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Grand Rapids, Minn.

Wizard of Oz festival celebrates Dorothy in Judy's hometown

Skipping on the yellow brick path in Grand Rapids
Nattleia Saarela, of Hibbing, skips along a yellow brick path near downtown Grand Rapids Friday while in town for the town's "Wizard of Oz" Festival.
Derek Montgomery / For MPR News

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Ominous clouds over the festival.
On a sign for the Judy Garland Museum, the "Wizard of Oz's" Dorothy appears to be pointing to the arrival of ominous evening clouds while "The Wizard of Oz" plays in the adjacent Evergreen Terrace lawn Friday during "The Wizard of Oz" Festival.
Derek Montgomery / For MPR News

Grand Rapids, Minn.'s annual "Wizard of Oz" festival this weekend celebrates the 75th anniversary of the film's release in Judy Garland's hometown. As part of the festivities, organizers attempted to set a Guinness Book world record for the highest number of "Wizard of Oz" characters in a single place -- which they did, with 1150 people in costume, head to toe. Previous record: 466.

Amanda Butterfield as the cowardly lion
Amanda Butterfield, of Grand Rapids, dressed up as the Cowardly Lion from "The Wizard of Oz" Friday for "The Wizard of Oz" Festival in town.
Derek Montgomery / For MPR News

• Story: Festival goes for world record

Waiting to try to break the world record
Surrounded by hundreds of people dressed as various characters from "The Wizard of Oz", Grant Chandler waits in line to enter a staging area where festival attendees tried to set a world record for the largest collection of "The Wizard of Oz" characters in one place.
Derek Montgomery / For MPR News

• More summer festival photo galleries, #mprsummer