Biking To the Event

Biking to the Square Lake Film & Music Festival

The Square Lake Film & Music Festival is located just 3 short miles from the end of the beautiful Gateway Bike Trail.  In order to host this event on a quaint, picturesque property with limited parking, we offer discounted admission to festival attendees arriving on a bicycle.  Almost half of our tickets are sold to attendees biking to the festival each year.  In previous years, group rides have departed from locations in both Minneapolis and St. Paul.  The trip is roughly 30 miles each way.  Our sponsors, Summit Brewing and Peace Coffee, have in the past provided sag wagons that can carry gear from the departure points to the festival grounds.  Free overnight “camping” (we allow you to pitch a tent on the lawn, but do not have typical campsites) is available on a first-come, first-served basis so that bikers are not tasked with finding a way home in the dark after the festival. In order to receive the biker discount, biker tickets must be purchased in advance.

This is a facilitated bike ride. Volunteer bike stewards from local bike coops will facilitate the ride out to the festival and provide ride support, taking a moderate to relaxed pace, and providing mechanical and safety support as they are able. You should, however, be prepared to be self-sufficient. This would include bringing basic flat-fixing kits, water, snacks, and a map. Helmets are encouraged but not required.

St. Paul Bikers

There is a new Saint Paul pickup location.  Riders departing from Saint Paul will assemble in the parking lot of Summit Brewery (910 Montreal Cir) at a time TBD to load gear into the Summit Sag Wagon.  The Minneapolis group will meet up with the group at Summit and bike toward festival grounds. 

GROUP RIDE RULES:

1) Please stay together as ONE group until we get to the Gateway Trail. We can more effectively navigate the cities as one group, not divided. After we reach the Gateway Trail, we encourage you to ride at your preferred pace. 2) Please do not ride more than two abreast, this includes while on the Gateway Trail. We are sharing this trail with other bicyclists and pedestrians. Some of the bicyclists are practicing road racing and are moving very fast. 3) Be observant of what’s ahead and also communicate this with fellow Square Lake riders behind you. There will be a brief safety talk and introduction before the group departs from The Hub and a secondary talk at Summit Brewery. Here are some great tips for riding safely and communicating in a group: http://www.fccycleclub.org/GRE

MAPS/DIRECTIONS:

The Hub ride will leave from 3016 Minnehaha Ave S and be going to Summit Brewing in St. Paul to join other Square Lake riders there, before heading onwards to the festival. There is a .pdf attached to this email with a state parks map of the Gateway Trail. Please print or have access to a digital copy of this map and google bike directions to the festival (13359 Partridge Road North, Stillwater, MN 55082). The bike route can be found here.

IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO BIKE:

In order to receive the discounted tickets, you must arrive on your bike. In the event that you purchased a discounted biker ticket but do not ride your bike to the festival (meaning you will arrive in a car instead), please be prepared to pay at the gate (the difference between your biker ticket and the full ticket price at the door). Please carpool if you cannot bike out for some reason. Parking space is very limited!

BIKE PARKING:

Bikes must be parked outside of the camping area. Bring a lock/chain if you are concerned about theft. (We’ve not been notified of any issues with theft since initiating the bike ride in 2006; however, please take precautions as you would at any other public event to keep your bike safe.) 

 IF YOU CAMP:

The Square Lake Festival is not a campground and does not provide campsites to attendees. Instead, we invite you to pitch a tent on our lawn if you wish.  Please ensure your tent is pitched only in designated areas and is at least 7 feet from neighboring tents. There is no access to shower facilities or electricity. There are no fires or grilling allowed. You may bring a cooler of food that does not require cooking. Hot food will be available from food trucks at the event. Please note that the changes to our licensing this year has made camping space even more limited. Space is available on a first come, first served basis.  Please review the FAQ on our website and the email that will go out to all attendees for additional information about overnight camping.

SUNDAY MORNING/RETURN RIDE:

There will be a free yoga session from 8-9 on Sunday morning.  Peace Coffee will have a table set up with free iced coffee and light breakfast snacks. The return ride is not facilitated due to riders choosing to depart at multiple times.  Those interested in riding back to the Twin Cities with a group should be prepared to depart at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Most riders depart at their leisure.  For those of you with gear for the sag wagons, all gear must be loaded onto the Peace Coffee and Summit Sag Wagons by 9:30am.  Summit will be in the parking lot at Summit Brewery from 12:30 – 2pm (or until all gear has been picked up) on Sunday.  Any gear not retrieved by 2pm may be picked up on Monday morning at Summit Brewery.

WEATHER:

This is a rain or shine event!  No refunds will be given in the event of rainy weather.  Check the forecast and come prepared.

Minnesota State Bike Trails