If you're planning to navigate downtown Minneapolis this weekend, you'll need to adjust your route. Due to the Celebration 2024 event, honoring the 40th anniversary of Prince's iconic "Purple Rain," portions of select streets will be closed to make room for the festivities. According to an announcement on the official City's website, the closures are scheduled to take place starting after the afternoon rush hour on Friday, June 21, and are expected to reopen by the early morning of Sunday, June 23.

The affected streets include North First Avenue, from the front doors of the First Avenue nightclub to Hawthorne Avenue near the Hawthorne Municipal parking ramp, and North Ninth Street, from Ramp A's front to Hennepin Avenue. To avoid the headache of finding parking, the city encourages attendees to consider alternative transportation options.

In the spirit of promoting health, saving money, and reducing stress, the City has kicked off the new As You Go MPLS campaign. This initiative urges residents and visitors alike to leave their cars at home. Instead, the campaign endorses traveling downtown by transit, walking, biking, or rolling—as detailed on the City's website. Whether you're an ardent Prince fan coming to celebrate his legacy or merely someone trying to smoothly get through downtown, planning ahead is crucial this weekend.

Information about transit, parking options, scooter, and bike sharing is thoroughly detailed on the aforementioned city's official page. With streets expected to quickly become crowded with revelers and tourists, planning to arrive early might just ensure you don't miss out on this historic celebration. Remember, street closures can quickly turn an easy commute into a logistical nightmare, so take heed and plan accordingly.