The Sanford Center

23/07/2024

Week 13 of our "Meet the Team" series features our Executive Chef, Jason Larimer, the man behind the delicious food!

Jason lived in Geneseo, Illinois for 30 years before moving to Kelliher, Minnesota in March 2018. In February 2024, he began working at The Sanford Center as the Executive Chef. His favorite part of the job is creating delicious dishes to share with many people. The hospitality business runs family deep, from his wife who has also been an executive chef to his daughters who have also worked within the industry.

Away from the kitchen, Jason enjoys hunting, fishing, and working outdoors at home!

19/07/2024

Less than 4 weeks until illuminates The Sanford Center with music, art, and community on August 10th!

Tickets are only $20, so secure yours now at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0600608183881678. 🎶🍹🎨

18/07/2024

Today, we were able to present the Northwoods Battered Women's Shelter Bemidji with a donation of $3,513.85 from proceeds of the Northern Minnesota's Women's Expo at The Sanford Center! Thank you to the community that showed up to support this event, without you this donation wouldn’t have been possible!

17/07/2024

We are less than 3️⃣ weeks from TobyMac LIVE at The Sanford Center on August 4th for Your QFM's 30-year celebration!

Grab your tickets now at https://www.ticketmaster.com/tobymac-bemidji-minnesota-08-04-2024/event/0600605BA68E42CC AND let us know in the comments what song you're most excited to hear! 🎤

17/07/2024

🚨 Important Announcement 🚨

It has come to our attention that a possibly fake event called the "Fall Fling Craft Fair Sale" is circulating online. We want to clarify that this event is not affiliated with The Sanford Center in any way.

Please be cautious and ensure you are getting information directly from our official channels in order to avoid scams. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us at 218-441-4000!

16/07/2024

We want to extend a HUGE thank you once again to all local community members and the car community for showing up in the heat and making the 2nd Annual Babe's Burnout Car Show a success! We promised that this year would be bigger and better than last year, and thanks to our sponsors, vendors, staff, and community we fulfilled that promise with nearly 150 cars and over 6,000 people in attendance over Friday and Saturday!

SAVE THE DATE: July 11 & 12, 2025 for the 3rd Annual Babe's Burnout Car Show!

Below are the winners of the 2024 2nd Annual Babe's Burnout Car Show:
-Best in Show 1: Roger Larson
-Best in Show 2: Randy & Debbie Johnson
-Best in Show 3: Dale Vogt
-Most Unique: Roger Larson
-Best Convertible: Sandy Shipp
-Best Modern Muscle: Terry Peterson
-Best Engine: Randy Ridlon
-Best Paint: Rachel Eichberg
-People's Choice: Randy & Debbie Johnson
-Mayor's Choice: Matt Mostad
-Best Ford: Pam Coster
-Best GM: Allen Horsley
-Best Interior: Donnie Coyle
-Best Import (Original): Rachel Eichberg
-Best Motorcycle: Mark Glynn
-Best Tuner: Keaton Ring
-Best 4x4: Brecken Meyers
-Sanford Center Ladies Choice: Mark Bouchard
-Best Rat Rod: Jamie Donat
-Best Non-Big 3: Ron Tusler
-Best Mopar: Kevin Matthews
-Best Antique (Pre 49): Charlie Ward
-Best Farm Truck: Randy Ridlon

If you were not present to claim your trophy, you can stop into The Sanford Center during business hours to pick it up or contact us directly about shipping.

We'll see you back here next year for the 3rd Annual Babe's Burnout Car Show. 🫡
Z99 FM, Northern Minnesota's Classic Rock Station

16/07/2024

It's week 12 of our 'Meet the Team' series! This week, we're introducing our Marketing & Events Coordinator, Halle Peterson. 😄

Halle is from Stillwater, Minnesota, and moved to Bemidji in 2019 to attend Bemidji State University. She graduated this past May with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. Halle began at The Sanford Center as our Marketing intern in December of 2023 and was recently promoted to Marketing & Events Coordinator. Her favorite part of her job is the countless opportunities to learn, get involved in organizing large events, and explore various departments.

A fun fact about Halle is that she played soccer at BSU for five years and is a two-time Scholar All-American. In her free time, she enjoys staying active by running and lifting weights, as well as traveling home to visit her friends and family. She also has two adorable cats with her boyfriend named Burly & Pinecone!

15/07/2024

Some 📸 from today's Unicon21 beginner unicycling lessons!

Don't worry if you missed out! More lessons are coming July 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, & 25 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm and July 23 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm in The Sanford Center parking lot. 🤗

14/07/2024

Unicon 21 opening ceremonies

14/07/2024

The fun begins today!!

Join us for a variety of free and ticketed events at The Sanford Center over the next two weeks. Unicon is kicking things off with free beginner unicycling lessons in The Sanford Center parking lot, as well as free admission to the Unicon21 opening ceremonies. There, you can witness a world record attempt of riding a 44-foot unicycle!

We can't wait to see you there! 🤗

14/07/2024

Well over 6,000 people between Friday night and Saturday of Babe's Burnout Car Show 😮‍💨 THANK YOU, Bemidji for showing up in the heat for a weekend of family fun and cars! Again we’d like to give a huge thank you to all of our sponsors as well for keeping this event free to the community! We’ll see you back at Babe's Burnout Car Show next year. 🫡

13/07/2024

Had to test the Zamboni on the Dyno 💨

13/07/2024

13/07/2024

Burnout is happening now!

13/07/2024

REMINDER: Burnout pit will open in 10 minutes!

13/07/2024

13/07/2024

Dyno is running 💨

13/07/2024

To place your vote today for the People’s Choice Award at Babe’s Burnout Car Show, search for the “scan & vote,” signs located throughout the event and in the beer tent, or write in your vote at the main beer tent or at the bar by car registration!

13/07/2024

Dirty Dough, Kona ice, Java Shack, AND MORE today at Babe's Burnout Car Show 11-10pm

13/07/2024

🚗💨

11/07/2024

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to push your car to its limits and take your driving experience to the next level. Register now and get ready for an unforgettable day at The Babe's Burnout Car Show!

Powerhouse Mobile dynamometer will be putting the pedal to the metal (literally!) to test the limits of some incredible vehicles. Whether you're a speed demon or just a car enthusiast, come check out our dyno and see how your ride performs. To sign up, simply come to the front booth of the Dyno on the day of the event—there will be a sign-up sheet at the front counter. It's $70 for two pulls, and you'll receive a printout of your Dyno sheet.

11/07/2024

‼️BABE'S BURNOUT CAR SHOW CAR REGISTRATION‼️

Car registration and parking will take place on Saturday, July 13th, starting at 7 AM in The Sanford Center parking lot, with a $10 entry fee. The show officially starts at 11 AM, and we recommend that you park by then to fully enjoy the event. However, you are welcome to join us at any time throughout the day. We are excited to see you there! 😊🚗

10/07/2024

🚨 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT 🚨

We're excited to highlight King of the Road Trailers as another fantastic sponsor of Babe's Burnout Car Show!

Just 3️⃣ days until the second annual Babes Burnout Car Show! Who's getting excited!?

10/07/2024

We are kicking off this year's Babe's Burnout Car Show with Family Night! 🍿🥤🌭

FREE hotdogs, soda & popcorn WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! As well as face painting, bounce houses, live music & more from 4 PM - 7 PM. The live music will continue & the beer tent will open from 7 PM - 10 PM. A HUGE thank you to our sponsors Sanford Health & Lueken's Village Foods for helping make this free community event come to life!!

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE:
4 - 6 PM Catching Clarity
6-8 PM Off Kilter
8 - 10 PM Brock Beaulieu and the Bad Habits

*Please note, there will be no cars on Friday, the car show will begin on Saturday, July 13th at 11 AM*

09/07/2024

We are THREE DAYS away from the second annual Babe's Burnout Car Show!

Festivities will kick off on Friday, July 12th, from 4 PM to 7 PM with Family Night, sponsored by Sanford Health and Lueken's Village Foods. Enjoy FREE hotdogs, soda, popcorn, face painting, bounce houses, live music, and more. From 7 PM to 10 PM, you can enjoy live music in the beer tent.

The fun continues on Saturday, July 13th, from 11 AM to 10 PM with hundreds of cars, a dynograph, food trucks, vendors, live music, a beer tent, a co****le tournament, an award ceremony, and the much-anticipated burnout pit! The burnout pit fun begins at 3 PM, followed by the Car Show Award Ceremony at 5:15 PM. The event concludes with entertainment in the beer tent until 10 PM.

Car registration and parking on Saturday, July 13th, will begin at 7 AM with a $10 entry fee. The show officially starts at 11 AM, and we recommend being parked by then to fully enjoy the event. However, you are welcome to join us anytime throughout the day! 😄🚗

09/07/2024

In week 11 of our 'Meet the Team' series, we are introducing Janine Johnson, the Director of Food & Beverage!

Janine is from Sacramento, California, and moved to Bemidji in January of 2024. She relocated for her position as the Director of Food & Beverage but also because her dad was born in Pine River, MN, and she has family in the Twin Cities. Plus, she wanted to escape the heat and humidity of the south!

Janine has been working at The Sanford Center for almost six months, and her favorite part about her job is that there is so much opportunity for growth within the Food & Beverage Department. She has worked in F&B for over 20 years across Hotels, Resorts, Cruise Ships, and Casinos—and she can now add an arena to the list! Janine also graduated from the University of Phoenix.

A fun fact about Janine is that she grew up overseas, spending years in Bangladesh, Thailand, India, and Malaysia. She even celebrated her 9th birthday in Germany. Outside of work, she enjoys horseback riding and antique shopping!

08/07/2024

🚨 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT 🚨

We are thrilled to feature Tint Masters as a sponsor of the Babe's Burnout Car Show!!

Join us in 4 days for some community fun at The Sanford Center. 😆