- Munchkins and Movies -
A Celebration of Judy Garland's Life and Films
Judy Garland fans are invited to participate in the 26th Annual Judy Garland Festival, to be held June 14-16 in Grand Rapids, Minn., the birthplace of Judy Garland. Six Munchkins who appeared with Judy Garland in the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz," will be special honored guests at the reunion.The actors who portrayed Munchkins will greet the crowds and sign autographs at the restored Judy Garland House. The six include "Sleepyhead" Margaret Pellegrini, Jerry Maren, "Coronor" Meinhardt Raabe, "Munchkin Soldier" Clarence Swensen, Karl Slover, and Ruth Duccini. Fans may also enjoy breakfast with the Munchkins on Friday, June 15 and/or lunch with the Munchkins on Saturday, June 16.
Events begin on Thursday evening, June 14, with a Candlelight Vigil at Judy's House in honor of her 79th birthday. Judy's stand-in for "The Wizard of Oz," Caren Marsh-Doll, will give a talk on Friday, June 15th about working directly with Judy Garland on a number of Hollywood musicals. Other weekend events include big screen showings of "The Wizard of Oz," and a special presentation of the ABC miniseries, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows." The celebration also includes "A Taste of Grand Rapids," scheduled for Saturday evening in the memorial gardens at Judy's House. Judy's first cousin Robert Milne will speak about the history of the family and their relationship with the star.
