Do you know what’s happening in six days?

You totally know.

MERIDEN PRIDE FEST!

We are so excited to host our second annual Pride Fest this Saturday, August 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 328 Paddock Avenue! This newsletter is packed with all the details, so read to the end.

-The Meriden Pride Team

Pride Fest Preview: THIS SATURDAY!

Entertainment

Entertainment schedule:

• 11-11:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony

• 12-1:00 p.m. Alex Reid performing on acoustic guitar

• 1:30-3:00 p.m. Drag Show

• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Alex Reid performing on acoustic guitar

And DJ JSPIN$ will be playing outside all day to keep the energy up!

Raffle Prizes

• Meriden Pride goodies ($125 value)

• Browology ($120 value)

• Mystic Aquarium ($76 value)

• Rock Spot Climbing ($70 value)

• Brasa Bella ($50 value)

• Tacos Mi Nacho ($25 value)

• Taino Prime ($25 value)

• Hyacinth II ($15 value)

We will be giving away other goodies throughout the day, too!

Vendors

We are thrilled to bring you our 2025 vendor lineup!

Pride Organizations:

• Free Mom Hugs

• Imperial Sovereign Court of All CT

• Out Film CT: Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival

Food:

• Nibbles n’ Noms

• Daren’s Ice Cream

• Gee’s Spot

• Elsa’s Real Fruit Ice Cream

• Nina’s Sweet Treats

• Memaw's Bakery Barn LLC

Handcrafts, accessories, gifts:

• Donna Bees Designs

• Wiwas 7th Star Bags

• Branch and Fable

• Notch Four Studio

• Scrambled Hands

• Erin’s Elegant Elephant

• CallieCo

• Constellation Creations

• The Wicked Press

• Clay.Crochet2

• Paparazzi Accessories

• The Whimsy Van Winkle Store

• Simply Natural Stuff

• Cutely Creepy

• Scanlon Studio Co.

Health:

• Wheeler Clinic: Walk With Me program

• City of Meriden Department of Health and Human Services

• Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute: Early Detection and Prevention Program

• Yale New Haven Hospital

• Angelica’s Angels (ACS Relay for Life)

• The Health Collective

• Arc Light Behavioral Health Collective

Organizations:

• Unitarian Universalist Church of Meriden

• My Bella TNR (Cat rescue)

• Meriden Democrats

• The Liv

Home:

• Renewal by Andersen

• Sunset Creek Realty

Getting there

Meriden Pride Fest will be held at 328 Paddock Avenue, Meriden, CT. This is the site of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Meriden and the Meriden Pride Center.

PARKING: Accessible and VIP parking will be available at 328 Paddock. All others will need to park at Thomas Hooker Elementary School, about a 7-minute walk (0.3 miles) from the venue. A shuttle will drive back and forth from the parking lot to the event.

August Events 🌟

Say hi to us at our booth at the Meriden Farmers Market every Saturday, 8 a.m. through noon at the Meriden Green (except Aug. 2).

• Sat. 8/16, MERIDEN PRIDE FEST! 11 a.m. -5 p.m. @ Meriden Pride

• Wed. 8/20, Gayme Night. 5-8 p.m. @ Meriden Pride

• Wed. 8/27, Craft Night. 5-8 p.m. @ Meriden Library

Observances

• (14) Gay Uncle’s Day

• (20) Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Volunteer Opportunities 🙌

Connect with the LGBTQ+ community this summer! We’d love to have your help at events. Please fill out a volunteer form if you would like to volunteer with us.

Right now, we need volunteers for:

• Meriden Pride Fest on August 16 (no, it’s not too late to sign up!)

• Staffing the center with a committee member on Saturdays and Sundays

Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. We are stronger together!

About the Community Center 🌈

The Meriden Pride Community Center offers a wide range of free resources and support services to empower and assist the community, including:

• Sexual health supplies such as male and female condoms, dental dams, and lubrication

• Free at-home COVID-19 test kits, Narcan overdose prevention kits, and blood glucose meters for health monitoring

• Assistance with applications for heating and renters’ reimbursement programs

• Personalized help connecting to broader city and state services

• Borrowing books from our LGBTQ+ library

• Complimentary internet and printing access

Committed to holistic support, the center strives to address immediate and long-term needs through its inclusive and accessible offerings.

Donate to the Center 💝

Every donation fuels our mission to uplift the Greater Meriden LGBTQ+ community through free, accessible programming that celebrates identity, fosters belonging, and sparks joy. From inclusive workshops and peer support networks to vibrant Pride events and educational resources, we create safe spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can thrive. Led entirely by volunteers, our work is powered by your generosity—ensuring queer voices are heard, stories are celebrated, and no one faces barriers to connection. Together, we’re building a world where everyone can live authentically, proudly, and without compromise.

Venmo: @MeridenPride

Cashapp: $MeridenPride