Judy's 100th Birthday Celebration
Thanks for all the fun on:
June 9th - 12th 2022
Thanks for attending this milestone event!
Thank you to everyone that attended the weekend full of fun at the Judy Garland 100th Birthday Celebration as we remembered and honored the Grand Rapids, Minnesota gem.
The celebration hosted events for all ages including movie showings, meet and greets, special access guided tours, a 5k, and Judy’s 100th Birthday Fundraising Dinner, and a FREE outdoor showing of the "The Wizard of Oz" on a huge jumbo screen.
Keep checking back for future events.
Celebrate this national treasure right here in her hometown of Grand Rapids, MN.
Thursday June 9th
Special Access guided tours with 30 year Judy Garland authority, John Kelsch
Check out the newly finished archive tour with white glove experience to touch some of prized archive collections. John Kelsch is a 30 year veteran of the museum and now serves as the sole curator with first hand knowledge to archives.
- Times: 9am
- Price: $15
- Place: Judy Garland Museum
Judy Garland Movies and Documentaries
View Judy’s beloved movies and documentaries throughout the day
- Time: 10am-5pm
- Price: general admission
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
Special Access guided tours with 30 year Judy Garland authority, John Kelsch
Check out the newly finished archive basement tour with white glove experience to touch some of prized archive collections. John Kelsch is a 30 year veteran of the museum and now serves as the sole curator with first hand knowledge to archives.
- Times: 9am, 10:30am and 1:30pm
- Price: $15
- Place: Judy Garland Museum
John Fricke Presentation
How Do You Measure Miracles?
Host John Fricke opens the celebration and welcomes attendees to Judy’s centennial. He’ll briefly summarize Judy’s impact across ten decades of pop culture -- and on audiences of all ages -- and present two video collages, specially produced by René Reyes and Shane Rosamonda. These montages celebrate both her motion picture and television careers and concisely summarize the Garland reputations as “the little girl with the great big voice,” “MGM’s greatest asset,” “Miss Show Business,” and the “World’s Greatest Entertainer.”
- Time: 3pm – 4:30pm
- Price: $10
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
Welcome Reception with Jazz Tribute to Judy by Josh Gallagher and his Orchestra
John Fricke will kick-off Judy’s 100th Birthday Celebration. Musical tribute to Judy by jazz pianist Josh Gallagher and his orchestra
Light snacks and refreshments provided.
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- Price: $10
- Place: Due to popularity this is now being hosted at Timberlake Lodge, just down the road from the museum
- Timberlake Lodge Hotel and Restaurant, 144 SE 17th St, Grand Rapids Minnesota 55744
We highly recommend purchasing a Judy Garland Museum Membership. Members receive unlimited general admission to the museum as well as 15% off event admissions and gift store purchases. These can be purchased on this website.
A general admission ticket ($12/adult) will be required each day of the event and needed to attend each activity. We are not offering online pre-registration for these passes. These can be purchased at the front desk upon arrival. Each visitor and JGM member will receive a colored wristband and then people can come and go as needed throughout each day. If you are attending multiple activities, you will pick up all your individual tickets for all activities at the front desk upon arrival.
Friday, June 10th
Museum Meet and Greet
Judy Garland Heirs Trust is launding – Judy – A Garland Fragrance by Vincenzo Spinnato, we are getting exclusive access for the 100th! John Fricke will sign books and meet fans.
- Time: 9am – 10am
- Price: general admission, additional fees for autographs may apply at time of event
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
Judy Jeopardy
Back for the 12th year, Judy Jeopardy hosted by Joe Malinovsky and Paul Herrick. A fun trivia event to test your Judy knowledge, be ready to learn and have some fun.
- Time: 10am-11:30am
- Price: $10
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
Special access guided tours with 30 year Judy Garland authority, John Kelsch
Check out the newly finished archive tour with white glove experience to touch some of our best archive collections.
- Times: 9:00 am and 1:30pm
- Price: $15
- Place: Judy Garland Museum front entrance
John Fricke Presentation
They Remember Judy
This video program offers an extraordinary assemblage of interview outtakes from the two primary Judy Garland television documentaries of the 1980s and 1990s – all of them moments that were not included in the programs themselves or telecast elsewhere. Garland costars, coworkers, songwriters, musical conductors, and arrangers – even the Gumm Family “au pair” from 1925 – discuss the girl, young lady, and woman they knew and cherished. It’s a compilation of happy stories and honest personal recollections from people who were actually THERE with her, and who tell it like the wonder it so often was. Participants include June Allyson, Alan King, Hugh Martin, Mort Lindsey, Norman Jewison, Ann Miller, and many others. In addition, John offers behind-the-scenes stories about guiding the interviews and about the documentaries themselves for which he received two Emmy Awards as coproducer.
- Time: 1pm – 2:30pm
- Price: $10
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
Main Event: Judy’s 100th Birthday Fundraising Dinner
Jennifer Grimm welcomes her 12-piece band for a musical birthday tribute to Judy Garland- “Jennifer Grimm Sings Judy Garland”
Show your support for our non-profit museum, proceeds generated at this event keep our museum going!
Exclusive Live stream to Judy’s 100th Birthday Fragrance Launch Gala in California
- Time 5pm - 6pm - Social hour
- Time: 6pm – 7pm Buffet Style Dinner Served
- Time: 7-8:30p – Live entertainment while you enjoy your dinner
- Time: 8:30pm - Auction items including limited quantities of the Limited 100th Edition of:
- "Judy - A Garland Fragrance by Vincenzo Spinnato"
- Price: $75 ($63 for Judy Garland Museum Members)
- Place: Timberlake Lodge Hotel and Restaurant, 144 SE 17th St, Grand Rapids Minnesota 55744
Contact the Museum For Pricing on Reserving an 8-person Table
Call: 218-327-9276
Email: info@judygarlandmuseum.com
We highly recommend purchasing a Judy Garland Museum Membership. Members receive unlimited general admission to the museum as well as 15% off event admissions and gift store purchases. These can be purchased on this website.
A general admission ticket ($12/adult) will be required each day of the event and needed to attend each activity. We are not offering online pre-registration for these passes. These can be purchased at the front desk upon arrival. Each visitor and JGM member will receive a colored wristband and then people can come and go as needed throughout each day. If you are attending multiple activities, you will pick up all your individual tickets for all activities at the front desk upon arrival.
Saturday June 11th
Dash for the Ruby Slippers 5K
This event has a separate registration page: Learn More
All ages welcome to join “Dash for the Ruby Slippers 5K Run/Walk”. Dress in your best Wizard of Oz costume and running shoes. Free T-shirt for pre-registred participants. Fun Wizard of Oz activites following the race
- Time: 8:30am (pre-registration begins at 7:30am)
- Place: Judy Garland Museum
Price:
- Individual: $35
- Children age 4-12: $18
- Children under 3: FREE
Special access guided tours with 30 year Judy Garland authority, John Kelsch
Check out the newly finished archive tour with white glove experience to touch some of our best archive collections.
- Times: 9:00 am and 1:30pm
- Price: $15
- Place: Judy Garland Museum front entrance
John Fricke Presentation
Celebrating Judy
Enjoy Judy-on-screen and in anecdotes about her humor, her warmth, her inestimable talent, and her show business savvy in selecting songs and planning her concerts. Recall her countless happy triumphs in all media, from the 1920s through the 1960s . . . and beyond!
- Time: 11am – 12:30pm
- Price: $10
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
Judy’s Hometown “Joy Ride” Bus Tours
Enjoy the comfort our our local “Hotel Rapids” Joy Ride Bus service
Ride around town in this comfortable, decked out bus that will include an entertaining guided tour around Grand Rapids. Hit up areas where Judy Garland and her family spent time in their 12-year history in Grand Rapids
Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase on the bus.
- Times: 10am – 11am
- Times: 11:30am – 12:30pm
- Times 1pm – 2pm – this tour will be conducted by Joe Malinsky and Paul Herrick
Joe Malinskey and Paul Herrick
- Price: $15
- Place: Judy Garland Museum
Gumm to Garland Amazing Race
Please call to register. Fundraiser for Women’s Scholarship and Historical Society Research Center!
- Time: 1pm
Prizes:
- Grand prize - $500
- 1st Runner up - $250.00
- 2nd Runner up - $100.00
- 3 most unique pictures will receive a gift basket from participating businesses, valued at $100.00
“Easter Parade” High Tea Party
In celebration of Judy’s movie “Easter Parade” come enjoy this upscale tea party. Come dressed with tea attire and hats, prizes for most creative hat, most traditional hat and biggest bonnet award. English teas, finger sandwiches and traditional baked goods served.
- Time: 3pm – 4:30 pm
- Price: $25
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
Meet and Greet at the Museum - Meet Joe Luft
Get an autograph or picture with Judy’s son, Joe Luft
- Time: 5:30pm
- Price: $20
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
John Fricke Presentation
Let’s Talk Judy!
Interspersed with silent home movie footage of Garland stage shows from 1951-1967, John discusses the three Judy Garland concerts he attended as a teenager, as well as the moments he saw her offstage – and his very brief but unforgettable one-on-one conversation with her at 2:30 a.m. in the Pump Room of Chicago’s Ambassador East Hotel! Thereafter, the evening will be open to questions and remembrances from others. Did you first discover her as “Dorothy,” “Betsy,” “Esther,” “Hannah,” “Jenny” – or on TV as herself? Dou ever see her “in person” – or meet her? Please come and share your recollections on this occasion!
- Time: 7pm
- Price: $10
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
Live Entertainment at the Museum
Hang around outside or inside the museum, bring food or buy from some local food vendors. Klockow Brewing will be coming, local food vendors, concessions, and a bags tournament. We will be having an open mic night. We welcome performers to sign up for time slots! email: info@judygarlandmuseum.com
- Time: 5pm-8:30pm
- Price: general admission if touring museum, otherwise FREE
- Place: Judy Garland Museum
Main Event: Rolling out the Red Carpet: outdoor JUMBO screen showing of “The Wizard of Oz”
Outdoor showing of the classic film, starring Judy Garland, will be shown in the finest Blu-ray, on a JUMBO Screen outdoors. Bring a blanket or lawn chair! Free event for the community. Come dressed up as a Wizard of Oz character or come as you are. Take your picture on the red carpet with a Judy Garland and/or Wizard of Oz character.
- Time: 8:30pm (movie will play when it’s dark enough)
- Price: FREE
- Place: The Emerald's Lawn, right next to the Judy Garland Museum
We highly recommend purchasing a Judy Garland Museum Membership. Members receive unlimited general admission to the museum as well as 15% off event admissions and gift store purchases. These can be purchased on this website.
A general admission ticket ($12/adult) will be required each day of the event and needed to attend each activity. We are not offering online pre-registration for these passes. These can be purchased at the front desk upon arrival. Each visitor and JGM member will receive a colored wristband and then people can come and go as needed throughout each day. If you are attending multiple activities, you will pick up all your individual tickets for all activities at the front desk upon arrival.
Sunday, June 12th
Closing Remarks
Join fans and friends for one last goodbye. Catered Buffet Style Breakfast. Judy Garland Museum membership discount not applicable for this event.
- Time: 9am
- Price: $20.00
- Place: Timberlake Lodge Hotel and Restaurant, 144 SE 17th St, Grand Rapids Minnesota 55744
Judy Garland Movies and Documentaries
View Judy’s beloved movies and documentaries throughout the day
- Time: 10am-5pm
- Price: general admission
- Place: Judy Garland Museum, 100th Birthday Room
We highly recommend purchasing a Judy Garland Museum Membership. Members receive unlimited general admission to the museum as well as 15% off event admissions and gift store purchases. These can be purchased on this website.
A general admission ticket ($12/adult) will be required each day of the event and needed to attend each activity. We are not offering online pre-registration for these passes. These can be purchased at the front desk upon arrival. Each visitor and JGM member will receive a colored wristband and then people can come and go as needed throughout each day. If you are attending multiple activities, you will pick up all your individual tickets for all activities at the front desk upon arrival.
Become A Member
Membership Benefits
- Unlimited annual admission
- 15% Discount on purchases at the museum store
- 15% Discount on birthday party rental space
- 15% Discount on certain event tickets
- Volunteer opportunities
- Gift memberships are always a nice surprise for family & friends!
Please Note
We highly recommend purchasing a Judy Garland Museum Membership. Members receive unlimited general admission to the museum as well as 15% off event admissions and gift store purchases.
A general admission ticket ($12/adult) will be required each day of the event and needed to attend each activity. We are not offering online pre-registration for these passes. These can be purchased at the front desk upon arrival. Each visitor and JGM member will receive a colored wristband to ensure general admission ticket is paid for and then people can come and go as needed throughout the entire day with these wristbands.
The Itasca County Historical Society will be hosting 2 events that require pre-registration:
Escape Room: The Ruby Scam at the Emerald Emporium
- Call for times and to reservation
- (218) 326-6431
Activities are filling up fast, be sure to arrange accommodations soon! Visit Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Most hotels within 1 hour of Grand Rapids as of May, please consider staying at:
Cedar Lakes Casino in Cass Lake Minnesota
Northern Lights Casino in Walker Minnesota
Bemidji Minnesota also has several accommodation options
Past Events
Beyond the Lions, And Tigers, And Bears, Oh My!
The Judy Garland Festival June 20-22, 2019
To kickoff the 2019 Judy Garland Festival we showed Judy’s first talk show appearance from December 1962. John Fricke presented the film clips and anecdotes he created for the 2014 Turner Classic Movies Festival in Los Angeles. It's a motion picture history of Judy from childhood to maturity, in glimpses of her work with everyone from Fanny Brice and Mickey Rooney to Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Maximilian Schell. John Fricke presents backstage and behind-the-scenes memories from Judy's concert era, as written by the fans, friends, and strangers with whom she met and mingled across those years. Plus: recollections from those who have offered remembrances or thoughts about her across these past five decades
Wizard of Oz Festival 2018
A cast of adults and children took the audience back to the time the Gumm family (Judy Garland's family) lived in the little white house in Grand Rapids. The songs they sang and stories about what happened while they lived here.
Embark on the unique items related to Judy Garland that have never been seen by the public. During the last twenty-three years, the Judy Garland Museum has received some lovely and unusual items related to Judy and her family history. Hear the stories behind them, as only museum director John Kelsch can tell.
Wizard of Oz Festival 2017
Perfect for the whole family! Historian/documentarian John Fricke entertains with behind-the-scenes stories and video about the making of The Wizard of Oz. Learn how some of the special effects were accomplished–decades before the existence of computer imaging! Hear about the bloopers that crept into the finished film, so that you can watch for them in Friday night’s free screening.
John Fricke is regarded as the preeminent Judy Garland and MGM Wizard of Oz historian and has written seven books on these topics. He’s the recipient of Emmy Awards as co-producer of the PBS American Masters and A&E Biography Garland documentaries, and a Grammy Award nominee for his liner notes on the Capitol CD, Judy Garland: 25th Anniversary Retrospective. John has appeared as a programmer and co-host on the Turner Classic Movies network and at their Los Angeles Film Festival. In addition, he’s been interviewed on The Today Show, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, The Joan Rivers Show, National Public Radio, and Sirius Satellite Radio, and has become a regular at the Judy Garland/Wizard of Oz Festival. We are happy to welcome him back this year.
The Wizard of OZ Festival of 2014
The Wizard of OZ Festival of 2014 corralled in 1,093 people dressed in their best Wizard of Oz costumes and gave them the claim to the Guinness World Record