Staff photo by Fritz Busch Displaying new bean bags to be used at the 2024 Baggin’ in the Street Bean Bag Tournament Jan. 20 on Minnesota Street are from left, Christina Schwab, Inspired; Kari Linbo, Route 1 Interiors; Lindsay Henn, MN EIS and Christmas Haus; Crystal Johnson, New Ulm Chamber Office Manager; Sarah Warmka, Chamber CEO/President; Kristine Rueckert, Farmer’s Insurance; and Brie Taralson, Lykke Books.

If you go:

Who: Public

What: 2024 Baggin’ in the Street Bean Bag Tournament

Where: Minnesota Street, downtown.

When: Saturday, Jan. 20. Registration 9:15 a.m. at 209 Bar & Grill. Pool play at 10 a.m.

NEW ULM — Entries are rolling in from as far away as the Twin Cities metro area for the first annual Baggin’ in the Street Bean Bag Tournament set for Saturday, Jan. 20 on Minnesota Street, downtown.

New Ulm Chamber President/CEO Sarah Warmka said about 30 teams of male, female and guy and girl teams were registered by Thursday.

Registered teams include people from New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Courtland, Lafayette, St. James, Mankato, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Chaska, Carver and Montevideo.

Team names include the Beanie Babes, Tree Studs, Beards and Bags, Cool Beaners, Sand Baggers, Game of Throws, Corn Dogs, Bilbo Baggin’ in the Street, among others.

Registration for pre-registered teams continues at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at 209 Bar & Grill. Five game match pool play follows at 10 a.m., followed by a trick shot contest and the championship and elimination brackets.

The event was spawned by the New Ulm Business and Retail Association (NUBRA) Committee that put on the first annual Spiking in the Street Sand Volleyball Tournament last August on Minnesota Street downtown.

“Spiking in the Street last summer turned out really fun. We wanted to do something family friendly for bars, restaurants and hotels in January, which isn’t as busy the summer months,” said Warmka.

“It’s pretty out of the box. Our tournament grade, weatherproof bags are sticky on one side, smooth on the other,” Warmka said.

She said Joe Hoffmann of New Ulm made 30 bean bag boards for the tournament. Logos of sponsoring businesses were placed on the bean bag boards. Bags will be provided. No personal bags or boards.

Other Baggin’ in the Street features include a disc jockey, heated warming tent, beer poking with hot irons, bon fires, Smores and a hot chocolate bar with a variety of available beverages. No glass containers will be allowed. A number of downtown establishments were granted one-day liquor license extensions into Minnesota Street,

Team registration is $60 per team including two 2024 Baggin’ in the Street beanies.

Based on 60 team entries, estimated cash prizes for the top three teams in each bracket are $800, $500 and $300 for bracket one and $600, $400 and $200 for bracket two.

Warmka said the tournament is privately funded with all registration fees used to promote New Ulm businesses.

For more information, visit https://www.newulm.com/2023/12/20/baggin-in-the-street-bean-bag tournament/