Festival Location: Grand Rapids, MN, USA

Festival State: Minnesota Festivals

Festival Type: Fan Coventions

By: © Nelson Taylor 2009

Born in Grand Rapids, Frances Ethel Gumm is the town's most famous resident. Who is that? Why it's jumping Judy Garland (thank the Lord she changed her name), of course, famed red-slipper actress from The Wizard of Oz. And since 1975, Grand Rapids has been cashing in on her fame with a June festival full of authors and scholars discussing her life and career, a screening of the famous film, collectors and vendors peddling their wares, plus a gala dinner with a silent auction of various Garland and Oz memorabilia.

Featured guests have recently included Munchkins like Sleepyhead Margaret Pellgrini, Coroner Meinhardt Raabe, Lollipop Kid Jerry Marin, plus Garland's daughter Lorna Luft, author of Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir. On your down time, take a tour of Garland's birth home. Bring your heart, but leave your brain at home.

Judy Garland Festival - When, Where and More Info Please

Literature

The above snippet is just one of a collection of 240 off-beat articles on 2camels from Nelson Taylor's wonderful America Bizarro.

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