Schedule:

Thursday, June 20, 2024
9:30am - Special Access Guided Tour with John Kelsch at museum
Join 37-year Judy Garland authority with a guided tour of the museum gallery, house, and archives white glove experience.

11:30 am- 3:30pm - Judy Garland movies playing in the party room at the museum

6:00pm - Welcome Reception at Rapids Brewing Company in Private Room

Enjoy light snacks, refreshments, and musical entertainment by Josh Gallagher while sitting in the exact location of where Judy's first performance happened and the site where Judy's parents "New Grand Theatre" was located.

Friday, June 21, 2024
Themed Dress Up Day- "The Wizard of Oz"

(Prizes each day for best dressed, voted on by the attendees)

9:30am -Special Access Guided Tour with John Kelsch at museum
Join 37-year Judy Garland authority with a guided tour of the museum gallery, house, and archives white glove experience

10:30am- 4:00pm -Wizard of Oz Interactive Mystery with immersive performance from "Live History"
Live History is a theatre company that specializes in bringing your local history to life. Our shows take audiences on a one hour adventure through time. Audiences will experience a full tour of the location while interacting with characters, and assisting them in solving an urgent issue that can only be resolved with the audiences' help.
Groups can go through at any point during the time frame.

11:30am – Presentation- John Fricke
JUDY ON TV: 1965-68
Revisit some of the best Garland moments from TV variety shows during the final years of her career and see just how wonderfully effective she was -- despite all the intervening (and uninformed) comment and journalism to the contrary!  She performs in duet with Sammy Davis, Jr., Perry Como, Van Johnson, Vic Damone, and offers nine of her own "Judy songs"; it's a wonderful summation of the fact that she never stopped joyously impacting on audiences. Between clips, John Fricke provides anecdotes and back-stories of the tapings of these programs.

1:30pm – Presentation- Judy and the Great Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio
Join 37-year Judy Garland authority John Kelsch for a presentation with content from Judy's signing with MGM, to the rise of and fall of MGM studios.

3:30pm - Movie Showing: "Judy Garland: The Concert Years"
To prepare for Fricke Presentation on Saturday (not required but recommended). No pre-registration required.

7:00pm – Social at Klockow Brewing
Join fans for Judy Bingo "BARGO" at another local establishment and some cold brews.
They have a stage, so maybe you can get up and belt some Judy songs for all to enjoy!

9:00pm/Dusk – FREE outdoor showing of "The Wizard of Oz" at Pokegama Dam (34385 U.S. HWY 2, Grand Rapids MN 55744)
Curl up in cozy blanket overlooking the might Mississippi River while watching "The Wizard of Oz"
Popcorn available, dress warm!
No pre-registration needed, just show up

Saturday, June 22, 2024
Themed Dress Up Day- Judy Through the Eras
(dress in your favorite Judy character or supporting character, prizes for the best dressed, voted on by attendees)

8:30am  - Dash for the Ruby Slippers 5K Run/Walk
Day of registration begins at 7:30am, we highly recommend pre-registering. There is a separate online registration for this event
All ages welcome to join and dress in your best Wizard of Oz costume and red running shoes

9:30am – Special Access Guided Tour with John Kelsch
Join 37-year Judy Garland authority with a guided tour of the museum gallery, house, and archives white glove experience.

10:30am- 4:30pm- Judy Through the Eras Interactive Mystery with immersive performance with Live History
Live History is a theatre company that specializes in bringing your local history to life. Our shows take audiences on a one-hour adventure through time. Audiences will experience a full tour of the location while interacting with the characters and assisting them in solving an urgent issue that can only be resolved with the audiences' help.
Groups can go through at any point in the time frame.

10:30 am - Ruby Slipper Theft Guided Tour with John Kelsch
Get the inside scoop on the ruby slipper theft from the man who lived through
Her from current museum Executive Director on future plans to turn this event into a positive for the museum, documentaries and movie deals

1:30pm – John Fricke Presentation- Legends & Loonies & Lies, Oh My!
It's the 85th Anniversary of Judy's iconic film The Wizard of Oz!
To celebrate, award-winning producer/author/historian John Fricke discusses all the rumors and -- inaccurate! -- horror stories about its making. (Be aware: social media has a LOT for which to answer!) Bring your own questions about this topic, too, as you'll be invited to ask them... and celebrate the happiness and magic of this year's Garland/Oz event!

3pm – John Fricke Presentation- Judy Garland: The Concert Years-- Another Judy Anniversary!
Thirty-five years ago, this autumn, John Fricke was signed by PBS-TV to serve as "creative consultant" for the first TV documentary/retrospective ever produced to honor Judy's adult concert and television performances. The subsequent telecast reestablished Judy's post-MGM and A Star is Born reputation as nothing else could have.
Learn about all the behind-the-scenes joys, dramas, traumas, and glories - and hear about the interviews with Tony Bennett, Alan King, Melissa Manchester, Lorna, Joey and Sid Luft, Nelson Riddle, and others. Here's the chance to experience the memories with John: he was there!

6:00pm – Vigil in the Judy House
This year marks 55 years since Judy Garland passed away
Commemorate her life and legacy with musical guest, Josh Gallagher

8:00pm - 11:00 pm - Judy Through the Eras Party Bus Tour with "Joyride"
Bus will load at Hotel Rapids
This is a party bus, so alcohol is allowed on the bus with a safe, sober driver
Get the tour Hometown Judy tour with possible stops along the way at local establishments:
Smoke on the Water
Eagles Club of Grand Rapids
Back to Hotel Rapids

Sunday, June 23, 2024
9am - Final goodbyes at Judy Garland Museum
Coffee, juice, muffins, and fruit
Judy movies showing all day long at museum

Date: June 20-23, 2024

Location: Judy Garland Museum, 2727 South Pokegama Avenue, Grand Rapids, MN 55744

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