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June through September is Pagan Pride season in North America. Members of ADF participated in a number of different Pagan Prides around the US. Here are just a few.
Erie Pagan Pride Day 2019
On Saturday, September 21, 2019, Whispering Lake Grove, ADF hosted Pagan Pride Day for Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, at the Erie Unitarian Universalist Congregation. The day’s activities included mediums/readers, craft vendors, presentations and workshops, a bake sale and a charity auction, and ended with a Harvest Tide ritual to mark the Autumnal Equinox and honor the Earth Mother for her generosity.
Erie’s Pagan Pride Day had been suspended for several years due to lack of organizers. In the interim, Whispering Lake offered a similar event called Common Ground. This year, we claimed the name and officially restarted Pagan Pride Day. Our Grove aims to bring more groups, contributors and volunteers together in future years, to make Pagan Pride Day a diverse, shared event once again. Around one hundred guests attended this year, a number we hope to increase in 2020.
Ann Arbor Pagan Pride Day
Rev. Rob Henderson of Shining Lakes Grove stepped up to run the main ritual at the An Arbor Pagan Pride Day. Check out his article in the Shining Lakes Newsletter about the experience.
Sacramento Pagan Pride
This year, Sacramento Pagan Pride held it's 20th Annual Harvest Festival. It is a 2 day festival, held on a VFW Post, with a full schedule of education, ritual, and fellowship. There are dozens of vendors and information booths, and entertainment including live music, belly dancing, and fire dancing. The outstanding food was provided by Sean Harbaugh's award winning Pipin' Hot Smokers.
Sierra Madrone Grove, ADF, hosted a booth this year, as every year, and performed the opening ritual. Our public Fall Equinox ritual is at Pagan Pride each year, generally the main ritual for the event. The key note speaker on this auspicious anniversary was our Vice Archdruid, Sean Harbaugh. Last year, Archdruid Jon Drum was the festival's most honored guest. A Pagan Elders panel discussion included Stacey Weinberger and Phaedra Bonewits. We are a steadfast part of the community in the Sacramento Area, and I am personally very proud of our participation in this event every year. Admission to Sacramento Pagan Pride is any donation of goods or gift cards for a local charity serving the homeless.
And more!
Many other groves and individuals participated in Pagan Pride events around the world. Are you interested in helping out? Check out the Pagan Pride Project to find, or start, a Pagan Pride Celebration near you.
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