Midsummer Pride Party
June 22, 2024, 5pm-10pm
Celebrate pride and the longest day of the year at Franconia Sculpture Park’s Midsummer Pride Party!
Join us on Saturday, June 22nd, from 5-10pm for free art workshops, a thrilling queer puppet wrestling show, and a dazzling drag performance hosted by Quinn Tessential. End the night by dancing to music by DJ Dazzle!
This event is free and open to the public; suggested donation is $10/vehicle. There will NOT be alcohol sold at this event.
This activity was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
5pm-8pm
Flower Crown Making
It wouldn’t be Midsummer without making flower crowns to celebrate the longest day of the summer! All materials provided by Franconia.
5pm-8pm
Flowing Currents: The River Fish and the News Narrative
Experience a brand new traveling mural and augmented reality pop-up from Marlena Myles x MPR’s Arts & Culture team. This traveling mural is a metaphor between the healthy dynamic ecosystem of rivers in Minnesota and the essential role of Journalism in our society. Using a QR code, you can immerse yourself in the mural!
5pm-9pm
DISCOmosaic Workshop
Join Club EXILE and Sebastian Duncan-Portuondo in creating mosaic disco ball rocks as a collaborative tribute to the victims of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub Shooting. Learn basic glass cutting and mosaic techniques to create mosaic skins and patches on rocks and rubble from the land around Franconia. Experience music from Club EXILE’s “Songs of EXILE and HOME” collection while collaborating in community. The DISCOmosaic rocks will be included in a July exhibition in the Mardag Gallery, before finding a long-term home in the sculpture park.
5:30pm-6:30pm
Queer Puppet Wrestling Show
at the Franconia Amphitheater
The Queer Puppet Clash dares to ask the question, “What if pro-wrestling was even gayer and also featured puppets and magic?” Full of twists, turns, fists, and yearns, the Queer Puppet Clash celebrates all the wacky chaos and heartbreak of a fictionalized organization of puppet wrestlers. Meet us outside at the Franconia Earthen Amphitheater for an incredible Queer Puppet Wrestling Show with Fletcher Wolfe and friends.
6:30pm-8pm
Drag Show Hosted by Quinn Tessential
in the Driscoll Education Center
Join us in the Education Center for a fun and fantastical drag show hosted by Quinn Tessential, featuring Minnesota drag legends Ondine Cella, Salty Fears, Megan the Maneater, Mexica Xadows. Bring dollar bills for tipping!
8pm-10pm
Dance Party with music by DJ Dazzle
Dance the night away to music from DJ Dazzle!
The Queer Puppet Clash (photo by Uche Iroegbu)
Ondine Cella, drag queen
DISCOmosaic Workshop (photo courtesy of Sebastian Duncan-Portuondo)
Flower Crown Workshop
This activity is made possible in part by a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council with funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature from its general fund.