Loring Park, Minneapolis

Loring Park is the largest park in the Central Community of Minneapolis. Located on the southwest corner of downtown Minneapolis, it also lends its name to the surrounding neighborhood.

The park contains a small lake (Loring Lake, formerly known as Johnson's Lake) and paths for walking and biking. Originally named Central Park, it was renamed in honor of Charles M. Loring, known as the "Father of Minneapolis Parks."

The park is the site of various cultural, social and political events. It features a playground, biking and walking paths, public art, and a fishing pier. It displays two well-known pieces of public art: the "Dandelion Fountain," a 1975 gift of Parks Commissioner Ben Berger which copies the renowned El Alamein Fountain in Sydney, and a statue of Norwegian composer Ole Bull.

Loring Park is the venue for various annual events. The Twin Cities Pride Festival and the Loring Park Artists' Festival are some of the more famous events. Loring Park's location directly across from the Walker Art Museum makes it a fitting venue for the annual Loring Park Artists' Festival and a series of smaller artist gatherings.

Starting in summer 2014, Chipotle has held their Cultivate free music and culinary festival in Loring Park. The 2014 lineup included Portugal. The Man, The Mowgli's, and Grouplove. Walk the Moon, Atlas Genius, X Ambassadors, Anderson East, and Hippo Campus were all slotted to appear at the 2015 festival. Andrew Zimmern and Richard Blais also attended the event, a part of the festival's gratuitous "Chef Demos."

In addition, Loring Park is home to the annual "Winterfest at Loring Park," which in 2016 included horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday crafts and the local Kairos Dance Company. It is hosted by the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board.