Film, fashion, drag and first-time events fill Maine’s Pride schedule (2024)

There’s plenty of Pride to go around.

It wasn’t long ago that people in many parts of Maine would have a hard time finding a Pride event near them or on a date they could attend. But this year, with more than 30 Pride events scheduled around the state, that’s not a problem.

Miss one Pride event, and you’ll probably find one the next day, or the next week. If drag’s not your bag, you can always find a festival, walk, fashion show or film screening.

Here are some of the places you can go and things you can do to celebrate Pride in Maine this month.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Pride events continue to grow in Maine, and each year there seems to be a new one in a new place. The first-ever Windham & Raymond Pride event was held June 3. Despite some community pushback and a threat directed at a drag performer, it went on without incident.

Another first-time event this year will be the Denmark Pride celebration on June 22 in the small western Maine town. The celebration begins with a free event at Bicentennial Park from 3-6 p.m. and will feature drag queens Chartreuse Money, Tasha Tektite and Ophelia Johnson, plus music by DJ XO and a story hour with Ophelia. There’ll also be a pop-upcycle clothing boutique, a photo booth, food trucks and tables from various advocate and support groups. At 7 p.m., THEM Burlesque will host an 18-plus evening of games and performances at Denmark Arts Center. Admission is $20. For more information, go to denmarkarts.org.

PRIDE ON PARADE

One of the biggest Pride events in southern Maine every year is Pride Portland, with a massive parade and festival in Maine’s biggest city. Thousands of people lined downtown Portland streets for last year’s parade, despite a constant rain.

This year’s parade is at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. It starts at Monument Square, with marchers heading west along Congress Street then taking a left on High Street to Deering Oaks park, where the annual festival is held. More than 200 companies and organizations are expected to march, many in costume and likely to be holding signs and banners. A tradition continues this year with the cycling group Dykes on Bikes leading the parade. The 900-foot-long River of Pride flag carried over people’s heads will make its return to the parade, weather permitting, after last year’s rain forced it to stay indoors.

The festival in Deering Oaks will be from 1-6 p.m., with more than 225 vendors, artisans and merchants setting up shop in the park. There will also be food trucks and a Shipyard Brewing beer garden. Live entertainment starts at 1:30 p.m., and the festival will have two stages for performances. Scheduled performers include: Heidi N’ Closet from Ru Paul’s Drag Race season 12, Boston Queen Arabella Ladesse, The Femmes band, DJ Haylstorm and Chartreuse Money, among others. Kid-friendly activities will also be organized by the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, Circus Maine and The Center for Grieving Children. For information, go to prideportland.org and Facebook: 2024 Pride Portland Festival.

FASHION AND FILM

Camden is certainly a fashionable summer destination, even by Maine standards, and it hosts the annual Camden International Film Festival. But fashion and film are also at the core of two Camden Pride Pop-Ups this month. On June 20 from 5-7 p.m., there’s a Pride Fashion Show on Bayview Street, near the picturesque Camden Harbor. People are invited to show up and walk the runway, and organizers say they want “all the sparkles, all the colors and ALL the accessories” attendees can muster. The event is free, and people can just show up and walk. There will also be prizes awarded.

Then on June 22, another pop-up event will be the Queer Film Fest at Camden Opera House at 7 p.m. The event is an evening of short films on LGBTQ+ topics made my members of the community. The list of films includes: “Bar Stories from Queer Maine,” about gay bars as important venues for community, organizing, sex and safety; “Attack of the Yoga Zombies,” about a temptress in Spandex from outer space; and “The Diver,” exploring themes of LGBTQ+ identity and mental health. Tickets to the film festival are $20. For info on both Camden events, go to camdenprideevents.com.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

There are plenty of family-friendly or more laid-back Pride events, too. Rainbow Family Field Day will be held at the Bridgton Community Center on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event includes a relay race (a freeze dance inside in case of bad weather), story time and craft time. For information, email outreach@bridgton.lib.me.us. Gorham Pride is hosting an all-ages free event on June 29 at 11 a.m. at the town gazebo. There will be performances by Lavender Choir, Alex Milan Music and Maine Marimba Ensemble, plus a drag show and story time with Letta. There will also be food trucks, face painting and activities. For more information, go to gorhampride.org.

KIND OF A DRAG

Drag performances are easy to find this month, even in some places you might not have considered. Via Sophia by the Sea, a restaurant in Kennebunk, is hosting Confidence in Color: A Pride Month Drag Brunch on June 23 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission is $25. Performers include Abby Cummings, Tasha Tektite, Chartreuse Money and Finn Gerring. There will also be live music from DJ Haylstorm, and the restaurant’s full brunch menu will be available for purchase. For more information, go to viarestaurants.com.

Aura, a massive nightclub in downtown Portland, is hosting the Cherry Lemonade Portland Pride show at 8 p.m. Saturday. The show is hosted by Cherry Lemonade and Gigi Gabor of the Maine traveling drag show Curbside Queens, along with special guest Kandy Muse, who was on season 13 of the TV show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Other drag performers scheduled include Chartreuse Money, Bunny Wonderland, Arabella Ladesse, Candace Persuasion, Finn Gerring, Liza May and Tasha Tektike. Music will be provided by DJ Skooch. Tickets are $30, or $45 for a meet-and-greet with the drag queens. For more info, go to auramaine.com.

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