On another rainy Saturday, Minnehaha Park welcomed the Twin Cities Pagan Pride Festival for a vibrant event full of unique artists, educational rituals and so much more.
Many gathered to celebrate Pagan traditions, explore spiritual practices and connect with a community that thrives on openness.
From the moment attendees stepped onto the festival grounds, they were met with smiles, handmade goods and a mix of fashion. The outfits truly embodied the variety of people and goods at the festival, being a blend of gothic and colorful.
Vendors offered everything from linocut prints and zines to hypnotherapy sessions and ethically-sourced bone sculptures. The sense of community was felt throughout the festival, with every vendor being eager to teach and share, not just their art, but the culture behind it.
Among the first-time vendors were artists Mads and Lizzie Madsen, whose booth featured woodcut prints and locally-made zines.
“We started celebrating Yule a few years ago,” Lizzie said. “It sparked an enjoyment of Pagan festivals, and as artists, it felt natural to express that through our work.”
One of their zines, “The Minnesota Wheel of the Year”, connects seasonal Pagan celebrations to Minnesota’s climate and wildlife, offering readers a grounded way to engage with ancient traditions.
“I hope people leave inspired to celebrate a Sabbat themselves,” Lizzie said. “Or to adorn their space with reminders of nature’s sacred cycle.”
Education was a central theme throughout the day in sessions like Wicca 101, Heathenism 101 and Druidry 101 drawing curious newcomers and seasoned practitioners alike.
Laurie Froberg and Vincent Cole of Northern Roots Grove led the Druidry session, which taught the modern version of an ancient spiritual path that’s rooted in nature and earthly connections. The teaching emphasized the importance of knowledge and scholarship in spiritual practice.
“Education plays a huge role in Druidry,” Froberg said. “The search for knowledge is one of its cornerstones. We study the past through archaeology, myth and nature to better understand our place in the world.”
Froberg explained that this commitment to learning not only deepens spiritual practice, but also fosters a sense of responsibility toward the earth and each other.
“A Druid can be absolutely anyone. It’s not just an old man in a white robe. It’s a philosophy, a personal journey,” Cole said.
For longtime attendees Tara Lucchino and Nissa Nordland, the festival is something they do every year.
“It’s one of those pillars of the year,” Nordland said. “You get to do it every year, and it really resonates.”
They both spoke with warmth and clarity about how Paganism offers space for personal truth and spiritual autonomy.
“It’s about connecting to nature and the cycles of the earth. There’s no one way to practice, and that freedom is beautiful,” said Lucchino.
They also spoke of the healing power of being in the community, especially one that celebrates queerness, spiritual diversity and mutual respect.
“You don’t have to hide yourself here,” Nordland said. “It’s a reprieve, a release, a connection.”
Twin Cities Pagan Pride continues to be more than a festival. It’s a living, breathing reminder that spirituality can be rooted in nature, shaped by community and expressed through art, education and joy.
