Twin Cities Pride Festival to Feature More than 150 Minnesota Performers across its Stages

Music, drag, dance and spoken word performances will fill Loring Park as thousands gather for this year’s Twin Cities Pride Festival, featuring more than 150 performers across four entertainment spaces celebrating LGBTQ+ artistry, culture and community.

Taylor Pacyna, the entertainment coordinator at Twin Cities Pride, gave a preview of the Minnesota performers taking the stage during this year’s festival.

Of the 150 performers, 93% identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and 63% identify as BIPOC.

“We really try to have a diverse set of local performers,” Pacyna says. “We’ve got something for everybody, from drag to hip-hop to punk. Anything you want, we probably have it on one of our stages.”

Pacyna shares that she is excited that the festival is able to highlight a wide range of performers. She credits the stage managers Rox Anderson, Jorge Sanchez, Darcie Baumann and Sarah Hempel with curating the talented group of artists.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Power to the People Stage is a celebration of BIPOC LGBTQ+ artistry, culture and expression. Curated by and for the community, this stage uplifts the voices and talents of queer, trans, Black and Indigenous people and people of color.

“We’re honoring Nick Metcalf, a two-spirit leader who originally had the idea to start this Power to the People stage,” Pacyna says.

She explained that Metcalf wanted to ensure there was a space to uplift the voices of Black, Indigenous, trans and queer people. She added that Metcalf will be honored during the Sunday portion of the festival with culturally specific music.

The festival’s Stonewall Stage is dedicated to all things drag. Attendees can snag a spot in the grass, the ADA viewing platform or watch from the Stonewall Beer Garden as some of the best drag performers in Minnesota perform.

“This year, we’re excited to have a performer from Season 18 of RuPaul’s Drag Race who grew up in Minnesota, Ciara Myst,” Pacyna says. “She will perform Sunday at 4 p.m.”

“From music and spoken word to drag and dance, each performance is a powerful reminder that representation matters and that Pride must center the voices of those who have always been at the heart of the movement,” Pacyna concludes.

Local Lineup

This year’s lineup on the Power to the People stage includes electric dance and pop singer Jeff Gavin, local hip-hop artist Kevin Kaoz and a spoken word performance by Athena Persephoni.

Club Loring offers a lively dance atmosphere with DJs, music and a nightlife-inspired experience. The space will highlight local queer DJs like Shannon Blowtorch, DJ Shiek and DJ Sci-Fi, to name a few.

On the other hand, the Rainbow Stage provides family and youth-focused programming, performances and activities in a more relaxed setting. This year’s performers include School of Rock, Barbara Bow, Sadie Maguire, Not Your Baby and many more.

Together, the four stages create a wide variety of entertainment and experiences for festival attendees.

Pacyna also revealed the event will feature a surprise entertainer who grew up in Minnesota and is gaining national recognition, but said she could not yet reveal the performer’s name.

Much of the funding used to pay local Minnesota performers comes from the Minnesota State Arts Board Experiences Grant.

“We get really excited about putting money back into the community and highlighting all the amazing performers we have in the Twin Cities,” Pacyna says.

The festival is designed to create spaces where attendees can feel represented, celebrated, and connected through music, performance and community. From drag and spoken word to dance and live music, the festival’s four stages aim to showcase the diversity of LGBTQ+ voices across Minnesota while giving local artists an opportunity to perform in front of large audiences.

Twin Cities Pride Festival will take place June 27 and 28 in Loring Park and along Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. Festivalgoers can enjoy live entertainment, food vendors, community resources and activities throughout the weekend. Additional information, including the full entertainment lineup and schedule, is available through Twin Cities Pride.