Bemidji’s Loop the Lake Festival returns after storm setback

Bemidji’s Loop the Lake Festival came back Saturday with real demand, as more than 800 riders registered for the 17-mile community ride and organizers said the total could top 1,000. For Bike Bemidji, the non-race loop around Lake Bemidji was more than a summer outing: it was a test of whether one of the city’s signature events could reliably return after a storm forced a cancellation last year.

The festival had not been fully canceled since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic stopped it, and the 2025 shutdown came only after overnight storm damage became clear at sunrise on June 21, 2025. Beltrami County and the City of Bemidji declared states of emergency after that storm, which officials said left several thousand customers without power and brought winds above 105 mph, a force county leaders compared to a strong Category 2 hurricane. Later reporting described the system as a derecho with winds up to 120 mph that downed thousands of trees, adding to the weight of this year’s return.

Volunteer Jamie Anderson said the storm wrecked supplies, destroyed a trailer and forced organizers to replace materials and recruit new sponsors. The event depended on about 15 core volunteers, along with additional help at rest stops where riders got food, water, mechanics, medical supplies and live music. Bike Bemidji said registration covered food, photo ops and music, while optional T-shirts cost an extra $17 and had to be ordered by May 31.

The route began at South Shore Beach, followed the Westside Trail, Birchmont Drive and Birchmont Beach Road, passed through Lake Bemidji State Park and returned via the Paul Bunyan Trail. Bike Bemidji said the steering committee could delay the ride by up to two hours if weather looked likely to improve, but would cancel if conditions or other circumstances made the event impossible. Adaptive cyclists were welcome, and Diane Pittman handled accommodation requests.

That mix of turnout, volunteer rebuilding and sponsor buy-in made the festival’s return a measurable marker in Bemidji’s recovery. The ride drew people back to Lake Bemidji for a scenic circuit and a finish with pizza, subs and music, but it also showed that a major local tradition could come back after a disaster that had hit power lines, trees, roads and community schedules across the city.