Lake Bemidji State Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023 by hosting a variety of free and fun activities at the park on April 22 and June 10. Both anniversary celebration dates are among the four Free Park Days in 2023, when vehicle permit fees are waived at all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.
On Earth Day (April 22), visitors can celebrate the park’s birthday by learning about the history of the park told through historical newspapers at the Visitor Center, enjoying cake and ice cream, and listening to live music. They can also celebrate Earth Day by joining other visitors to clean up the park.
On June 10, the birthday celebration continues with a summer picnic, live music and an Archery in the Parks program. June is also the perfect time of year to explore one of the park’s feature attractions, the Bog Walk. Visitors can hike the quarter-mile boardwalk to explore the beauty of a tamarack bog carpeted with blooming showy lady slippers, pitcher plants, insect-eating sundews and other flowering bog plants.
In 1923, the Minnesota Legislature established Lake Bemidji as a state park. It is the ninth-oldest of Minnesota’s 66 state parks. The park has served an average of over 198,000 visitors each year over the last five years (2018-2022) and it’s a fantastic playground any time of the year. The park offers swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife, birding, hiking, camping, biking, picnicking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and year-round naturalist-led programs.
For more information on the history of Lake Bemidji State Park, visit the Lake Bemidji State Park anniversary page.
For information on Lake Bemidji State Park in general, including an events calendar with more details about anniversary celebration programming, visit the park website.
For more information on Free Park Days, visit the DNR’s Free Park Days page or contact the DNR Information Center by emailing [email protected] or by calling 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, or 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
The schedule of anniversary celebration activities includes:
April 22
Earth Day Clean-Up, 10 a.m. to noon
Help with a special Earth Day clean-up in the park. Bring work clothes and meet at the Visitor Center.
Voices from the Past: The Fight for Lake Bemidji State Park, 1-2 p.m.
Attend a presentation to learn about park history through historical newspapers at the Visitor Center.
Gifts of the Land: 100th Anniversary Birthday Celebration, 2-4 p.m.
Celebrate the park’s 100th birthday with cake and ice cream and listen to live music at the Visitor Center.
June 10
Voices from the Past: The Fight for Lake Bemidji State Park, 10-11 a.m.
Attend a presentation to learn about park history through historical newspapers at the Visitor Center.
Summer picnic sponsored by the Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bring lawn chairs, non-alcoholic drinks and enjoy a hamburger and hotdog cookout at the picnic shelter, along with live music.
Archery in the Parks program, 1 p.m.
Get hands-on instruction in shooting a bow and arrow from certified instructors. Meet at the west picnic area. This program is for ages 8 and older.