Bean Hole Days tradition dates back to 1938 in Pequot Lakes

A crowd gathered Wednesday, July 14, in Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes for the 83rd year of Bean Hole Days.

As has been done since 1938, beans were buried in cast iron kettles and baked underground in a pit overnight before being served with a bun and water for free around noon July 14 to people who patiently waited in line.

The fourth pot - Big Bertha - featured four different kinds of meat and spice.

Kimberly Ziesemer, president of Community Action of Pequot Lakes, was crowned the 2021 Queen Bean. Pequot Lakes Police Chief Eric Klang earned the King Bean title for the year. It's tradition for the queen and king to taste the first scoops of beans out of the first kettle raised out of the ground and declare them ready for all to eat.

Chris Olson performed his Memories of Elvis Tribute Show for the crowd as they waited for and then ate their beans. Crafters lined the Paul Bunyan Trail. The event also featured food vendors and kids games.

1/3: The 2021 Queen Bean - Kimberly Ziesemer, of Community Action of Pequot Lakes - gives a thumbs-up that the beans baked overnight underground in Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes were ready to be served to the crowd waiting in line Wednesday, July 14, 2021. Also tasting beans is Tyler Hidde, who stood in for the 2021 King Bean - Pequot Lakes Police Chief Eric Klang. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

2/3: A long line formed outside the Pequot Lakes Chamber of Commerce information building for Bean Hole Days on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal

3/3: Elvis (Chris Olson) performs for a crowd at Bean Hole Days on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Pequot Lakes. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal