Jul. 4—BEMIDJI — Bemidjians flocked to the Sanford Center parking lot on Wednesday evening for the opening night of Merriam’s Midway to kick off the Bemidji Jaycees’ 80th Annual Water Carnival.
From carnival rides and games to food vendors and bingo, the annual summer staple has a little something for everyone to enjoy.
The midway will open at 1 p.m. each day through Sunday, July 7, and be open until 11 p.m. each night through Saturday, July 6, and close at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.
On Thursday, July 4, through Saturday, July 6, armbands will be $20 from 1 to 5 p.m. and $25 from 6 to 11 p.m. On Sunday, July 7, armbands will be $20 from 1 to 7 p.m.
Bingo will also be open daily from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Thursday, July 4, through Sunday, July 7.
Here’s a look at remaining Water Carnival events.
This year, there will be the first-ever veteran’s picnic to honor the veterans in the community.
The picnic will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, in the Entertainment Tent at the Lake Bemidji Waterfront. 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 new Bemidji Veterans Home.
The Red, White and Boom fireworks display will be held at dusk, usually around 9:45 to 10:15 p.m., on Thursday, July 4, on Lake Bemidji. Fireworks typically start launching around 10:10 p.m.
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 Jaycee
website,
but they can be seen well 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 boat landing, which will be closed for 24 hours, beginning at midnight on July 4, for show preparation.
The Kiddie Parade will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, with registration starting at 10 a.m. It will start at the Bemidji State University Bangsberg parking lot on 12th Street and go down Lake Boulevard onto Sixth Street and end at the entertainment tent at the waterfront.
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.
The Color Run is also on Saturday, July 6, 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
as there will be no on-site registration. Online registration will close at 8 a.m. on July 6.
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.
The Entertainment Tent will be open through July 7 for events including live music, happy hour and a variety of games.
Food vendors will open each day at 1 p.m. July 4-7.
From 9 to 11 p.m. on July 4 The 4onthefloor band will perform for attendees 21 or older, the cost is $10.
On July 5, a corn hole tournament will take place at 2 p.m. with Corey Medina and Brothers slated to perform from 8 to 11 p.m. for attendees 21 or older.
On July 6, Elvis tribute artist Sean Wallin will perform from 2 to 4 p.m. followed by the Bad Campers from 8 p.m. to midnight for those 21 and older.
July 7 will be a Sunday Funday with North Star Trivia from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by live music from Dynamic Sound Productions from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Grand Parade will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 7. It will start at the intersection of 15th Street and Beltrami Avenue and travel south on Beltrami Avenue, turn west on Fifth Street for one block and then head north along Minnesota Avenue, ending again on 15th Street.
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