May Day is celebrated on May 6, 2007.
On May Day (actually, the first Sunday in May) from 1 p.m., Minneapolis celebrates May Day at Powderhorn Park. Starting with a colorful parade filled with living puppets from The Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater, the parade and parade watchers wend their way down Bloomington Avenue, in South Minneapolis, until they reach Powderhorn Park. The Heart of the Beast living-puppet cast then performs along the banks of Powderhorn Lake in front of crowds gathered on the hillsides.
The performance of the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater could be described as modern folklore. Its themes of current issues, including environmental concerns, are wedded to ancient mythology and spring festival rites. Four large puppets stand for Sky, Prairie, Woods, and River. The performance ends with the rowing of the Sun puppet across Powderhorn Lake followed by the raising of the Tree of Life puppet. The Heart of the Beast Puppets' performance is suitable for families and anyone else who wants to celebrate May Day.
Powderhorn Park vendors provide refreshments for what may or may not be a very hot, sunny day. Music and dancing add to the merriment.
Powderhorn Park itself is the largest neighborhood park in Minneapolis with over 65 acres of land and 12 of water. It runs from 10th to 15th Avenues and from 31st to 35th Street in South Minneapolis. Parking can be a problem, so leave extra time to walk from wherever you leave your car or take the 14 bus from downtown Minneapolis -- if it's running.
Thanks to Lundgren Studios for providing photographs of May Day 2004!
