EVENTS

Boreas Skate's skateboard contest rescheduled to July 12

Pioneer Staff Report — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:38:48 GMT

BEMIDJI — Boreas Skate's skateboard contest originally scheduled for Saturday, June 21, will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, at the Bemidji Skate Park, 1330 23rd St. NW.

During the contest, participants will have the chance to win prizes.

Entry is free and the contest is open to all ages. The event is sponsored by Northern Event Rentals, Smug Apparel and THIS Skateshop.

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Parkinson's Support Group set to meet July 9

Pioneer Staff Report — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:56:56 GMT

BEMIDJI — The Parkinson's Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, at Sanford Health Windsong, 1010 Anne St. NW.

Attendees should bring any information they want to share with the group concerning Parkinson's Disease, a release said.

The group meets at 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the same location.

For more information, call (218) 760-8266.

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Bagley Public Library to host Headwaters Science Center

Pioneer Staff Report — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

BAGLEY — The Bagley Public Library is teaming up with the Headwaters Science Center to present "Animal Menagerie" from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 9, at 79 Spencer Ave. SW.

At the event, youth will learn all about animal habitats, adaptations, defenses and interesting facts, a release said.

This educational program is part of several free events for youth offered as part of Lake Agassiz Regional Library's jungle-themed Summer Reading Program.

Information about the program and summer events is available at larl.org/explore.

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Blackduck Senior Center membership meeting set for July 8

Pioneer Staff Report — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:32:05 GMT

BLACKDUCK — The Blackduck Senior Center will host its quarterly membership meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, at the center, 24 First St. SE.

"This is your opportunity to have input and to be updated on all aspects of the Senior Center," a release said.

Attendees are also invited to enjoy cake, coffee and ice cream while celebrating July, August and September birthdays.

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Boys and Girls Club offering Summer Food Service Program

Pioneer Staff Report — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — The Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area is again participating in the Summer Food Service Program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with food distribution at various locations.

At the Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area, 1600 Minnesota Ave. NW., free lunches and afternoon snacks will be provided to all enrolled children Monday-Friday through Aug. 29, except June 30 to July 4. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and snacks will be served from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

At the Conifer Site, 2512 Phoenix Loop NW., free lunches and afternoon snacks will be provided to all enrolled children Monday-Thursday through Aug. 14, except July 3. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and snacks will be served from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

At the Blackduck Branch, 156 First St. NE., free lunches and afternoon snacks will be provided to all enrolled children Tuesday-Thursday through Aug. 14. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and snacks will be served from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

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Bemidji Senior Center to hold 'Oodles of Noodles and Yankee Doodles' fundraiser

Pioneer Staff Report — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:00:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Senior Center will host an "Oodles of Noodles and Yankee Doodles" fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 7, at the senior center, 216 Third St. NW.

A spaghetti supper will be served at 6 p.m., which includes spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, dessert, iced tea and lemonade. A patriotic choral concert performed by the First City Singers will begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at the senior center hostess desk or at the door.

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Bagley Farmers Market season kicks off July 11

Pioneer Staff Report — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:23:45 GMT

BAGLEY — The Bagley Area Farmers Market will start up for the season on Friday, July 11, in the grassy lot next to Gali Furniture, one block south of the stoplights.

The market is open from 3 to 6 p.m. and will continue each Friday through Sept. 26, as weather permits.

Customers can find a wide variety of fresh produce, homemade canned and baked goods, maple syrup, honey, craft items and much more.

Credit, debit and EBT cards are accepted at the yellow info booth at the market. Customers can also receive $10 in Market Bucks and an additional $10 in Produce Bucks to use at the market each time they spend at least $10 on their EBT card.

There are also several vendors who accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers as part of the WIC program, which can be used on fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs.

The market is always looking for more vendors, anyone interested in selling at the market can contact Annie Braught at (218) 358-1990 or visit the Bagley Farmers Market Facebook page at facebook.com/bagleyfarmersmarket.

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Bemidji Jaycees revving up to host 81st Annual Water Carnival July 2-6

Sarah Suchoski — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 15:35:24 GMT

BEMIDJI — Back for its 81st year, the Bemidji Jaycees' Annual Water Carnival returns for another five days of jam-packed summertime fun on Wednesday, July 2.

Continuing through Sunday, July 6, the Water Carnival will see the return of a whole slew of traditional events like the Grand Parade, Color Run, the Red, White and Boom Fireworks show and much more.

Though some events have had to change locations due to storm damage in the downtown Bemidji, none of the events have been outright canceled, according to a June 27 release from the Jaycees.

Medallion Hunt

The first clue for the Medallion Hunt is set to be revealed on Monday, June 30, with more clues released each day on Lakeland News, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, RP Broadcasting and on the Bemidji Jaycees website and Facebook page until the Medallion is found.

Interested participants can purchase their Medallion Hunt Buttons at the Tourist Information Center and myBemidji through June 30, with Water Carnival Buttons then available at the same locations through July 6.

The $3 Medallion button is required to win the $500 grand prize in the hunt. The $3 Carnival button will be available for purchase from July 2-6.

Merriam’s Midway

From carnival rides and games to a variety of different food vendors, Merriam’s Midway is set to open at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, in the Sanford Center parking lot with rides running until 11 p.m. The midway will be open from 1 to 11 p.m. each day through Saturday.

On Sunday, July 6, Merriam's Midway will have an earlier close at 7 p.m.

Armband specials will cost $25 from 6 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2. On Thursday, July 3, through Saturday, July 5, armbands will cost $20 from 1 to 5 p.m. and $25 from 6 to 11 p.m. On Sunday, July 6, armbands will cost $20 from 1 to 7 p.m.

Food vendors will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, and will then open daily from 1 to 10 p.m. on July 3-6 in the Sanford Center parking lot.

Vendors will include Texas Best BBQ, Hawg Heaven, and Dirty Dough.

Bingo

The Bemidji Chorale will host Bingo from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, at the Sanford Center parking lot. Bingo will continue daily from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Thursday, July 3, through Sunday, July 6.

Veterans Picnic

This year, the veterans picnic returns to honor the veterans in the community.

The picnic will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 4, at the Bemidji Eagles Club. VFW Post 1260 will hold a flag ceremony at 1:30 p.m. with musical entertainment provided by Mike Naylor.

A free-will donation will be accepted with proceeds going to the Bemidji Veterans Home.

Also at the Eagles Club, Elvis tribute artist Sean Wallin will perform from 3 to 5 p.m.

Kid events

The Kiddie Parade will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, with registration starting at 10 a.m. The parade will start at the Rotary Pavilion and will travel around the Tourist Information Center and down to the south end of Paul Bunyan Park.

For those interested in participating in the parade, pre-registration is available on the Jaycees website. Attendees can also download the form and bring it with them on the day of the event.

Attendees also have the opportunity to visit the Carnoch Farmstead Petting Zoo and participate in a bike giveaway at the Rotary Pavilion.

Double Your Fun Color Run

The Double Your Fun Color Run is also set for Saturday, July 5, with the Bemidji Junior Jaycees organizing the event.

The fun run starts at 10 a.m. at the Paul Bunyan Park parking lot and goes along the south shore of Lake Bemidji, loops back at the Nymore Boat Access and ends at the starting point.

Interested participants can register online at bemidjijaycees.com as there will be no on-site registration. Online registration will close at 8 a.m. on July 5.

There will be several color stations along the way to blast attendees with tons of colorful fun. Check-in for the event starts at 9:30 a.m. in the Rotary Pavilion at Paul Bunyan Park.

Movie night

The Jaycees are partnering with the city of Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department to host a family movie matinee featuring the movie "Matilda" at the Chief Theater 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 5.

The movie is free to watch.

Loft Event Center

From 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, Corey Medina & Brothers will perform for attendees 18 or older. Admission cost is $10 per person.

On Friday, July 4, Prairie Smoke will perform from 6 to 10 p.m. for those 18 and older. Admission cost is $10 per person.

On Saturday, July 5, Indecent Proposal is slated to perform from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for attendees 18 or older. Admission cost is $10 per person.

Cornhole tournament

A Beer-N-Bags cornhole tournament will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, at the Garden Grill & Pub. The cost to participate is $20 per novice team, $30 per social team and $40 per competitive team.

Each team is guaranteed three matches and cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers at each level.

To register, contact Travis at (218) 759-8810 or email bcsupplies2035@gmail.com.

Grand Parade

The Grand Parade will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 6.

According to an updated release from the Jaycees, the traditional parade route has sustained significant damage from the storm, leading organizers to change the route.

"The City of Bemidji worked with us on a solution for a new route," the release said. "They have graciously offered to remove the debris in the Beltrami County Administration Building parking lot, as well as along a new parade route, to ensure we could still have a Grand Parade."

The new route starts at the intersection of Eighth Street and Beltrami Avenue, travels south on Beltrami Avenue, turns west on Fourth Street for one block, and then heads north along Minnesota Avenue to end on Eighth Street.

Red, White and Boom fireworks display

The Red, White and Boom fireworks display will be held at dusk, usually around 9:45 to 10:15 p.m., on Wednesday, July 2, on Lake Bemidji. Fireworks typically start launching around 10:10 p.m.

According to a release from the Jaycees, the fireworks are typically held on July 4, but the date change was needed this year due to unforeseen circumstances with the previous fireworks vendor.

"We were able to find a new vendor, Premier Pyrotechnics, to provide the fireworks show but with the need to change the date," the release explained. "We feel it is more important to continue our traditions of celebration and move the date of the fireworks for this year, instead of canceling them."

For the best view of the show, the Jaycees recommend the south end of Lake Bemidji. Cameron Park is not a good viewing location as there are too many trees in the way according to the Jaycees website, but they can be seen well from Diamond Point Park, Library Park, Paul Bunyan Park and South Shore Park.

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Bemidji Area Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship set to meet

Pioneer Staff Report — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 15:00:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Area Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship of America chapter is set to meet at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, in the Beltrami Electric Conference Room, 4111 Technology Drive NW.

A light breakfast will be served and all are welcome to attend.

The keynote speakers will be Jeyshua Bush and Herb Bromenshenkel. They will share about their most recent short-term mission trip experiences.

Bush, 27, was born and raised in Bemidji, and will be part of a prayer team for a specific city in the Middle East, a release said. Those on the mission trip will walk the city in prayer.

Bromenshenkel, 60, has done short-term missions with Global Health Outreach where he has worked as a pharmacist with a team of doctors, nurses and a dentist. His most recent mission will be in Rwanda with a team, and he has also completed over 20 short-term missions in locations including Belize, Kenya, Zambia and Malawi.

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Beltrami County GOP set to host 'Old Fashioned Picnic'

Pioneer Staff Report — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 17:40:23 GMT

BEMIDJI — The Beltrami County GOP will hold an "Old Fashioned Picnic" from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, at the Ski Lodge at Buena Vista Ski Area, 19600 Irvine Ave NE, north of Bemidji.

Attendees can enjoy a delicious picnic lunch featuring pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, fresh fruit, rhubarb cake and classic s’mores, a release said.

"We’ll have old-fashioned games, toe-tapping music, and plenty of opportunities to relax and connect with friends, neighbors, and fellow patriots," the release added.

For more information, visit www.beltramigop.net or the Beltrami County Republicans Facebook page.

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