PeopleFest!

When: Sunday, July 28 from 3:00-7:00 PM

Where: Staring Lake Amphitheatre, 14800 Pioneer Trail (weather backup location is Central Middle School, 8025 School Road)

Details: Free, no registration required.

PeopleFest!, Eden Prairie's  annual community celebration of culture, is a series of community events that highlight and celebrate the unique cultures represented in Eden Prairie. The PeopleFest! Party is the celebration's main event that kicks off a week of opportunities to explore some of the many cultures that make Eden Prairie a wonderfully diverse community.

The PeopleFest! Party features live music and dance performances, food trucks, a Human Library, demonstrations and art experiences, as well as booths with a variety of cultural and educational organizations sharing their stories, activities and outreach. Though more organizations continue to be added to the program as the planning committee seeks to fill gaps in representation, a list of confirmed participants is below.

Confirmed Food Trucks:

• Egg Roll Queen
• Amazing Momo
• Taco Way
• Ice Cream Princess
• Yum Yum Truck

Confirmed Performers:

• Windy’s Dance Program (traditional Hmong dance)

• Somali Museum Dance Troupe

• YallaDrum! Ensemble from New Arab American Theater Works

• Taraangini School of Dance (Bharatanatyam dance)

• Lipa Carpatho-Rusyn Slovak Folk Dance

• Ha Family Entertainment (traditional Chinese lion dance and drummers)

• Mexico Azteca (Mexican folkloric dance)

• Makam Baklava (Turkish, Bulgarian & Balkan music)

Confirmed Exhibitors:

• Eden Prairie Chinese Association
• Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas
• Eden Prairie Schools Community Education & the Eagle Express Bus
• EF High School Exchange Year
• Eden Prairie Local News
• India Association of Minnesota
• Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission
• Youth for Understanding
• Southwest Transit
• Taraangini School of Dance
• Maria's Voice
• City of Eden Prairie Fire & Police
• League of Women Voters
• Parks & Recreation Sensory Booth
• Makam Baklava
• Sewa-Asian Indian Family Wellness

When: Monday, July 29 at 7:00 PM

Where: Staring Lake Amphitheatre, 14800 Pioneer Trail (weather backup location is Central Middle School, 8025 School Road)

Details: Free, no registration required.

Enjoy a high energy interactive cultural performance featuring Duniya Drum & Dance, a group bringing West African rhythm and dance to everyone! 

Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Concessions available for purchase (debit card/credit card only), or bring your own picnic and refreshments. 

When: Tuesday, August 1 from 10:30 - 11:15 AM

Where: Staring Lake Amphitheatre, 14800 Pioneer Trail

Details: Free, no registration required.

Riffin’ Griffin brings family-oriented rock music that both kids and adults can enjoy together. Even more powerful than their riffs are their story-driven songs that promote love and acceptance of people of all abilities.

This event will also serve as a celebration of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and opportunity for families to learn about local resources.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket. 

When:  Tuesday, July 30 from 6:00-7:30 PM

Where: Central Middle School's West Gym, 8025 School Road 

Details: Free! Registration required. 

Bring the whole family to meet Ker Cha, World Cup gold medal winning member of the US National Sepak Takraw Team, and learn about this exhilarating sport native to Southeast Asia that combines elements of soccer and volleyball. Played on a badminton-sized court, teams of three players use their feet, knees, chest, and head to hit a rattan ball over a net. Renowned for its acrobatic and high-flying moves, Sepak Takraw demands agility, precision, and teamwork, making it a thrilling and dynamic sport to watch and play.

In the first part of this PeopleFest! event, Ker will share some history of the sport and the rules of the game. The second part of class will feature a demonstration of some skills. Check out this NY Times Article featuring Ker to learn more about the sport, his accomplishments, and his background: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/15/sports/sepak-ta....

Important information:

• Children under 14 are welcome, but must be registered in advance and attend with a registered adult.
• Youth ages 14+ may attend on their own.

learn more & Register 

When: Wednesday, July 31 from 6:00-7:00 PM

Where: Asia Mall: 12160 Technology Drive in Eden Prairie

Details: Free, pre-registration required

Join Asia Mall's Director of Public Relations, Tracy Tran, on an tour through Eden Prairie's Asia Mall in celebration of PeopleFest! Delve into the history of Asia Mall's establishment to explore the diverse array of shops and restaurants it houses, gain insights into its impact on the Eden Prairie community, and maybe get a look behind the scenes of the anchor grocery store. It'll be an experience that combines cultural discovery with community immersion. 

*Due to a limited number spots, each participant needs to be registered. This informational tour is recommended for adults and teens 14+ and may not be suitable for children. Attendees 13 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult. 

This is a self-drive event. 

Register Now

When: Thursday, August 1 from 7:00-8:30 PM

Where: Staring Lake Amphitheatre, 14800 Pioneer Trail (weather backup location is Central Middle School, 8025 School Road)

Details: Free, no registration required

This hip hop, reggae and ska group features talented musicians from Jamaica, New Orleans, Minnesota and Turkiye, and their diverse heritage echoes in the unique sound of Dred I Dread.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Concessions available for purchase (debit card/credit card only), or bring your own picnic and refreshments. 

When: Friday, August 2 from 9:15 AM - 1:45 PM

Where: Science Museum of Minnesota (busing to and from Central Middle School, 8025 School Rd)

Details: Free, pre-registration required

Visit the Science Museum and explore the RACE: Are We So Different? and Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed exhibits (among others). Pre-registration required. Free busing from Central Middle School and admission is available for Eden Prairie Schools families with students entering kindergarten through 12th grade as well as for all Eden Prairie residents in celebration of PeopleFest! Space is limited to the first 100 people. All children must be accompanied by a registered adult. 

 Learn More & Register

When: Friday, August 2 from 7:30-10:30 PM

Where: Staring Lake Amphitheatre, 14800 Pioneer Trail (weather backup location is Central Middle School, 8025 School Road)

Details: Free, no registration required

Join us for an exciting outdoor movie experience featuring Disney's The Princess and the Frog! 

Bring your chairs, blankets, friends and family to enjoy a free movie under the stars. Come early for concessions and pre-show entertainment by Two Sundays. Concessions are debit card/credit card only. Feel free to bring your own picnic and refreshments. 

A modern twist on a classic tale from Walt Disney Animation Studios features a beautiful girl named Tiana who dreams of owning her own restaurant. When she meets a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, a fateful kiss leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. Rated PG.

Schedule

7:30 PM: Pre-show entertainment: Big band jazz by Two Sundays

9:00 PM: Movie begins

When: Sunday, August 4 at 4:00 PM

Where: Staring Lake Park Building, 14800 Pioneer Trail

Details: Free, pre-registration requested

Listen to the story of how the Sacred Red Rock was reunited with the Dakota people through the work of elders from the Lower Sioux Indian Community and local residents. Documentarian Sheldon Peters Wolfchild (Dakota) and Kathie Case of the Eden Prairie Historical Society will share some important local history through this powerful story. Elder LeMoine LaPointe will speak to a better understanding of Native Americans today. Learn about the spiritual significance of the Red Rock, the Sioux's sacred connection to land, and the Dakota origin story. Interfaith Circle is partnering with Community Education and the City of Eden Prairie to offer this FREE event as part of PeopleFest!. 

Youth Options:

• Teens 14+ are welcome to enroll on their own.
• Youth under the age of 14 are welcome, but must be registered and attend with a participating adult. 
• Free onsite programming for children whose caregivers are attending this presentation will also be available through Eden Prairie Schools Community Education and feature related stories and crafts. Pre-registration is required. Enroll the adult/caregiver and indicate the name and age of the child/ren during the enrollment process.   

Following this event, all participants are welcome to wrap up PeopleFest! week with an evening of dancing with Salsa del Soul, scheduled to start at 6:00 in the amphitheater. 

Register to attend the story of the red rock Now

When: Sunday, August 4 at 6:00 PM

Where: Staring Lake Amphitheatre, 14800 Pioneer Trail (weather backup location is Central Middle School, 8025 School Road)

Details: Free, no registration required

Salsa del Soul is a Twin Cities-based, nine-piece orchestra performing various styles of dance music from the Spanish-speaking regions of the Caribbean. Salsa del Soul was formed with the purpose to provide great dance music for Twin Cities Salsa fans. The musicians of Salsa del Soul represent some of the finest talents in the Twin Cities Latin music scene.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Concessions available for purchase (debit card/credit card only), or bring your own picnic and refreshments. 

Extend your evening by attending The Story of the Red Rock: Honoring the Sacred Sites of Eden Prairie & Beyond, another free PeopleFest! event that starts at 4:00 in the Staring Lake Park Building. 

When: Thursday, August 1-Sunday, August 4 during library hours

Where: Reading Garden on the west side of Eden Prairie Library, 565 Prairie Center Drive

Details: Free, no registration required

Participate on your own time! Stop by the Reading Garden at the Eden Prairie Library anytime during library hours for the Lovely Story Stroll, featuring the book by Jess Hong. Each page is displayed on a different sign throughout the garden. Walk through and follow this sweet story that explores a world of differences that all add up to the same thing: we are all lovely!

PeopleFest!, Eden Prairie's  annual community celebration of culture, is a series of community events that highlight and celebrate the unique cultures represented in Eden Prairie. Events reflect the range of traditions, backgrounds, abilities and expressions of our community through literature, music, dance, visual art, food and education offerings.

The purpose of PeopleFest! is to bring residents together in celebration and awareness of the many cultures that make Eden Prairie great. The planning committee works collaboratively to craft a wide range of opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to explore some of the many cultures that make Eden Prairie a wonderfully diverse community.

PeopleFest! is typically one to two weeks long in late July or early August and has been celebrated annually since 2018.

To learn more, watch the video above or contact Molly Malone, Director of Adult & Community Engagement Programs, at mmalone@edenpr.org or 952-975-6942.

Looking for Even More PeopleFest!?

Explore Virtual Exhibits and Previously Featured Artists!

Due to COVID19, the 2020 celebration was shifted mostly online, which allowed us to capture content that continues to provide opportunities for community members to learn and explore. Check out the 2020 PeopleFest! webpage to view an information-packed Virtual Exhibit Hall and Featured Performing & Visual Artists

VISIT THE 2020 PEOPLEFEST! PAGE

Our community-wide celebration is presented in collaboration by the City of Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie Schools Community Education, the Eden Prairie Community Foundation, the Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission, Interfaith Circle, India Association of MN, Eden Prairie Library, Kaleidoscope Teens, the Eden Prairie Historical Society and others. Representatives serve on a planning committee that meets throughout the year to develop the annual schedule of events.

Interested in supporting PeopleFest!?

We team up with a wide range of partners in multiple ways to bring PeopleFest! to the Eden Prairie community each year. Whether it's tabling or performing at the PeopleFest! Party, co-hosting an education event, serving as book during the Human Library, or volunteering, we welcome you to reach out to explore partnership opportunities. Contact Molly Malone at mmalone@edenpr.org or 952-975-6942 to discuss how you may be able to support this year's celebration.