Pride-related events have been taking place all month, but this weekend marks the official 2024 Twin Cities Pride Festival and Parade, with new additions this year including a Queer Writes Book Fair, an Artist Alley, the Dan Mendez Remembrance Garden and a Cannabis Garden. There’s also a new Youth Night taking place on Friday. Here’s your rundown of what not to miss.
Youth Night
Twin Cities Pride introduces its first Youth Night where the main festival takes place the next day. Aimed toward young people ages 10-20, Youth Night will have free food and drinks, a youth drag competition, a DJ, art activities, and more. Friday, June 28 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Loring Park. More information here.
2024 Twin Cities Pride Festival
With 95% of performers this year being local acts, Pride is a home-grown celebration with the likes of Venus DeMars and All the Pretty Horses, Cindy Lawson, Annie Mack, the Rebel Queens, and more. Check out the The Dan Mendez Remembrance Garden, between the formal gardens and Loring Pond, the Cannabis Garden just north of the pond on Harmon Place, the Artist Alley just West of Berger Fountain, and the Queer Writes Book Fair right by the entrance to the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge.
The Festival takes place Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Loring Park. There’s a helpful map here.
Rainbow Run 5K
Runners and running enthusiasts gather in downtown Minneapolis for the Rainbow Run 5K, starting 9 a.m. Sunday. Runners will wear rainbow-colored clothing as they celebrate Pride and get a work out to boot. Registration includes a t-shirt and a medal (9 a.m. Sunday, June 30, $45 in-person, $55 virtual. More information here.)
Twin Cities Pride Parade
The Parade runs from 3rd Street to Spruce along Hennepin Avenue, and packs in the fun from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 30. More information here.
Sheila Regan
Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at sregan@minnpost.com.
