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2025 Judy Garland Festival Recap
This year’s Judy Garland Festival in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, brought together fans from near and far to celebrate the enduring legacy of our hometown star. From immersive museum tours and rare Ruby Slipper auction insights to lively performances, singalongs, and classic film screenings, the week honored Judy’s spirit in every way imaginable.
Highlights included two stirring presentations by historian John Fricke, a surprise virtual visit from Judy’s granddaughter Vanessa O’Neil, a sold-out dinner mystery event, and a rollicking party bus ride set to techno Judy beats. Festivalgoers joined in community singalongs, shared decades of memories, and explored Judy’s influence through story, song, and film.
In a landmark moment, the festival partnered with Mobility Mania to attempt a Guinness World Record for most people in wheelchairs dancing set to “Over the Rainbow” with live music by the Itasca Orchestra. All to celebrate accessibility, inclusion, and joy.
Live performances by NYC artist Marjie Shrimpton, carnival fun, and a laser light show finale brought the celebration full circle, proving once again that the magic of Judy lives on in every musical note, every laugh, and every rainbow.
2025 Festival Sponsors
- MDI
- Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
- City of Grand Rapids
- Visit Grand Rapids
- Paul and Joan Herrick
- Blandin Foundation
- Grady Rapids Dental Care
- Hotel Rapids
- L&M Fleet Supply
- Blandin Foundation
- Grady Rapids Dental Care
- Hotel Rapids
- L&M Fleet Supply
- American Eagle Security System Inc
- Eagle Fraternity
- Mississippi Diamond Jewelry
- American Disposal
- Benders
- Grand Dental Center
- Hawkinson Construction Co., Inc.
- McDermott, Charlotte
- Park State Bank
- Sherman, Judy
- Acheson Tire
- Grand Rapids State Banks
- Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic
- Lefty's Tent and Party Rental
Past Events
Beyond the Lions, And Tigers, And Bears, Oh My!
The Judy Garland Festival 2023
It was hard to top the Judy Garland 100th Birthday Celebration in 2022 the year before, but the 2023 festival was still delightful. Friends gathered for another weekend of Judy Garland fun. We kept things light and simple this year and tried a few new things including Judy Bingo at Klockow Brewing, "Easter Parade" high tea at the Gilbert Mansion Bed and Breakfast, and an intimate performance in the Judy house with local Minnesotan, Jennifer Grimm.
Judy Garland 100th Birthday Celebration June 9th-12th, 2022
Thanks to all who came out to celebrate the extraordinary life of Judy Garland on the 100th Anniversary of her birthday as we remembered and honored the Grand Rapids, Minnesota gem. Your participation and support are greatly appreciated by the Judy Garland Museum®. If you couldn’t make it this time, we look forward to seeing you at our next event!
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.
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
