June 25—BEMIDJI — Back for five more days of summer fun, the annual Bemidji Jaycees Water Carnival returns for its 80th year on Wednesday, July 3.
“It’s incredible to think that this carnival has been around for 80 years,” said Eva Fisher, Bemidji Jaycees board member and chair of the event. “This all started 80 years ago with the Jaycees wanting to host fireworks for the community and now it has grown into an amazing carnival full of events.”
The Water Carnival continues until Saturday 6 July and sees the return of a host of traditional events such as the Grand Parade, Color Run, the Red, White and Boom Fireworks show and much more.
The first clue for the Medallion Hunt will be revealed on Monday, July 1, with more clues appearing every day on Lakeland News, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, RP Broadcasting and the Lakeland News website.
Bemidji Jaycees website
and Facebook page until the medallion is found.
Interested participants can purchase their Medallion Hunt Buttons at the Bemidji Woolen Mills, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting/Hubbard Broadcasting, Visit Bemidji and myBemidji until July 1, with Water Carnival Buttons available at the same locations until July 7.
The $3 Medallion Button is required to win the $500 top prize during the hunt, and is only available through July 1. The $3 Carnival Button will be available for purchase from July 2nd to July 7th.
From carnival rides and games to a variety of different food vendors, Merriam’s Midway opens in the Sanford Center parking lot on Wednesday, July 3 at 6 p.m., with rides until 11 p.m. The midway opens every day at 1 p.m. for the rest of the carnival. On Sunday, July 7, Merriam’s Midway will close early at 7 p.m
Bracelet specials are $25 from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Wednesday, July 3. From Thursday, July 4 through Saturday, July 6, bracelets are $20 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and $25 from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. On Sunday, July 7 Bracelets are $20 from 1-7 p.m
Bingo is open on Wednesday, July 3 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the Sanford Center parking lot. Bingo takes place daily from Thursday, July 4 to Sunday, July 7 from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Bingo is hosted by Noth Star ABATE
This year will feature the first ever veterans picnic to honor veterans in the community.
“New to this year’s Carnival events is a veterans picnic with a flag ceremony, entertainment and food to recognize and celebrate our veterans and their families,” Fisher said.
The picnic will take place on Thursday, July 4 at 1:00 PM in the entertainment tent on the Lake Bemidji waterfront. VFW Post 1260 will hold a flag ceremony with musical entertainment provided by Mike Naylor at 1:30 p.m.
A free will donation will be accepted with proceeds going to the new Bemidji Veterans Home.
The Kiddie Parade will take place on Saturday, July 6 at 10:30 am with registration beginning at 10 am. The Kiddie Parade starts in the parking lot of Bemidji State University Bangsberg on 12th Street and runs along Lake Boulevard to Sixth Street and ends at the entertainment tent on the waterfront.
For those interested in participating in the parade, pre-registration is available at the Jaycees
website.
Visitors can also download the form and bring it with them on the day of the event.
The Color Run will also take place on Saturday, July 6 and is hosted by the Bemidji Junior Jaycees.
The fun run starts at 10 a.m. in the Paul Bunyan Park parking lot and heads along the south shore of Lake Bemidji, returning to the Nymore Boat Access and ending at the starting point.
Interested participants can register online at
bemidjijaycees.com
because there will be no registration on site. Online registration closes at 8am on July 6.
There will be several coloring stations along the way to allow visitors to enjoy lots of colorful fun. Check-in for the event begins at 9:30 AM at the Rotary Pavilion in Paul Bunyan Park.
The Entertainment Tent is open from July 3 to 6 for events such as live music, happy hour and various games.
Tent events begin on Wednesday, July 3, with food vendors opening at 5 p.m. The Empty Cooler Band will perform from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM for visitors aged 21 or older.
Food vendors will open every day from July 4 to 7 at 1 p.m.
The 4onthefloor band will perform on July 4 from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM for participants aged 21 or older, the cost is $10.
A cornhole tournament will take place on July 5 at 2 p.m., with Corey Medina and Brothers performing from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. for competitors 21 or older.
On July 6, Elvis tribute artist Sean Wallin will perform from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, followed by the Bad Campers from 8:00 PM to midnight for those 21 and older.
July 7 is a Sunday Funday with North Star Trivia from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM followed by live music from Dynamic Sound Productions from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The Grand Parade will be held from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Sunday, July 7. The parade begins at the intersection of 15th Street and Beltrami Avenue and travels south on Beltrami Avenue, turns west on Fifth Street for one block and then heads north along Minnesota Avenue, ending again at 15th Street.
For those interested in participating in the parade, pre-register at the Jaycees
website
is required before Monday, July 1. Registration fees after Monday are non-refundable and late registration fees apply after July 1.
The Red, White and Boom fireworks are held at dusk, usually around 9:45 to 10:15 p.m., on Thursday, July 4 at Lake Bemidji. Fireworks usually start around 10:10 PM
For the best view of the show, the Jaycees recommend the south side of Lake Bemidji. Cameron Park is not a good viewing location because, according to Jaycee, there are too many trees in the way
website,
but they are easily visible from Diamond Point Park, Library Park, Paul Bunyan Park and South Shore Park.
The fireworks barge will be located 450 feet north of the Nymore dock, which will be closed for 24 hours starting at midnight on July 4 for preparation for the show.
