This weekend marks a crescendo of celebration in Minneapolis as Pride festivities are set to paint the town in vibrant hues of inclusion, diversity, and love. The City of Minneapolis Health Department has stepped in not only to ensure celebrants are amped up for a great time but also to safeguard their well-being amid the revelry.

The health department's shout-out to Pride-goers comes imbued with essential reminders; stay hydrated, apply sunscreen liberally, immerse in the joy of dance and community, and notably, avail oneself of the free Mpox vaccine being offered. Social media channels buzzed with the announcement, "Happy Pride weekend, Minneapolis! 🤩 We can’t wait for everyone to enjoy the festivities," a message certainly resonated with those eager to partake in the weekend's events while also heeding the call to "protect your health by getting the vaccine."

Loring Park is prepared to serve as the epicenter for these services come Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., where the Minneapolis Mpox Taskforce will station itself, vaccines at the ready for attendees. As Pride celebrates the tapestry of identities and the spectrum of human connection, the city's health officials interweave a narrative of prevention and protection into the fabric of the party.

The importance of public health measures in the context of large gatherings has grown ever more apparent in recent years, and Minneapolis is demonstrating its commitment to this cause—not merely as a nod to expediency but as a genuine wish for its citizens to revel and remember this weekend as one of joy, not of ailment amidst a festive backdrop that often becomes a catalyst for communal care and solidarity so, as the health department succinctly phrased it, "Have a great time" but do not forget the small acts that ensure the party goes on, safely and vibrantly.