Editing Bemidji, Minnesota (section)

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:LakeBemidji.jpg|thumb|[[Lake Bemidji]]]]Bemidji is near [[Chippewa National Forest]], [[Itasca State Park]], [[Lake Bemidji State Park]], [[Big Bog State Recreation Area]], and state forest areas. There are 400 lakes within {{convert|25|mi|km}}, {{convert|500|mi|abbr=on}} of snowmobile trails and {{convert|160|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} of cross-country ski trails.

The Paul Bunyan State Trail runs from [[Brainerd, Minnesota]], and Lake Bemidji State Park. It is used for walking, biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul Bunyan State Trail|url=https://www.traillink.com/trail/paul-bunyan-state-trail/|website=TrailLink|publisher=Rails-to-Trails Conservancy|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref> There is also a bike trail around Lake Bemidji about 17 miles long. Each year an event is held where families and individuals can bike around the lake, with rest stops along the way.<ref>{{cite web|title=Biking|url=https://www.visitbemidji.com/what-to-do/outdoor-activities/biking/|website=Visit Bemidji Minnesota|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425032228/https://www.visitbemidji.com/what-to-do/outdoor-activities/biking/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Art in the Park, hosted by Paul Bunyan Communications and Watermark Art Center, is held every year at Bemidji Library Park, across from the Watermark Art Center. Art in the Park has been a summer highlight for Bemidji residents since 1967. The event features more than 100 artists, food vendors, and live entertainment. A variety of items are sold, made in such materials as wood and ceramics, along with clothing and jewelry, photography, metalworking, greeting cards, homemade preserves, food, candles, and soaps. Roughly 4,000 people attend annually.<ref>{{cite web|title=Art in the Park|url=http://watermarkartcenter.org|website=Watermark Art Center|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref> The festival has been renamed the Watermark Art Festival and was held at Library Park on July 16–17, 2022.

Every year, in the first week of August, teams compete in the Dragon Boat races. There are also many food vendors, kids' activities, and musical and cultural performances. In the early 21st century, dragon boat racing was the fastest growing water sport in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival|url=http://visitbemidji.com|website=Visit Bemidji Minnesota|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref>

The Bemidji Polar Days, also known as Winterfest, is a weeklong festival that includes many different activities, such as a polar plunge, and sled derby, broomball, a 5k polar walk/run, [[curling]], pond hockey, and a cornhole tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Winterfest on Lake Bemidji|url=http://bemidji.org|website=Bemidji Chamber|publisher=Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref>

The Paul Bunyan Triathlon takes place the third Saturday in August. The Minnesota Finlandia Ski Marathon is also held in Bemidji.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minnesotafinlandia.com|title=Home of the Minnesota Finalndia|access-date=November 1, 2012|publisher=Minnesota Finlandia Community Health Sports}}</ref>