The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul celebrate Gay Pride for more than a full week each June (June 19 to June 28 in 2009), in part to honor what many consider to be one of the foremost events in the history of lesbian and gay rights, New York City's Stonewall Riots, which commenced early in the morning on June 28, 1969 (this year marks the 40th anniversary).
Book rooms and compare rates at hotels in Minneapolis during Gay Pride
Many major cities around the world host their Gay Pride Celebrations around this same time, among the Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, New York City, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, and Toronto.
In the Twin Cities, Pride celebrations center around a series of events held around the last week of June, culiminating with two major events, the Pride Festival on Saturday, June 27, and the Pride Parade and continuation of the Pride Festival on Sunday, June 28, 2009.
Here's a quick preview of Minneapolis Gay Pride in 2009:
During the weeks leading up to Pride, you can attend a number of related events and activities. Hop on a vintage stern-wheeler riverboat on Saturday, June 20, to partake of the Pride Boat Cruise, which departs from Stillwater, Minnesota, and takes place on the Andiamo Showboat, along the St. Croix River. The cruise lasts three hours and includes entertainment and a snack buffet, and tickets cost $39.
Sunday, June 21, is the Pride Picnic in St. Paul, at Como Park, in the East Picnic Pavilions. The festivities begin at 11 am and last until 2 pm - included are races and table games; burgers, hot dogs, and salads; and a softball game.
The Twin Cities main event is a weekend-long Pride Festival, set for Saturday, June 27, (10 am to 10 pm) and Sunday, June 28 (10 am to 6 pm), in lovely Loring Park. There will be a children's and family area, five stages hosting a variety of performers (including this year's headlining acts, Kat DeLuna, Kristine W, and Expose, along with many other local and national acts), food courts, a GLBT history pavilion, a "University Row" set up to provide information about colleges and universities in the area and their GLBT outreach, and Quorum Village, a vendor/exhibitor gathering presented by the Twin Cities GLBT Chamber of Commerce.
The festival culminates with the Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade, which takes place on Sunday at 11 am (the Pre-Parade Show starts at 9 am). The parade has become more and more popular, drawing more than 125,000 spectators last year. It begins at the corner of 3rd Street and Hennepin Avenue and follows Hennepin south to the Pride Festival, in Loring Park.
Of course, additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. Check local gay papers, such as Lavender Magazine, for details. Also check out the excellent GLBT website produced by the Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association.
