Photos of the month: Signaling spring

042625.N.BP.POMAPRIL MH 3.jpg — The statue outside Morell's Chippewa Trading Post is hooked up to a crane ahead of its removal on March 31, 2025, in downtown Bemidji.

By Annalise Braught, Madelyn Haasken and TJ Rhodes

April 26, 2025 at 7:30 AM

BEMIDJI 鈥� Signs of spring are more than just melting snow and budding trees, as plenty of annual events marked the end of a long winter in the Bemidji area.

Parks and Rec hosted its Bunny Bash ahead of the Easter holiday, more than 4,000 attendees flocked to the Sanford Center for the GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo, and children took part in fun activities during the Bemidji Early Childhood Collaborative鈥檚 Tiny Tots Health and Wellness Fair.

Bemidjians also took advantage of the warmer weather by participating in outdoor events. Spring sports teams kicked off their outdoor seasons as the fields thawed, and more than 1,000 activists gathered near downtown Bemidji for a Hands Off! demonstration.

Speaking of downtown, the area saw plenty of changes this month as the iconic Morell's Chippewa Trading Post statue was removed and a sinkhole led to the discovery of an old building's foundation underneath the parking lot at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Fourth Street NW.

Pioneer photographers Annalise Braught, Madelyn Haasken and TJ Rhodes captured these memorable moments along the way.

042325.N.BP.BUNNYBASH 3 — Miigwan Dunkley poses with the Easter Bunny during the annual Bunny Bash on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Bemidji Tourist Information Center.

041625.N.BP.GIGAZONE - 9.jpg — Young attendees test out the robots at the VEX Robotics booth on April 12, 2025, during the GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo at the Sanford Center.

042625.N.BP.POMAPRIL MH 1.jpg — Bemidji State junior Noah Drusch (10) encourages senior Zach Evenson (13) after Evenson hit a home run during the second game of a doubleheader against Minnesota Duluth on April 10, 2025, at the BSU baseball field.

040925.N.BP.HANDSOFF 15 — Participants display signs and a flag during the Hands Off! protest on Saturday, April 5, 2025, along Great River Drive in Bemidji.

040925.N.BP.TINYTOTSFAIR - 17.jpg — A child plays at an activity station on April 5, 2025, during the Bemidji Early Childhood Collaborative鈥檚 Tiny Tots Health and Wellness Fair at the Sanford Center.

042625.N.BP.POMAPRIL MH 2.jpg — Language YouTuber Dave Huxtable records his surroundings while taking a tour of the German village's gift shop on April 21, 2025, at the Concordia Language Villages.

040225.N.BP.LITTLEMERMAID - 3.jpg — Bemidji Community Theater members Sophia Hordichok as 鈥淎riel,鈥� Lydia St. Peter as 鈥淔lounder鈥� and Elijah Wood as 鈥淪cuttle鈥� rehearse a scene from their upcoming production of 鈥淭he Little Mermaid,鈥� which opened on April 4, 2025, at the BCT Performing Arts Center.

042625.S.BP.BHSSOFT Mckenzee Jaranson — Bemidji senior Mckenzee Jaranson (6) looks to score a run during a game against Rock Ridge on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the BHS softball diamond.

040525.N.BP.APRILSNOW - 4.jpg — Diamond Point Park is blanketed in snow on April 3, 2025, after a winter storm hit the Bemidji area.

041925.N.BP.SINKHOLE 4 — Parking lot 7 remains closed following the discovery of a building foundation beneath it in front of Brigid's Pub.

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.

歪歪漫画

Photos of the month: Signaling spring

Pioneer photographers share some of their favorite photos from April.