Biking To the Event
Everything you need to know when travelling to the festival on bicycleBiking 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.
Minneapolis Departure – The sag wagon from Minneapolis will be driven by Peace Coffee. Bikers wishing to load gear into the Peace Coffee Van should arrive at the Roastery to load in between 10:30 and 11am on Saturday morning. The group riding together to the festival will depart at 11am. Again, we do not have volunteer bike stewards or bike mechanics to facilitate the ride this year, but we encourage bikers to depart together leaving from Minneapolis.
- Meeting Location: Peace Coffee Roastery, Greenway Building, 2801 21st Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407.
- Sag Wagon: Peace Coffee has provided their delivery van to be used as a Sag Wagon for bikers departing from the Peace Coffee Roastery in Minneapolis. If you intend to use the sag wagon to carry your gear to the festival, please arrive at 10:30. The Sag Wagon will be available for loading from 10:30 to 11:00am.
- Parking:The building management for the Greenway building has agreed to allow overnight parking in the north lot (indicated in the above map photo) at your own risk. Parking is available only in the designated area on a first come-first served basis.
- Departure Timing: If you choose to ride out with the group, plan to depart at 11am.
- Sunday Morning: The Peace Coffee delivery van/sag wagon will be on-site between 8:30am and 9am on Sunday morning. The sag wagon will return to the Peace Coffee Roastery and be available for gear retrieval until 1pm. If you are unable to return to the Roastery by the 1pm deadline, do not use the sag wagon on Sunday morning as the van will not be available after 1pm.
- Route Information: The route from Peace Coffee to the festival via the Gateway Bike Trail is linked here https://maps.app.goo.gl/
Np1UmpVBBmm5g5tj6. A .pdf of the route is also attached to this email.
St. Paul Departure – The sag wagon from St. Paul will be driven by a volunteer (thank you Hildes!). Bikers departing from St. Paul with the group will meet at Summit Brewing to load in between 10:30 and 11am. Please note that Summit will be closed during this time so there will be no access to the building. Summit has agreed to allow Square Lake bikers to park at the brewery in the area described below. Note that parking is allowed at the Administration Building in the lot marked in the map below on Saturday 9/14 and Sunday 9/15 only. Any car remaining in the lot on Monday at 6am will be towed at the owner’s expense.
- Meeting Location: Summit Brewing Company, 910 Montreal Circle, St. Paul, MN 55102
- Sag Wagon: Meet the Sag Wagon in the parking lot outside of Summit’s Administration Building. This year’s Sag Wagon will be driven by a volunteer. Camping gear can be loaded in the Sag Wagon between 10:30 and 11:00am. Note that there is possibly rain in the forecast for Saturday and the St. Paul Sag Wagon is a pickup truck without a cover on the bed. Please watch the forecast and weatherproof your gear if necessary.
- Parking: Summit has generously offered overnight parking (up to 45 spaces) in the parking lot outside the administration building. Parking will be allowed in the designated area on Saturday 9/14 and Sunday 9/15. Any cars remaining in the Summit lot at 6am on Monday morning will be towed at the owner’s expense. Please note that parking is at your own risk and Summit Brewing Co. will not be responsible for damages or loss of vehicles or personal belongings.
- Departure Timing: Bikers riding from St. Paul/Summit Brewing as a group will depart at 11am on Saturday.
- Sunday Morning Sag Wagon:The St. Paul Sag Wagon will be available at the festival between 8:30 and 9am for loading gear. The Sag Wagon will be available in the Summit parking lot on Sunday until 1pm. If you are not confident in your ability to retrieve your gear by 1pm, plan to carry it with you on your return trip.
- Route Information:The route from Summit to the festival via the Gateway Trail is linked here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/
nv91RpA9ydLiNPsx8. There is also a .pdf attached to this email.
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 $30 at the gate (the difference between your $20 biker ticket and the full ticket price at the door of $50). Please carpool if you cannot bike. Parking space is very limited and no additional parking passes will be issued.
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 Howard’s Bar at the event. 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 table set up in the morning with free iced coffee provided by Peace 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. The Sag Wagons must be loaded with any gear by 9am
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.
Enjoy the beautiful Gateway trail.
Minnesota State Bike Trails