2026 Savor the Future FAQs

What should I wear? It’s a party! Feel free to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Perhaps that’s ‘Business Casual” or “Party Attire.”

In the past I’ve stayed in a nearby hotel, is that an option this year? Yes, we have a bank of rooms available at a discounted rate of $155 per night. You can either follow this link and book under the “Lead MN Scholarship Celebration” group. Book by Dec 29, 2025 to receive the discounted rate.

I’m driving, where should I park? Midtown Parking Garage (11 S 4th St.) Entrances are on both 4th St. and 5th St.

• From 4th St. (one-way south/east): entrance is on the right after crossing Hennepin. From 5th St. (one-way north/west): stay to the right of the transit tracks after Nicollet; entrance is on your right before Hennepin.

Downtown Autopark (509 Hennepin Ave.) — located under the Bob Dylan mural.

• From 5th St. (north/west): stay left of the transit tracks after Nicollet; entrance is on your left before Hennepin.
• A second entrance is available directly from Hennepin Ave.

Don’t leave anything valuable in your car, then follow the signage and directions into The Lumber Exchange and up to the River Room on the second floor.

I’m taking public transportation, which stop is closest? The closest public transportation to The Lumber Exchange is the METRO light rail. Both the Blue and Green Lines operate frequently and serve downtown Minneapolis. You can easily get off at the Warehouse/Hennepin station and walk to The Lumber Exchange. 

Bus: 10, 14, 22, 3, 4

Light Rail: METRO Blue Line, METRO Green Line

Will there be halal, gluten free, and vegetarian options available in the buffet?Yes! Please email if you have a different dietary requirement that we should consider.

Are there discounts available? Yes! Students actively enrolled in a 2 or 4 year institution who are purchasing their own ticket can access a Student Ticket price (50% off the General Admission Ticket). 2025 Scholarship Recipients receive complimentary tickets for themselves and one guest. Please email  for more information.

What is the deadline to order tickets? The deadline for registering for Sponsorship packages is Jan 10, 2026 (individual names can be added to Sponsorship Packages through Jan 25). General Admission tickets will be available until Jan 10, 2026.

What can the drink tickets be used for? Drink tickets can be exchanged for beer, wine, and our signature mocktail: The LeadMN. 

What about the entertainment? We are thrilled to have local band The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League entertaining us with live music throughout the evening. Drawing their influence from almost a century of music, The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League combines elegant composition, raucous enthusiasm and virtuosic playing to provide the perfect ambiance for any social event, from comfy dive bars and smoky jazz clubs to the most elegant of celebrations.

LeadMN Alumni Grace Horn will be our opening act. Grace Horn is a Minnesota-based indie folk singer/songwriter whose music blends raw lyricism with eclectic influences ranging from Joni Mitchell and Amy Winehouse to Shakey Graves and Billie Eilish. In the past year, she has immersed herself in the local music scene, performing with the Universal Music Center, at Minnesota State College Southeast’s Strings, Winds, Brass concert, and at venues such as Minneapolis’ Underground Cafe. Her performances have also taken her to New York, with shows in Wallkill and Manhattan. Grace is currently preparing for a Nashville performance in Summer 2026 and working on her debut album. Find her music on Instagram: @_just.grxce.