On Saturday, June 21, the Eden Prairie Community Center will host its annual Party for Pride at Staring Lake Park, 14800 Pioneer Trail. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features activities such as Zumba, dance parties and a puppy parade open to all dogs.
Megan Munoz, the center’s fitness recreation supervisor and lead organizer of the event, described Party for Pride as a “celebration of movement, wellness and of the LGBTQIA community.”
Munoz organized the first event in 2023 after realizing there was no official celebration in Eden Prairie.
“The city had never had a Pride event, and I thought it was an important thing to put into the community,” she said. “We all have people we know that are in the LGBTQIA community, people we know, people we love.”
Upon this realization, she and a few other members of the fitness team organized an event that had a few fitness classes and 10 participating organizations. Approximately 200 people attended. In the following years, that number only continued to grow.
Now, in 2025, the Party for Pride has expanded to include 26 participating organizations, three food trucks, a vintage shop, and speeches from public figures such as state Rep. Alex Falconer (DFL-49A, Eden Prairie) and Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case.
Among the participating organizations are the Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission, Eden Prairie High School Eagle Band and Colorguard, Eden Prairie Local News, and LGBTQ+ artist Astral Castello, who will be attending the event with their work.
Despite originally being fitness-focused, Munoz described the growth and range of the event. “There’s something for everyone,” she said. “This is a safe space to be who you are. There are so many people who appreciate who you are as a person. You are appreciated, you are supported, and you are loved just as you are. This is a safe and supportive place for you.”
Munoz said the celebration is a perfect place for “showing your support for a community within a community during Pride Month.”
She acknowledged that a number of Pride events happen outside Eden Prairie, and hopes that it feels good to have “something in your backyard, in your neighborhood.” She finished her statement by saying, “Eden Prairie’s motto is ‘live, work, dream.’ Eden Prairie is an amazing place to live, to work, and to follow your dreams. This includes all walks of life.”
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