Do you know what’s happening in six days?

You totally know.

MERIDEN PRIDE FEST!

This newsletter is packed with all the details, so read to the end. 🧐

We are so excited to host our third annual Pride Fest this Saturday, August 15, from Noon to 5 p.m. at 328 Paddock Avenue!

Please park at Thomas Hooker Elementary (70 Overlook Road), where we will be shuttling attendees to and from the event for free.

NEW THIS YEAR: After Party! We are so grateful to our sponsor, Quiver Spirits, for making this after party a reality. Enjoy FREE tasting samples of Quiver Spirits’ Spiced Honey Spirit and Quince Fruit Spirit, order a Pride-inspired cocktail, and party with drag queens!

(Yes, admission to both events is FREE! 😉)

Happy Pride!

-The Meriden Pride Team

Pride Fest Preview: THIS SATURDAY!

250 Years of Queer History 📚

“We’re here, we’re queer, get over it!” For the entirety of America’s existence, queer people have existed (duh). To celebrate the country’s bicentennial anniversary, we created an exhibit inside Meriden Pride Center. Stop in and learn more about our history!

Entertainment 🎤

• 12 p.m. Opening Ceremony

• 1-2:00 p.m. Ali Kat live acoustic performance (outside)

• 2:15-3:00 p.m. Drag Show by Imperial Sovereign Court of All CT featuring performances by: Dolores Degage, Rod Degage, Thea Dacity, Ken Lord, and Imperial Crown Princess XXVII Miriam Anne Tikk de Luxe (in church sanctuary)

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

Raffle Prizes 🎟️

• Meriden Pride Merch Bundle ($125 value)

• Moose’s Burgers ($10 value, x2 prizes)

• Rock Spot Climbing Day Passes ($70 value, x2 prizes)

• Taino Prime ($25 value, x2 prizes)

• The Dawg House ($25 value, x1 prize)

• Quiver Spirits Spiced Honey (750mL, x1 bottle)

Vendors 🛍️

Food:

• Delicias Ecuatorianas

• Poppa Lou’s Lemonade Co.

• Stewart Burgers & Hotdogs

• Udderly Delicious

Handcrafts, accessories, art, authors and more:

• Art4Weirdos

• Asa Massage

• Azure Collections

• Basil Brook LLC

• Bling Like The Stars Studio

• Branch and Fable

• Donna Bees Designs

• Dragons 'N Chains

• Erin’s Elegant Elephant

• Face Painting by Miki

• Fox & Doe Cookies

• Janoba Studios

• JaxtheCatalyst

• Kellz Spellz

• Kobo Studio

• Magical Boy Basil

• Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort

• Prophetic Threads

• Sam Avery Media

• Sue's Jams Seasonings and Crafts

• Superlunary Goods

• The Resourceful Queens

• The Shaded Willow

• Trippy Chick Art

• Turtle Power Crochet

• VinylDelites

• Wiwas7thStar llc

Organizations:

• Free Mom Hugs CT

• Greater Waterbury Pride LGBTQIA Coalition

• Imperial Sovereign Court of All CT

• Meriden Democrats

• My Bella TNR

• Revolutionary Communists of America

• Q Plus

• Unitarian Universalist Church of Meriden

Getting here 🚗

📍328 Paddock Avenue (Unitarian Universalist Church of Meriden and the Meriden Pride Center)

IMPORTANT PARKING INFO: Only accessible parking will be available at 328 Paddock. All others will need to park at Thomas Hooker Elementary School (70 Overlook Rd), about 0.3 miles from the venue. A complimentary shuttle will drive back and forth from the parking lot to the event.

Drag Performances + Entertainment💃

• SHOUT OUT to our fabulous drag queen hosts, Felicity V. Lay and Luna Tikk, for bringing the energy!

• Electrifying performances by queens Bleach & Xiomarie!

• And DJ Radio will keep the music pumping all night!

Specialty Drinks 🍸

Enjoy FREE tasting samples of Quiver Spirits’ heritage spirits:

• Spiced Honey: Honey forward, building warming spices, mildly sweet with a bright citrus finish

• Quince Fruit: Quince forward, hints of black tea and lemon, sweet start with a tart finish

Pride-exclusive cocktails: The Dawg House will be using Quiver’s heritage spirits to mix up drinks:

• Cherry Tree Sparkler: Quiver’s Quince Fruit Spirit, cherry bitters, club soda, garnished with maraschino cherry

• Honeybee Colada: Quiver’s Spiced Honey Spirit, pineapple juice, coconut liqueur, garnished with pineapple fronds

• StrawbAperol Spritz: Quiver’s Spiced Honey Spirit, Aperol, club soda, prosecco, strawberry liqueur, garnished with strawberry slices

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. 15).

• Sat. 8/15, MERIDEN PRIDE FEST! Noon-5 p.m. @ Meriden Pride

• Sat. 8/15, MERIDEN PRIDE FEST AFTER PARTY! 5-11 p.m. @ The Dawg House

• Wed. 8/26, Gayme Night: Sonic Speed Battle. 5-8 p.m. @ Meriden Pride

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 15 (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