Minneapolis to host massive Prince sing-along block party this June

Minneapolis is planning to send 10,000 to 15,000 voices skyward this summer in honor of the city’s “most iconic son,” and if you’re showing up, you’d better bring your best purple.

Mayor Jacob Frey joined representatives from Paisley Park, the Minneapolis Downtown Council and the city’s arts office April 16 at the Prince mural at 101 N. 9th St. to announce a free community sing-along as part of the 2026 Prince Celebration Block Party on June 6. The event is part of a larger five-day Prince Celebration running June 3-7, billed as a “10th Anniversary Celebration of Life” marking a decade since Prince’s death in April 2016. He would have turned 68 this June.

“Prince belongs to Minneapolis,” Frey said. “We lend him out to the rest of the world. But wherever he went, he made very sure to tell everyone exactly where his roots are from, right here in this great city.”

Frey recalled the organic outpouring that flooded Minneapolis streets in the days after Prince died, when tens of thousands gathered outside First Avenue to mourn and celebrate together. “There was this organic outpouring of love and music and dance,” he said. “We shut down the streets, and next thing you know, we had about 10,000 people out singing and dancing. That is so beautifully Prince and so beautifully Minneapolis.” That spontaneous moment is the spirit organizers are hoping to recreate this June, and this time with intention, infrastructure and a 100-person choir behind it.

The sing-along, free and open to all ages, will be led by musical director Sanford Moore alongside a 100-person choir of Minneapolis vocalists. Thomasina Petrus will serve as emcee, and the set list will span Prince’s entire career. Frey was clear that attendees should come ready to participate, not just watch. “Raspberry Beret is coming down the pike. Rain or shine, we’re coming out,” he said. As for attire, the mayor had equally firm guidance: “I expect a whole lot of purple, head to toe sequins, and courage. If Prince taught us anything, it’s that subtlety is overrated.”

L. Londell McMillan, Prince’s former attorney, manager and longtime friend, said the city’s partnership has been essential to preserving the legacy properly. “Although Prince in the physical is past, he lives,” McMillan said. “Prince lives today. He remains with us. You hear it everywhere you go.” He added that honoring an artist of Prince’s stature demands genuine collaboration. “In order for someone to preserve a magnificent legacy, you need true partners and you need a team. We’re so grateful to have this wonderful team of people in Minneapolis supporting our dear friend.”

Ben Johnson, the city’s director of Arts and Cultural Affairs, called the event “a love letter to Prince, a love letter to his fans and a love letter to the city of Minneapolis.” Johnson said it was partly inspired by Estonia’s Song Fields, a tradition where more than a million people gather to sing in unison. “We hope to have 15,000 people singing in the streets of Minneapolis, and we hope that the ground shakes,” he said. He also noted that two major national music conferences, Chorus America and the National Independent Venue Association, will be in the city that same weekend, giving Minneapolis a chance to show the country what it can do.

Adam Duininck, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District, said the event fits into a broader push to energize downtown. “Everybody has a Prince story,” he said. “Whether you work in one of these high rises or you’re just coming downtown, Prince spoke to you.” The celebration weekend also includes a Prince-themed night with the Minnesota Twins, Prince-related activities with the Minnesota Lynx, and programming at theaters and venues across the city.

Ward 7 Council Member Elizabeth Schaefer captured the spirit of the day simply. “We are going to gather in mass, lift our voices in unison and stand together, bringing song and hope and joy to the streets of Minneapolis,” she said. “And maybe one other thing, we’re gonna party like it’s 1999 in 2026.”

For Frey, the event carries meaning beyond a single afternoon of music. Minneapolis has weathered a turbulent decade, and the mayor said Prince offers a through line that connects all of it. “What Prince showed is that there’s a through line of persistence and grit and perseverance,” Frey said. “He showed that there’s a through line of caring about each other. And that is something that, once you experience Minneapolis, you realize it is so specifically this place, and it’s also Prince.”

The June 6 block party is free and open to the public and will run approximately two hours. The full Prince Celebration weekend runs June 3-7, 2026. For more information, visit paisleypark.com.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.