First City of Lights Foundation

Bemidji's 'First City of Lights' Foundation Unveils Record-Breaking Christmas Display The Bemidji ‘First City of Lights Foundation’ is known to display some of the most unique and ambitious Christmas displays.

‘The Greatest Gift’ announced as latest addition to First City of Lights display The First City of Lights Foundation has announced a new addition that will be joining Bemidji’s winter light display this upcoming holiday season.

Only a few minutes until we make our BIG announcement!

Stay tuned for a big announcement at 2 PM!!!!

🎄 First City of Lights Foundation 🎄 presented donations today to the Bemidji Community Food Shelf and United Way of Bemidji Area!

Thank you, Bemidji community, for donating to Carts for Care during the 🎄 Night We Light Parade. 🎄

🥫 March Food Share Month 🥫 If you've considering a donation, there is still time. Gifts made to the food shelf by April 6th will be matched by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. Secure online donations can be made at bcfsmn.org

Your last chance to experience the First City of Lights display until we light everything up again on November 29, 2024!

What goes up....must come down. We slowly start the takedown process of our First City of Lights display. The lights in the park will shine bright through February 4. Special thanks to. JCSinc., LaValley Industries and the City of Bemidji for assisting us in the Highway 197 streetlight decor takedown.

We are having moisture issues again tonight which is causing several displays to be turned off. They will need time to dry out. Sorry that Mother Nature and Old Man Winter are just not team players this year!

Happy New Year from the First City of Lights Foundation! But don't worry,you still have plenty of time to enjoy the display! The final nights of light will be the first weekend of February! Over the course of the next few weeks, some of the Christmas elements will be taken down, but the lights will still shine bright in the month of January!

A beautiful night to "walk with nature" on the nature Trail and enjoy all the other displays in Paul Bunyan Park!



Lights are shining bright in the first city of lights!

Every night is magical in the first city of lights!



Merry Christmas!!!!

It's a very wet and rainy Christmas Eve. The poor weather conditions may impact the ability for some of the displays to be illuminated this evening. If some of the displays are not illuminated this evening please contact mother nature and request snow and colder weather.

Thank you and Merry Christmas !

UPDATE: power has been restored north of the tourist information center! However due to the massive amount of moisture we have received we have temporarily unplugged the elk the buck and Wolf. we hope to get those displays on the nature trail up and running very soon.

NOTICE: our electricity is out in a portion of Paul Bunyan Park. Displays impacted, include the Nature Trail, Spirit of the Season display, purple and gold trees. We apologize for any inconvenience. We hope to get the lights restored soon.



Did you know the Giving Ornament of Dreams presented by Hill's Plumbing and Heating is an actual way for Paul Bunyan Park visitors to give to the charities of United Way of Bemidji Area! So next time you step into the giant ornament, be sure to scan the QR code, either on the sign or on the floor, and help spread joy this holiday season!

now you can skate under the lights thanks to a great partnership between the Bemidji Downtown Alliance and the Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department! small rink is ready for skaters!

Bemidji Rotary Club


Our "walk with nature" and "spirit of the season" displays are illuminated and shining bright in Paul Bunyan Park!

First City of Lights Foundation announces light display contest winners Bemidjians jingled all the way around the area to see a whole slew of Christmas lights the past few weeks to vote for their favorite homes and downtown window displays.

Participants in the 2023 Tour of Homes went all out this year! We want to congratulate all the winners and thank them for their amazing work!

❄️People's Choice❄️
1st: $150 Prize: 1003 15th St NW, Bemidji
2nd: 23567 398th St, Laporte
3rd: 5252 Elmwood CT NE, Bemidji

❄️Judge's Choice❄️
1st: $250 Prize: 5125 Sherman Dr NE, Bemidji
2nd: 4508 Waville Rd NE, Bemidji
3rd: 215 Mississippi Ave SW, Bemidji
Honorable Mention: $50 Prize: 3419 Birchmont Dr NE, Bemidji