What to Do Beforehand 

With over 600,000 attendees in 2024, Twin Cities Pride is one of the largest free pride festivals in the country. The weekend consists of several key events, but the main attraction is the sprawling free festival in the Loring Park area of downtown Minneapolis. The event is two days, Saturday and Sunday, and features hundreds of vendors, from small, LGBTQ-owned businesses to larger companies supporting the community. 

But how does one prepare for such a momentous event? Grab your favorite colorful outfit and attend one of the many lead-up events to the festival in June including dance parties, roller skating events, and of course, drag shows!

Places like Lush Lounge & Theater and Roxy’s Cabaret offer stunning drag shows for everyone. Flip Phone Events also offers a wide variety of drag shows featuring both local and national queens. They are usually held at Union Restaurant and Crave in Minneapolis and include themes like Muppet Pride, Retro Pride, and Wigs and Rainbows. 

Once you’ve found your outfit and had a blast at a local drag show, it’s time to scope out the festival map. It is divided into different colored zones, broken down by the types of booths in those sections. There are also multiple entrances to the park, so make sure you decide which section you want to hit first.

Pro Tip: The interactive map features all of the vendors listed at the bottom and you can click on a vendor space to see who is exhibiting. 

How to Get There

However you want to get to the festival, there is ample transportation and parking options to do so. 

If you decide to drive yourself, look for a number of parking ramps or street level lots nearby. 

Public transit is also a great way to cut down on costs and save time with several bus routes heading to or near Loring Park. Check out Metro Transit’s website for specific routes and departure and arrival times. 

You can also take the light rail, depending on where you are coming from, but be prepared to walk about 10 blocks to get to the park. 

Pro Tip: Get to the festival early! You will find the best parking and the least crowded busses.

Must-See Attractions

The festival hosts more than 500 vendors, including local makers, businesses and organizations, and special theme areas for pets and sports. It also features a number of stages with top-notch entertainment and several food courts. 

But the festival isn’t the only fun activity during the weekend. Start your Sunday bright and early with the Rainbow Run 5K. It goes down Hennepin Ave and guests can either participate in the run or be a spectator cheering on the racers. There is also a kid’s rainbow dash for the little ones right after the 5K.

Immediately following the 5K is the iconic Twin Cities Pride Parade, located on Hennepin Ave from 3rd Street down to Spruce. The parade runs from 11:00am to 2:00pm and features floats from community organizations and companies large and small. 

Pro Tip: There are multiple grandstand viewing options through Twin Cities Pride for VIPs, seniors, families and more. Check out Flip Phone Events for special viewing areas as well. 

Food & Drink

Food trucks serving all kinds of different cuisine are spread throughout the festival grounds. Look out for mobile food court favs like El Burrito Mercado, Tom Thumb Donuts and Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos. 

If you are looking for a great place to dine before or after the festival, check out such nearby spots as Gai Noi, Bar Lurcat, the Nicollet Diner, and Cardamom. 

The annual Pride Beer Dabbler party draws big crowds to its Friday night tasting as well. One ticket buys you unlimited pours of locally brewed lagers, IPAs, sours and stouts within the iconic grounds of Walker Art Center's Sculpture Garden.

Live Entertainment 

The Twin Cities Pride Festival features three stages of live performances include bands, drag shows, and so much more. They showcase the vibrant diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community, and aim to provide a spotlight for artists, performers, and creators from the Twin Cities area.

The Twin Cities Pride Parade also features a number of live performances throughout the parade, and there are several events throughout the whole month of June that feature live singers, bands and DJs. 

Check out 14 Ways to Support and Celebrate the LGBTQ+ Community in Minnesota.