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Prince fans mark death anniversary with sadness and celebrations

Minneapolis — For Prince fans, Friday's one-year anniversary of his shocking death from an accidental drug overdose will be a time for sadness and celebration.

At his Paisley Park home and recording studio-turned-museum, a full four days of events are on tap, ranging from concert performances by his former bandmates to panel discussions. Fans who can't afford those high-priced tickets can head to a street party outside First Avenue, the club he made world famous in Purple Rain. And the Minnesota History Centre is staging a special exhibit of Prince memorabilia, including his iconic Purple Rain suit.

Here's a look at how Prince's home state will honour his legacy and mourn his loss:

PAISLEY PARK

Prince's home base in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen is marking the anniversary with a roster of shows from artists such as his old band The Revolution, Morris Day and the Time and New Power Generation. Also on the docket: Panel discussions featuring such speakers as his old band mates — think Lisa (Coleman) and Wendy (Melvoin) from Purple Rain and The Revolution — along with many more.

Fans who could afford it spent $999 for VIP passes for the Paisley schedule, and the estate said those were sold out. A relatively cheaper option — $549 general admission passes — were still available midweek.

Prince's siblings, who are on track to inherit an estate valued around $200m, are hosting an all-night dance party in the Minneapolis suburb of Golden Valley with Dez Dickerson, Apollonia Kotero, Andre Cymone and others.

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FIRST AVENUE

The downtown Minneapolis club where Prince filmed key parts of Purple Rain is hosting late-night dance parties on Friday and Saturday with tracks from the late superstar.

A memorial street party outside the club is also on tap for Saturday. It will be reminiscent of the one that drew thousands of mourners on the night of Prince's death to cry, dance and sing along.

PIECES OF HISTORY

Prince's Purple Rain costume — purple jacket, white ruffled shirt and studded pants — was put out for display at the Minnesota History Centre in St. Paul and will be there through to Sunday. The museum is also marking the anniversary by featuring handwritten lyrics to an unreleased song, I Hope We Work It Out, signed by Prince in 1977. Prince performed it for record executives when he first signed with Warner Bros.

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PAINTING THE TOWN PURPLE

Several landmarks in Minneapolis will be lit up in Prince purple, including U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Field, the IDS Centre, and the Interstate 35W and Lowry Avenue bridges over the Mississippi River.

(Photos: AP)

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