Judy Garland Festival, June 8-10, 2007 Celebrating Garland's 85th Birthday in Grand Rapids, Minnesota

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn., May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Judy Garland would have been 85 on June 10 and her fans are going to throw a party for her in her hometown Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Special guests: Garland historian and author John Fricke, costume collector

Michael Siewert, Garland collector and interior designer Marc Charbonnet, Garland's son Joe Luft, Munchkins Margaret Pellegrini and Minnesota-native Ruth Duccini http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/, 1-800-664-5839 Highlights of this year's festival:

Michael Siewert's collection of 15 gowns Garland wore for movies, TV and concerts will be on display at the Judy Garland Museum Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. -- 5 p.m.

  Friday, June 8
  -- Meet Garland's son Joe Luft, noon
  -- Stories from Garland costume collector Michael Siewert, 1:30 p.m.
  -- Garland Hollywood/Broadway videos and interviews with Garland historian
     and author John Fricke, book signing "Judy Garland:  A Portrait in Art
     and Anecdote", 3 p.m.
  -- "The Ruby Slipper Caper" Mystery Dinner, Sawmill Inn, 7 p.m.  This is a
     new event planned and presented by Minneapolis/St. Paul Garland fan
     Don Shier.  Each dinner table represents a Wizard of Oz character and
     people seated there spin a yarn about their role in the missing ruby
     slippers.

  Saturday, June 9
  -- "The Wizard of Oz" movie showing, 9:30 a.m.
  -- Munchkin Luncheon featuring Minnesota- native and munchkin Ruth Duccini
     (born and raised in Rush City) and Margaret Pellegrini.  The Tin Man,
     a Wizard of Oz favorite, will join the two Munchkins.  Bovey, Minnesota
     resident Larry Johnson wears the costume he created with the funnel
     cap that blows real steam and whistles. Noon
  -- Newsreel and home movie footage of Garland 1935-1967 from Garland
     historian John Fricke, 2 p.m.
  -- Gala dinner and Garland treasure hunting adventures with lifelong Judy
     Garland collector and one of the world's top interior
     designers/decorators Marc Charbonnet, 7 p.m.   Dinner proceeds are
     matched and will benefit the Judy Garland Museum.

  Sunday, June 10 - Judy Garland's 85th Birthday
  -- Birthday cake, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Guests can make a gift in Judy's honor
     to the new Itasca Hospice Partners Hospice House in Grand Rapids.

Festival events take place at the museum or nearby Sawmill Inn. Some are free; others require reservation fee or museum admission. See http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/ for details or call 1-800-664-5839.

Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm and spent her formative years in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The museum has the world's largest collection of Judy Garland memorabilia.

Judy Garland Museum(R), http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/, 1-800-664-5839 2727 US Hwy 169 South, P.O. Box 724, Grand Rapids, MN 55744