MayDay History

MayDay 2001

2001

May Day 1993

1993

May Day Poster 1983

1983

Posters by Sandy Spieler

The spring of 1975 was our first MayDay Festival. Our original impetus for this Festival was quite simple. We wanted to give a gift to the community that was supporting our theatre, and to create a celebration that would bring people together out of their homes at the end of winter.

The Vietnam War ended just 2 weeks before the event and our little procession was exuberantly joyful. We were a group of 50 or 60 people, an Earth puppet, a Water puppet, several birds, two accordions, and many banners. When we got to the park, we raised a Maypole puppet and hosted a few small performances and some MayDay speeches.

Nowadays, the organizing work of the festival is a year-round task. Each February we host our first public brainstorming sessions, when we invite all to share ideas and images towards developing the specific theme for the year. The thoughtful themes of the past years echo the pulse of our south Minneapolis neighborhoods, and as such, the chronology of themes tells a peculiarly imaginative history of the times.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation BoardThe MayDay Parade & Festival is presented with the assistance of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.

MayDay
Through the Years:

  • 2008: A New Bridge -
    Infrastructure for the Future Beings
  • 2007: Somos Agua -
    We Are Water
  • 2006: The Time is Now!
  • 2005: Where Do We Go From Here?
  • 2004: Leap! Into the Wondrous Possible
  • 2003: This Is Our Child
  • 2002: MayDay! MayDay!
  • 2001: Prayer for the Flowering of Compassion
  • 2000: Divining Economy-Calling Forth Our Common Wealth
  • 1999: Somos Uno
  • 1998: Sing!
  • 1997: May Abundant Blessings Flow
  • 1996: Be A Bridge
  • 1995: Gorgeous Fever of Consciousness: Honor Your Senses
  • 1994: Seeds: Awesome Vessels of Power
  • 1993: Let The Sleeper Wake
  • 1992: I Am Another Yourself
  • 1991: Return To
    Turtle Island
  • 1990: Wheels of Change Ever Whirling
  • 1989: Voices of Trees
  • 1988: When the
    Dragon Speaks
  • 1987: We May Be
    Family After All
  • 1986: Corn
  • 1985: Our World Home
  • 1984: 10th Anniversary
  • 1983: Water #2
  • 1982: Water #1
  • 1981: In Honor of Change
  • 1980: The Year of
    the Child
  • 1979: Wake Up!
  • 1978: Changes
  • 1977: Seasons
  • 1976: Noah's Ark
  • 1975: The First MayDay