East Central Minnesota Pride

East Central Minnesota Pride will be holding their 17th annual Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 4, 2022, from 12:00 PM- 5:00 PM. The celebration will be held at Robinson Park, in downtown Pine City, Minnesota.  The event is free to attend and features a wide variety of vendors and exhibitors, live music, food, arts activities, and entertainment. This year’s entertainment includes New Salty Dog, Martina Marraccino, and the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community’s children’s activities.  There will also be a selection of food trucks and a quiet space for attendees on the Autism spectrum.

Look for businesses that show their support by an “All Are Welcome Here” sticker or rainbow flag displayed in their storefronts. Pine City is located between two Minnesota Lakes connected by the Snake River. Be sure to check out Voyageur Park or take advantage of dockside pick up from Three Twenty Brewing and Pine City Pizza Pub, the A&W Drive in Restaurant which is far and above any establishment by the same name. The newly renamed and reopened The Garage features a rooftop patio and the Cabina Caffe features and up north cabin themed coffee shop. Across from the pride celebration is the freshly remodeled Pine Center for the Arts featuring the work of local artists. 

The theme of this year’s festival is “Growing in Pride”. East Central Minnesota Pride has come a long way since their first picnic in the park in 2005.  They’ve grown, thrived, and increased the awareness and support of LGBTQ people living in small towns and rural parts of East Central Minnesota.