Come to the Judy Garland Museum for the Judy Garland Festival 2024!

We have a full schedule of fun activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Schedule of events:

Thursday June 20th

• 9:30am – Special Access Guided Tour with museum curator, John Kelsch

• 6:00pm – Welcome Reception at Rapids Brewing Company https://www.rapidsbrewingco.com(opens in new window)
  • Enjoy light snacks, refreshments, and musical entertainment from Josh Gallagher while sitting in the exact location of where Judy’s first performance occurred.

Friday June 21st ~Themed Dress Up Day- “The Wizard of Oz”

• 9:30am -Special Access Guided Tour with John Kelsch at museum
  •  guided tour of the museum gallery, house, and archives white glove experience

• 10:30am- 4:00pm –Wizard of Oz Interactive Scavenger Hunt Tour with performers 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. www.livehistoryshows.com(opens in new window)

• 11:30am – Presentation- John Fricke

• 1:30pm – Presentation John Kelsch – 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 – Bingo Social at Klockow Brewing https://klockowbrewing.com/(opens in new window)
  • Join fans for Judy Bingo “BARGO” at another local establishment. Belt some Judy songs on their stage!

• 9:00pm/Dusk – FREE outdoor showing of “The Wizard of Oz” at Pokegama Dam https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233588(opens in new window)
  • Curl up in cozy blanket overlooking the might Mississippi River while watching “The Wizard of Oz”

Saturday, June 22nd ~Themed Dress Up Day- Judy Through the Eras~

• 8:30am – Dash for the Ruby Slippers 5K Run/Walk
  • Day of registration begins at 7:30am
  • All ages welcome and dress in your best Wizard of Oz and red running shoes

• 9:30am – Special Access Guided Tour with John Kelsch
  • guided tour of the museum gallery, house, and archives white glove experience

• 10:30am- 4:30pm- Judy Through the Eras Interactive Mystery with interactive Performance from Live History www.livehistoryshows.com(opens in new window)
  • Live History is a theatre company that specializes in bringing your local history to life. Our shows take audiences on a one-hour adventure; 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
  • Hear from current museum Executive Director on future plans to turn this incident 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!
  • 35 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 – Musical Vigil in the Judy House
  • This year marks 55 years since Judy Garland passed away, musical accompaniment from Josh Gallagher

• 8:00pm – 11:00 pm Judy Through the Eras Party Bus Tour with “Joyride”
  • Bus will load at Hotel Rapids https://www.hotelrapids.com/(opens in new window)
  • This is a party bus, so alcohol is allowed on the bus with a safe, sober drive
  • Get the tour Hometown Judy tour with possible stops along the way at local establishments:

Sunday June 23rd

• 9am – Final goodbyes at Judy Garland Museum
  • Coffee, juice, muffins, and fruit

Judy movies showing all day long at museum

Please note, all plans are subject to change

We recommend purchasing a museum membership so daily admissions are waived and to save 15% on event activities.

Food trucks will be on site from 11am-6pm or until food is sold out!