving people on this side of town and hoping that everybody will come visit us on the other side of town,鈥� Wilson noted.
On nights that 7 Brew is not handing out samples, guests will have the opportunity to step inside and take pictures in the giant mug.
Along with the newest addition, Peterson announced that the First City of Lights Foundation is getting closer to hitting its goal of one million lights on display, but he鈥檚 not quite ready to commit to the goal this year as they are still evaluating which trees can and cannot be lit.
This year鈥檚 Night We Light Celebration will be held on Nov. 28, including the Night We Light parade in downtown Bemidji.
Immediately following the parade, a giant light switch at Paul Bunyan Park will be flipped on, illuminating the area in hundreds of thousands of lights, followed by a fireworks show.
Like every year, the event is solely put on by community donations. Peterson said fundraising for the grand holiday celebration is ongoing and much appreciated.
To donate to the First City of Lights Foundation, visit
The Trust Project
