After much uncertainty, Youth Pride is on. The future of the event, long a staple of the Twin Cities’ Pride celebrations, had been in doubt according to former District 202 community organizer Jason Bucklin, who has been involved with planning the event. Organizers had been debating whether or not a planned youth section to the June 25th-27th Pride Festival in Loring Park would replace the event, or supplement what has typically been the only Pride Month event specifically for middle school- and most high school-aged students.
In an email to TheColu.mn two weeks ago, Jessi Tebben, another Youth Pride organizer, confirmed that the smoke-free and chemical-free event will be going forward on Thursday, June 3rd in Minneapolis’ Loring Park, from 4 PM to 6 PM.
Other Pride festivals this month include:
Itasca GLBTA Alliance Pride Picnic (June 3rd) : Join queer and allied Minnesotans from Northeast Minnesota and across the state for a potluck in Grand Rapids’ Veterans Memorial Park from 5 PM to 10 PM. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be provided.
Pine City’s “Pride in the Park” (June 6th) : Held in Pine City’s VFW and Voyageurs Park from noon to 5pm, organizers promise “plenty of great food, musical entertainment, vendors, and door prizes for all those present,” and ask for a free-will donation of $10 and non-perishable food for local food pantries.
Twin Cities Pride Picnic (June 20th) : From 11 AM to 2 PM in St Paul’s Como Park, come share hot dogs, hamburgers, and vegetarian delights with hundreds of LGBT families. Pick-up softball and “old-fashioned races” are also on offer.
Twin Cities Pride Festival and Parade (June 25th-27th) : It’s the biggest outdoor event in the state after the State Fair, held in Minneapolis’ Loring Park from 10 AM to 10 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 6 PM on Sunday. Admission is free, but the beer gardens have a $5 cover charge per day.
Rochester Pridefest (July 15th-18th) : The main festival will take place from 11 AM to 4 PM in Rochester’s Peace Plaza, but don’t miss out on on lots of other great Pridefest events that weekend!
Fargo-Moorhead Pride (August 13th-15th) : The Fargo-Moorhead Pride Collective hasn’t firmed-up times for the parade and festival yet, but check back later this summer as details are finalized
Duluth-Superior Pride (September 2nd-5th) : The Twin Ports Pride celebrations kick off with the Mayor’s reception on the 2nd, and continue through the weekend, including a festival in Duluth’s Bayfront Park from 11 AM to 7 PM on Saturday and Sunday’s Pride Parade at noon.
South Central Minnesota Pride (September 10th-12th) : Like Fargo-Moorhead, the organizers of Mankato’s Pride events haven’t finalized details of the festival, but don’t doubt that it will be fantastic!