The
Night We Light Parade
Usher in the holiday season in a grand way! The First City of Lights Night We Light Celebration has been known to draw large crowds to our history downtown. Take in the sights and sounds of the holiday season and see some spectacular floats illuminated to showcase why Bemidji is Christmas City. The Parade travels going East on 8th Street, turning South on Beltrami Ave. to 3rd Street where it will travel West and end at Irvine Ave.
Thank You to our
Sponsors
Become a First City of Lights Foundation Sponsor
Illumination
Night We Light Ceremony
Lighting Ceremony immediately following Parade at Paul Bunyan Park
This is when the official Countdown is held and the giant light switch is flipped to illuminate the city! Special guests, musical performances, and awards for the best parade entries are also presented at this time.
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides through Downtown Bemidji
First City of Lights Tour of Homes Begins
Tour of Homes Map Available
Downtown Window Display Contest Begins
Vote for the best Christmas Window Display
Memorable
Experience
OVER A HALF MILLION LIGHTS!
Spanning Paul Bunyan & Library Parks, Downtown, and the Lake Bemidji South Shore
New Features:
Paul Bunyan Pixel Christmas Tree, Giving Ornament of Dreams, Family Fun Display, Winter Fun Display, Wings of Joy & Holiday Firepits.
Other Illuminated Features:
Salute to Heroes, Fountain of Hope, Christmas Ferris Wheel, Nature Trail, Spirit of the Season Display!
History of the
First City of Lights
1993 – St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman invited Bemidji Mayor Doug Peterson and his wife Sandy to St. Paul for their annual Torchlight Parade. As Mayor Peterson stood in Rice Park in downtown St. Paul he admired the dazzling lights and said “We can do this in Bemidji.”