Did you make it to Grand Old Day this year?
Since moving into our new St. Paul location to Grand Avenue this past March, we’ve had our eye on participating. Like many of you, I have many fond memories of enjoying the weekend of festivities along one of St. Paul’s most charming avenues. So when I found our new location in the heart of the action, there was no question we would take part.
A St. Paul Tradition
For those who don’t know, Grand Old Day is a cherished annual tradition in St. Paul, Minnesota, marking the unofficial start of summer on the first Sunday of June. Established in 1973 by the Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA), the festival was created to rejuvenate Grand Avenue. Over the decades, it has evolved into the largest one-day festival in the Upper Midwest, drawing over 200,000 attendees who enjoy a vibrant mix of parades, live music, food vendors, and family-friendly activities along a 30-block stretch of Grand Avenue.
Today, Grand Old Day features a diverse array of attractions, including a 5K fun run, a lively parade, live music across multiple stages, art and nonprofit zones, a family fun area, and unique events like wiener dog races. The festival continues to be a testament to St. Paul’s community and commitment to celebrating local culture and businesses .
Embracing the Spirit of the Day
In an effort to help our new location stand out, we decided to lean into something familiar to match the playful vibe to create a welcoming way for people to learn about our therapists and counseling services. What better way to embrace our new St. Paul neighborhood than with a nod to Charles Schulz and the iconic therapy booth? With its nostalgic and local roots, it felt like the perfect way to spark curiosity and connect with the community in a lighthearted and approachable way.
No Grand Old Day experience is complete without collecting a bag full of goodies from the vendors and sponsors along the avenue. I wanted to join in on the fun by offering something to match our theme. Since we had a therapy booth, it only made sense to hand out a little “free advice”, so we handed out some branded fortune cookies as a lighthearted, on-theme treat for the day. It was a fun way to connect with folks, spark a smile, and stay true to the spirit of the event.
Therapy Is for Everyone
While we have come a long way, the stigma around going to therapy to improve your mental health still exists. Counseling services still carry some unfortunate stereotypes, largely because therapy is often sought out when we’re struggling. This can lead to the assumption that if you’re in therapy, something must be “wrong” with you. In reality, therapy is a powerful tool for anyone looking to grow, reflect, and live more intentionally. Whether you’re hoping to improve self-awareness, navigate challenging emotions, communicate more effectively, or establish healthier boundaries within your relationships, therapy offers meaningful support for all stages of life, not just the hard ones.
Memorable Moments from Our First Grand Old Day
We had a lot of these conversations on our front lawn at 944 Grand Ave. I was delightfully surprised by the sheer number of people who were interested in counseling and therapeutic resources for themselves or their friends and family members. Here are a few more of our favorite moments from the day:
- Seeing the steady stream of Minnesotans walking up and down Grand Avenue and watching them make eye contact with the booth from the middle of the road, smile and point as they recognized a bit of St. Paul nostalgia.
- So. Many. Dogs! We saw so many furry friends and appreciated the many opportunities to dole out scritches and pat pats. Especially this Corgie who made himself at home on our shaded outdoor rug.
- The line that formed once people realized that they could take a picture for free. There was such a fun enthusiasm to take playful pictures at the booth. Several couples posed with one person inside the booth, giving advice to their partner outside the booth. Parents sending their kids up for a group photo. Several daughters named “Lucy”. We also met multiple therapists, psychologists and so so many Charlie Brown fans.
- Seeing a few people make the connection that it was Thrive Therapy that had the therapy booth up and say “Oh, that makes sense!” was the absolute best.
- When neighbors from the community stopped by to share their stories, or the stories of a friend or family member, and asked for more information about finding a therapist in St. Paul. We were grateful for the opportunity to connect them and let them know we’re currently accepting new clients and had providers with immediate availability.
- Watching children of all ages hopscotch down the sidewalk and cheering them on.
Looking Ahead with Gratitude and Excitement
Overall, the day was a success and a tradition I look forward to participating in each year to come. The booth created a fun, inviting prop for photos and a natural opportunity to discuss therapeutic services with our St. Paul counselors and contributed to the playful energy of the day. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us that day and allowed us to take photos of your puppers. It was fun seeing so many people return to their childhood, whether it was posing as a Charlie Brown character or hopscotching down the sidewalk.
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Thrive Therapy offers counseling for individuals, couples, and families navigating anxiety, burnout, life transitions, depression and more. Our team of licensed therapists provides in-person therapy in St. Paul, Burnsville, Mankato, Minneapolis and virtual sessions across Minnesota. Whether you’re new to therapy or looking to reconnect, we’re here to support your mental health journey. Now accepting new clients—reach out to our front desk at (612) 568-6050 today to find a therapist that is a perfect fit for you.
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