East Central Minnesota Pride

East Central Minnesota Pride holds its Pride in the Park celebration at Robinson Park along the Snake River in Pine City. It began in 2005 and is recognized as the first rural Pride celebration in the United States, serving Pine, Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties. The free, alcohol-free day includes live music, local vendors, community organizations, food trucks and family activities.

The first Pine City Pride grew out of the East Central Men's Circle, a discussion and support group for gay, bi, trans and questioning men in the region, which marked its fifth anniversary in June 2005 by inviting the wider LGBTQ+ community to a public picnic. Organizers say it was the first Pride in Minnesota held outside a metropolitan area, and it went ahead despite a protest picnic across town. National media covered the event, and a newspaper ad showing the town's iconic voyageur wearing a boa stirred local controversy.

Over the years the stage has hosted singer-songwriter Barb Ryman and comedian Tommy Ryman, the All God's Children Metropolitan Community Church Choir, Chastity Brown and former Minnesota Viking Esera Tuaolo, and Mark Dayton attended before becoming governor. The event won the Community Pride Showcase at the Minnesota State Fair, and for its 10th year East Central PFLAG entered a unit in the Pine County Fair Parade.

Other rural Minnesota towns, including Willmar, Brainerd, Marshall and Thief River Falls, have since held their own Prides. Longtime organizer Don Quaintance, a veteran involved since 2005, has said small-town events take more courage than blending into a big-city crowd, and the story is told in the Twin Cities Public Television film Small Town Pride.

Pride events celebrate LGBTQ+ people and mark the Stonewall uprising of June 1969. Most combine a parade or march with a festival of performers, community groups, vendors and food.

East Central Minnesota Pride has included festival, live music, vendors, food trucks and family activities.

East Central Minnesota Pride was first held in 2005.

The next edition is June 5, 2027. It usually falls first Saturday in June.