‘Northern Lights’ – Anoka Pride Turns Night Into Day

Once a year, the town is overrun by traditional avatars of fear: ghosts, goblins, gremlins and fleshless skeletons; devils, demons, dinosaurs and flesh-eating zombies; caped super-heroes, caped super-villains, caped vampires, two-legged animals and clowns — sad, happy, spooky … and sometimes caped.

They’re just people wearing disguises, of course. In those masks, they cavort down a jack-o’-lantern-lined Main Street, witnessed by smiling townsfolk and foliage the color of blood. This is Anoka, Minn. — seat of the county, with a population just under 20,000 souls — but every October 31st, the northern suburb reasserts its claim as Halloween Capital of the World. 

Halloween is generally associated with masks, darkness and night … but three years ago, a small clique of Anoka citizens took the opposite approach when christening their summertime cavorting “Pride Day.” 

“Initially, we just wanted it to be one day — like, literally, one day,” remembers Amber Bullock, owner of Anoka-based Metta Coffee and unapologetic planner of Pride. 

Perhaps Bullock’s business experience helped with the nascent event’s branding. 

“We didn’t want it to sound like it was ‘Pride in Anoka,’” she continues. “We wanted it to be a ‘Day of Pride.’ Not that we don’t otherwise have pride here in Anoka — we do, we live here. We really do hope we can someday do more outreach with some different things … but ‘Day’ is where we landed.”

Pride Day 2026 kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, at Anoka’s Riverfront Memorial Park. The whole operation is stuffed like a bag full of tricked treats, with such family-friendly events as “Interactive Make-and-Takes [and] hands-on creative activities for all ages,” according to the event’s press release. 

This kid-friendly emphasis is no accident. 

“We have a lot of queer youth in the north metro, so we want to make it really clear that all ages are welcome,” she assures. “It isn’t just for adults or for people who are super-involved in the queer community — it’s for everybody.”

In a way, this emphasis is merely a reflection of what already exists within the town’s demographics. 

“There are so many queer families up here — single parent, multi-parent, poly everything, this is a really safe space,” Bullock points out. “That’s really important to us.” 

The citizens benefit from this emphasis … but the city itself does, as well. 

“First and foremost, it’s diversity — we are so diverse, this brings more diversity here, more inclusion and a real visibility for everyone, not just the queer community.” Bullock asserts. “It shows this great version of Anoka. It shows how much diversity and love and acceptance we have of everyone. Secondly, we bring in a ton of business that day!” 

That business is measured in more than just dollars and cents. Each sponsor provides part of the background for what Pride Day’s press release calls “Game in Town — A City-Wide Adventure.” 

“Last year, we had 17 businesses, Pride Day sponsors, put up a word of affirmation,” Bullock asserts. “Players would go into the business and find that word of affirmation.”

But the scavenger-hunt-esque game isn’t a cynical attempt by local proprietors to pad their profits.

“You don’t have to purchase anything; you just have to find the word of affirmation and put it on your sheet. Then, [when all of the affirmations are collected], it’ll spell something out,” Bullock says. “It’s been a cool way to bring the whole community in, to be part of it.” 

That same community is brought together in another way, too. 

“The question we always get is, ‘Is there pushback?’” Bullock recounts. “We really haven’t had any pushback in the last three years — just some random online trolls who don’t even live in our area … which is funny.”

Entertainment will be provided, entertainment sure to contradict the autumn spirit for which the town is best-known … at least, so far. While it’s currently most famous for being the avatar of a holiday that centers on darkness and fear, Anoka will redefine itself as a place of acceptance and truth and light — at least for one day. 

“It’s not scary to come to Pride Day in the north metro,” Bullock insists. “Seriously, it is so loving.” 

And unmasked love always conquers masked fear, even when such fear is put on parade. 

“People can bring their kids to Pride Day — they’re safe there, and they can come as they are,” Amber Bullock declares. “Love is everywhere — it is!”

Anoka Pride Day: Celebrate Love & Acceptance
Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m.
Riverfront Memorial Park, Anoka, Minn.
Free and open to the public
anokaprideday.org