Water Carnival | Bemidji Jaycees

Congratulations to Sophie Wietman, age 16, the winner of the Water Carnival logo design contest!

81st ANNUAL
BEMIDJI JAYCEES WATER CARNIVAL
july 2-6, 2025

CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATES!
QUESTIONS? Please fill out the Water Carnival Contact Form below.

ONLINE REGISTRATION LINKS

Scroll down for more information on each event.

Grand Parade Registration Online

Color Run Registration

Kiddie Parade Registration

Water carnival changes for 2025

Fireworks Date Change

Storm Impact Changes

schedule of events

Download the PDF Version of the Schedule of Events Below!

watercarnivalposter2025updated.pdf
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FIREWORKS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2 @ DUSK
LAKE BEMIDJI
DATE CHANGE FOR 2025!

GRAND PARADE
SUNDAY, JULY 6 @ 1:00PM
UPDATED ROUTE! THE PARADE WILL START AT 8TH STREET AND BELTRAMI AVE.

Bemidji Jaycees 81ST Annual Water Carnival Community Kick-off and post events!

Fishing Has No Boundaries "Paul Bunyan Event"
June 28th, 2025
https://fhnbinc.org/chapters/bemidji-mn/

The Sanford Center's 3rd Annual Babe's Burnout Car Show
July 12th, 2025
www.thesanfordcenter.com/events/detail/2025-babes-burnout-car-show

WATER CARNIVAL BUTTONS

ON SALE JUNE 16-JULY 6

Buttons are $3/each and in a limited quantity this year. They are available at the following locations on June 16th:

myBemidji
Visit Bemidji

MEDALLION HUNT

JUNE 30-UNTIL FOUND

Medallion Hunt Clues

Clue 1. Monday, June 30

medallion_hunt_rules_2025.pdf
File Size:	84 kb
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Clue 2. Tuesday, July 1

Clue 3. Wednesday, July 2

family movie matinee

SATURDAY, JULY 5
3 PM
CHIEF THEATER

We will be showing Matilda at the Chief Theater at 3pm!

Kid Events

SATURDAY, JULY 5
10:00 AM
PAUL BUNYAN PARK-ROTARY PAVILION

There will be a Kiddie Parade and activities in the Entertainment Tent on Saturday, July 5th as part of the Bemidji Jaycees 81st Annual Water Carnival!

KIDDIE PARADE

SATURDAY, JULY 5
10:30 AM
PAUL BUNYAN PARK-ROTARY PAVILION

The Kiddie Parade will be on Saturday, July 5th at 10:30am. Registration will start at 10am. The Kiddie 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.

To register for the Kiddie Parade, click on the link below. You can also download the registration form and bring it with you the day of the event.

Kiddie Parade Registration

2025_kiddie_parade_waiver.pdf
File Size:	61 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Merriam's Midway

JULY 2-6
SANFORD CENTER PARKING LOT

Merriam's Midway will open July 2 at 6pm.
Merriam's Midway will open daily July 3-July 6 at 1pm.

BINGO

JULY 2-6
SANFORD CENTER PARKING LOT

Bingo will open July 2nd from 6pm until 10pm.
Bingo will be open daily July 3rd -July 6th from 1pm to 10pm.
Bingo hosted by Bemidji Chorale

FIREWORKS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2
DUSK
LAKE BEMIDJI

What time is "dusk", you ask?
We say that it is anytime from 9:45-10:15 PM,
depending on many factors. The average time that we launch the fireworks is around 10:10 PM.

Please remember that Cameron Park is NOT a good viewing location. There are too many trees in the way.

COLOR RUN

SATURDAY, JULY 5
10:00 AM
PAUL BUNYAN PARK-ROTARY PAVILION

The Bemidji Junior Jaycees Double Your Fun Color Run will be on Saturday, July 5th at 10am. Register online through the link below!

Color Run Registration

Cornhole tournament

SATURDAY, JULY 5
1 PM
THE GARDEN GRILL & PUB

To register, contact Travis at 218-759-8810 or email [email protected]

Live music

JULY 3-JULY 5
THE LOFT EVENT CENTER

Food vendors

JULY 2-6
SANFORD CENTER PARKING LOT

Food vendors will open July 2 from 6pm to 10pm.
Food vendors will open daily July 3-July 6 from 1pm to 10pm.

Twisted Amusments
Texas Best BBQ
Hawg Heaven
Dirty Dough

Vendors
Landby Productions
Up North Photo

Veterans Picnic

FRIDAY, JULY 4
1:00 PM
BEMIDJI EAGLES CLUB AERIE #351

Elvis Tribute

FRIDAY, JULY 4
3:00 PM
BEMIDJI EAGLES CLUB AERIE #351

WATER CARNIVAL
GRAND PARADE

SUNDAY, JULY 6
1:00 PM

Be a part of a long standing Bemidji tradition! The 81st Annual Bemidji Jaycees Water Carnival Grand Parade will be held on Sunday, July 6, at 1:00 PM. If you would like to be part of our parade please fill out the form below.

Registration is required by Thursday, July 3rd. Registration fees after June 30 are non-refundable. There will be no on-site registration.

Please consider registering for the Grand Parade through our secure online form. It makes it so much easier for us! Just click the link below to get started.

UPDATED Grand Parade Route: The Grand Parade starts at the intersection of 8th street and Beltrami Ave and travels South on Beltrami Ave, turns West on 4th street for one block and then heads North along Minnesota Ave, ending again on 8th street.

Grand Parade Registration Online

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
SPONSOR A BOOM BANNER!

This is the time of year when we normally kick off our preparations for Bemidji’s largest summer event, Water Carnival; and this year will be no different. For the 2025 Water Carnival to happen, we need strong financial support so that we can provide the experience that everyone has come to love. We most certainly understand if you are unable to contribute at this time but should circumstances change please reach out to us.

Below you will find the form and information on how you can show your support. Also included are the Adopt-A-Banner forms for the fireworks display to help offset the cost of the show. Even if you can’t sponsor an event, please consider adopting or re-adopting your banner. Your business or organization’s name will be placed on the bottom of the banner.

bannerform2025.pdf
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SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
SPONSOR the fireworks and water carnival events!

The Bemidji Jaycees Water Carnival has many different events each year and we are looking for businesses and organizations to sponsor each event. We are excited to bring back more of our events and continue some of our long- standing Water Carnival traditions!

Below you will find the form and information on how you can show your support. Sponsoring a Water Carnival event is just one the many ways to help put on the best 4th of July celebration in Minnesota. Whether you sponsor a Red, White & Boom streetlight banner, the Fireworks, Kid Events, or even the parade, every dollar raised helps bring bigger and better attractions to the event.