Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day, a vibrant and inclusive celebration of spirituality, diversity, and community, is happening Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Johnston Memorial Park in Johnston. This family-friendly and free annual event, organized by Rhode Island Pagan Pride, aims to promote understanding, reduce discrimination, and foster a sense of unity among all individuals interested in, or curious about, Pagan traditions.

Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day welcomes people from all walks of life who honor, revere, or worship Deities found in pre-Christian, classical, aboriginal, or tribal practices. The event also embraces those who practice shamanism, magical arts, earth-based spirituality, and modern religions inspired by pre-Christian traditions. The focus of this year's celebration is “MANY PATHS, ONE COMMUNITY.”

You can watch or participate in public rituals as well as enjoy live professional music, dance, and spiritual art. Shop at the many vendors and enjoy a meal from a selection of food trucks! Learn a new skill or strengthen an existing one through workshops, learn about different Pagan groups, feel rejuvenated by partaking in healing work, and discover new tools and other goods that enhance your practice.

Come celebrate our community and expand your understanding of what it means to be Pagan. Whether you describe yourself as a reconstructionist, eclectic, or any other term, or even if you are not Pagan at all, you are warmly welcome to come learn about the diversity of beliefs in our state and how these beliefs enrich our lives and the world. Or just come to hang out and have fun! Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with local businesses, artisans, and spiritual practitioners, as well as explore various aspects of Pagan spiritualities and beliefs.

Although religious freedoms are protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, many Pagans still face discrimination as they are often stereotyped. Facing such risks as unemployment, being passed over for promotions or housing, treated unfavorably in school, and even child custody threats, many Pagans choose to keep their faiths private.  Horn and Cauldron, Church of the Earth, a sponsor for Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day, encountered this discrimination when a local town zoning department prejudicially ruled against them in 2022.  The town officials attempted to prevent them from worshiping collectively on private property.  The ACLU, who represented Horn and Cauldron for that case, will be speaking about our religious freedoms at Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day this year.  Rhode Island was founded on religious freedom which is represented by the Independent Man “Hope” at the top of the Rhode Island State House, and the inscription on the South Portico “To hold forth a lively experiment that a most flourishing civil state may stand, and best be maintained with full liberty in religious concernments.” 

One of the key objectives of Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day is to provide accurate information and dispel misconceptions surrounding Pagan religions. By showcasing the diversity of the Pagan community and sharing personal experiences, the event aims to foster tolerance, acceptance, and appreciation for these spiritual paths.  Local Coordinator, Darrell Moore, said “Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day is about education: informing the public about our faiths, and also bringing fellow practitioners together to learn from one another.”

Don’t miss this special day!  Be a part of Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day at Johnston Memorial Park!

Pagan Pride is a movement among American pagans to build a positive public image of paganism. Local Pagan Pride groups sponsor "Pagan Pride Day" festivals, usually in public locations such as city parks or university campuses. The first Pagan Pride celebrations took place across the county in 1998.

Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day is made possible through the support of sponsors and volunteers. The event is affiliated with the Pagan Pride Project, a global organization working to reduce discrimination against Pagan religions. For more information about Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day, including sponsorship opportunities and event details, please visit our official Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day website at www.rhodeislandpaganpride.org/.

For further information, please contact our main Sponsor, Horn and Cauldron, Church of the Earth at info@hornandcauldron.com.  Horn and Cauldron has hosted Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day since 2018.