HAVRE DE GRACE — With the Upper Bay Pride Festival set for Oct. 5 in Concord Point Lighthouse Park, the board and members of the UCBP Foundation have also been busy all year organizing meet ups and gatherings each month for the LGBTQ community.
Titled “Prideful Events,” there have been game nights, happy hours, bingo, ice cream socials, Sunday strolls and networking events. The idea started last year according to Kurt Doan, president of the foundation.
“Last year we put together a Pride Week,” Doan said. There were offers to host pre- and post- Pride Festival events. This year there may even be a Sunday brunch.
Doan expects the UCBPF festival to be bigger this year, and even bigger than the first event, which happened in 2019.
“It’s so cool to see so many new people coming,” he said. “Many have never been to Havre de Grace before.”
He said the Prideful Events have helped build the community.
“We’re tapping into new audiences and tapping into events that resonate with people,” he said. “Part of the challenge in a rural community and being queer ... is we need places to go, to meet and be social.” He’s even considering a speed friend-meeting event.
Jen Lavella, one of the 15 board members and director of communications for UCBP, said the volunteer base is also growing.
“We have a lot of older folks who thought they’d never see a pride festival in their community growing up,” Doan said.
Lavella said that, in spite of this area’s conservative views, UCBPF events have received positive feedback.
“And it’s great to be outside at a park with people who face some of the challenges being able to walk through the park holding hands,” Lavella said. “It’s a really nice day to be together and like everyone else. You leave feeling warm.”
This year, the festival will have official Bay Pride merchandise for sale too, she added. There are sweatshirts, T-shirts, hats, cups, dog kerchiefs and more.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Foundation’s 6th Annual Pride Festival Oct. 5 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. There will be a lot of entertainers includingcRyan Cassata, Brian Falduto, Tony Aye!, Chanel Belladonna, and Davina Escade and Raven Samore and special guests Vagenesis & Venus Fastrada.
“I hope we never outgrow this park,” Doan said. “It’s the only waterfront LGBTQ event in Maryland.”
New at the festival this year will be activities for children including magicians, new storytellers, and face painting. Of course, there will be food trucks and over 100 artists and vendors. There is still room for other vendors to join, Doan said. To become a vendor send an email to vendor@ucbpride.com
Meanwhile, continue to look for the monthly Prideful events and find out how to get involved by going to ucbpride.com .
Most Popular
Comments / 0