CARIBOU, Maine — A variety of merchants, activities, and more will take part in the Northern Maine Pagan Pride Association’s Pagan Pride Day to be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Collins Pond Park in Caribou.
The event is open to all, and while admission is free, a donation of a non-perishable food item for human or animal consumption is encouraged, according to Karralena Castaway, treasurer for the Northern Maine Pagan Pride Association.
After the event, the Northern Maine Pagan Pride Association will distribute the food to the Caribou Ecumenical Food Pantry as well as Halfway Home Pet Rescue.
The Northern Maine Pagan Pride Association is a subsidiary of the Pagan Pride Project, an international non-profit organization whose mission is to “foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity and community,” according to their official website.
Likewise, Castaway said the organization is an educational entity that holds community-based events to help others understand what Paganism is and isn’t through activities and talks. Ultimately, she said they hope to “achieve a level of tolerance for alternate belief systems within a community.”
As of Wednesday, the plan for the event is to hold a meet and greet from 10 to 11 a.m. in which Castaway will welcome guests and provide information about the Pagan Pride Project. Then, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the lunch bar will open, offering chili, hot dogs, chips, pasta salad, drinks, and a cupcake or clementine for $4. Guests can also customize their lunch with separate item pricing.
Activities, such as a possible Quidditch match, will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 2 p.m., at which point Sha Blackburn will hold a closing ritual to wrap up the ceremony.
In the event of rain, the festivities will be moved to the following day.
Castaway said the Northern Maine Pagan Pride Association is always looking for additional members, and can be reached via email at northernmainepaganpride@gmail.com or through their official Facebook page.
