Event Details
The event will focus on non-motorized sports with an emphasis on biking, camping, hiking and paddling. Attendees can expect various activations related to these sports along with presentations from the Minnesota Star Tribune's Outdoors team, camp cooking demos from local chefs, live music, and a host of other engaging activities.
Strib Unbound aims to offer a family-friendly environment free of barriers, open to anyone passionate about the great outdoors or simply interested in having a good time with friends and family in an outdoor setting.
Transportation
DRIVING?
Use the FREE BUS SHUTTLE at Mortenson Headquarters (down the street from The Trailhead)
Directions to Mortenson Shuttle
*Please note - parking is VERY LIMITED around The Trailhead. Shuttle service strongly encouraged if you plan to drive.
Shuttle service runs 8:45am to 3:30pm. Stops include The Trailhead, Wirth Lake and Utepils Brewing (starting at NOON).
Utepils Brewing Parking:
TAKE THE BUS!
Let Metro Transit do the driving! Snag your FREE ride pass and enjoy the ride.
Metro Transit Bus #7 takes you to The Trailhead
Metro Transit Bus #9 takes you within one block of Utepils Brewing
BIKING?
Use the bike valet service provided by Venture Bikes MN and Melanin in Motion. Bike Valet is located outside of The Trailhead. Enjoy the event knowing your ride is safe and sound.
For additional parking, walking, biking, and transit options, click here!
Limited Edition Gear
We've created a limited edition performance baseball hat - only 100 made - featuring a golf rope design with a perforated back to keep you fresh and covered on your outdoor adventures. Purchase yours outside the Trailhead while supplies last!
Discount available for current subscribers of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Featured Programming
Mikah Meyer - Travel Expert, Speaker, Advocate
World Record setting adventurer, Mikah Meyer, had been called everything from a "Sexy Travel Guru" to a "Best Instagram to Follow" for his 3-year journey to all 400+ National Park Service sites. Featured by NPR, The Today Show, and Washington Post, Mikah has spoken for everything from Amazon's headquarters to National Park Foundation galas. His other adventures include running across the states of Mississippi, Nebraska, and Minnesota to share his Outside Safe Space products that are sold in REI stores and make outdoor, rural, and athletic spaces more welcoming for LGBTQ+ people. His new short film "Canyon Chorus" can currently be seen on the 2025 Banff World Tour. More at mikahmeyer.com or on Instagram @mikahmey.
Stay tuned! Additional programming to be announced soon.
Yia Vang - Executive Chef and Owner at Vinai
Yia Vang is the Executive Chef and Owner at Vinai. and started nationally acclaimed Union Hmong Kitchen, a restaurant that features Hmong culture, stories, rituals, foods and flavors that quickly became a community staple in Minnesota. Vang has been featured in the New York Times, Nat Geographic, and Bon Appetit, as well as showcased on PBS, CNN, among others. Most recently, Vinai was featured on the New York Times 2024 50 Best Restaurant List and Eater’s 2024 Best New Restaurants in America.
Emily Vikre - Co-founder and Co-owner of Vikre Distillery
Emily Vikre is a native Duluthian who holds a PhD in food policy and behavioral theory from Tufts University. She is co-founder and co-owner of Vikre Distillery, which has been named best craft spirits distillery by USA Today. A nationally recognized food and drinks writer, Emily is the author of Camp Cocktails, The Family Camp Cookbook, New Camp Cookbook Fireside Warmers, and On the Trail. She was formerly a regular columnist for Food52 and has written for Lucky Peach, Minnesota Public Radio, and Norwegian American Weekly. She lives in Duluth, MN with her husband and two kids. Her favorite activities are skiing, hiking in the woods, dancing ballet, and cooking for friends and family.
Bizhiki - Musical Artist
The music of Bizhiki blends the ethereal vocals and visceral drumming of Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings (Bad River Ojibwe) and Joe Rainey Sr. (Red Lake Ojibwe) with contemporary soundscape multi- instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer S. Carey. The talented performers’ diverse instrumentation - including powwow drums, percussion, drum programming, electric bass, synthesizers, guitars, piano, and vocals - expertly evoke the lived Anishinaabe experience in a unique format.
Thomas Sticha - Musical Artist
Singer-songwriter Thomas Sticha has been carving out his own niche of Country and Folk in the Minnesota music scene over the past year. In his songwriting, he extracts the intimate and peculiar elements of Folk and Bluegrass storytelling, and he pairs it with the cosmic and nostalgic sounds of Classic Country music.
Experience A Full Day Of Outdoor Fun!
Main Stage
9:15am Special Guest Conversation with Outdoors Editor Andy Putz
10:15am "How I Got the Shot" Photography Panel with Minnesota Star Tribune Photojournalists Anthony Soufle & Jeff Wheeler
11:15am The 10 Essentials of BWCA Trip Planning with Dan Pauly
12:15pm Bizhiki Music Performance
1:30pm Keynote Presentation with Mikah Meyer
Camp Stage
9:30am Yia Vang Cooking Demo
10:30am Yia Vang Cooking Demo
11:30am Thomas Sticha Music Performance
12:30pm Outdoors For The Ages with Emily Vikre, Anthony Taylor, and Matt Swenson
1:45pm Emily Vikre Cooking Demo
Wirth Lake
9:00am DNR Fishing
11:00am Wilderness Inquiry Paddle - Register Here
12:00pm Wilderness Inquiry Paddle - Register Here
1:00pm Wilderness Inquiry Paddle - Register Here
Utepils Brewing (starts at Noon)
12:00pm Yoga with Annie Hayes
1:00pm Bird Walk with Urban Bird Collective
1:00pm Key Log Rolling
2:00pm Adventure Lab Geocaching with Minnesota Boy and MechaMN
3:00pm Fly Creation Fly Fishing Demos
5:00pm Canyon Chorus Documentary Screening + Q&A with Mikah Meyer
5:30pm Flying T's Music Performance
ALL DAY Catan available for gameplay
Other Activities
8:00 am Theo Loopers Run - Meet at Trailhead
Food & Beverage
Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Mill Valley Kitchen inside the Trailhead, in addition to two food trucks:
- Sandy's Grill and Italian Ice
- Misfit Coffee
Beer Partner
Utepils is the official Beer partner of Strib Unbound. Sip on select Utepils offerings at the trailhead throughout the day, and make sure to check out the fun that will be taking place at Utepils Brewing starting at noon and continuing into the evening. Enjoy outdoor presentations and activities at the brewery, and catch a screening of "Canyon Chorus", a river rafting journey with Mikah Meyer, followed by live music.
https://www.utepilsbrewing.com/
Venue Partner
Special thanks to our Outdoors Theme Sponsors:
Catan - Official Hiking Sponsor
Venture Bikes MN - Official Biking Sponsor
Winnebago Industries - Official Camping Sponsor
