CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade to celebrate 50th Anniversary of Title IX with 6 Grand Marshal honorees
The CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade will kick off Aquatennial on Wednesday, July 20 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Dozens of festive floats, colorful displays, and marching bands showcasing groups from all over Minnesota will proceed down Nicollet Mall from 12th Street to 4th Street. This event is free and open to people of all ages.
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the Aquatennial is honored to host six phenomenal female athletes as Parade Grand Marshals.
- Peg Brenden -In the early ‘70s, Brenden wasn’t shy about raising a racket with the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union and the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota for the right to play high school tennis. She became one of the first girls in Minnesota to earn a high school varsity letter.
- Tasha Feigh – Feigh was a longtime athlete in the Osseo Dist. 279 adapted sports program and winner of five medals in gymnastics at the 2018 Special Olympic USA Games.
- Lisa Lissimore – Lissimore is a 2009 inductee into the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and recent retiree from the Minnesota State High School League after 34 years of service.
- Fartun Osman – Osman is founder/CEO of Girls Rock, an all-girls club that promotes sport for Somali and Muslim girls. She was recently honored by the NCAA with the 2022 Legacy Award for her local activism in the Minneapolis area. Osman was head coach for the Somali Women’s National Basketball team where she was also a player.
- Jessie Stomski Seim – Currently General Counsel at Prairie Island Indian Community, Stomski Seim played professional basketball for the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting and played in France and Greece.
- Lindsay Whalen – Whalen has won world titles, two Olympic gold medals with the United States women’s national basketball team, as well as four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx. She has served at the University of Minnesota’s Women’s Basketball Head Coach since 2018. She was recently inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
This is CenterPoint Energy’s 22nd year sponsoring the Torchlight Parade. The public is welcome to bring blankets or folding chairs, find a spot along Nicollet, and enjoy the show.
“Everyone loves a parade, and the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade is a great opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy a fun summer celebration in downtown Minneapolis,” said Christe Singleton, CenterPoint Energy’s Vice President of Minnesota Gas. “As a company committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we’re excited that this year’s parade will feature outstanding Minnesota women athletes as Grand Marshals to honor the 50th anniversary of Title IX. We invite everyone to join the parade at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20.”
“The CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade is an annual favorite and a terrific way to kick off the Aquatennial festivities,” said Leah Wong, vice president of external relations for the mpls downtown council. “We are thrilled to continue the celebration of Title IX’s 50th anniversary as we welcome thousands to Downtown Minneapolis to enjoy incredible parade units and great entertainment.”
The emcees for the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade are K102’s Chris Carr and Company featuring Chris Carr, Kia and McKaila. You can check out their play-by-play near Peavey Plaza at 11th and Nicollet.
Learn more about this year’s CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade here: https://www.aquatennial.com/torchlightparade/
Aquatennial, the Official Civic Celebration of the City of Minneapolis, sets sail July 20 through July 23, 2022. A full schedule of Aquatennial events can be found at https://www.aquatennial.com/events/.