Prior Events
It is always important to remember our past. If we don't, we can't fully appreciate where we are nor can we properly plan our future. With that in mind, we honor the past of the Central New York Pagan Pride Project by remembering our prior events.
September 16, 2000
Held at Green Lakes State Park. Over 80 people in attendance. Opening Ritual by Grove of Diana, Celebratory Ritual by CNYC and Closing Ritual by Tim and Cari. Workshops and a Drum Circle were held, but no vendors due to park regulations. Donations of 160lbs of food and $80 cash were taken for the House of Dorothy for persons with AIDS.
September 15, 2001
First year at Longbranch. Over 300 people in attendance. Opening Ritual was by Chalice Circle, Celebratory Ritual by CNYC and Closing Ritual by Circle of the Rising Phoenix. Ten workshops and a Drum Circle were held. First year with vendors (approx. 12). First year for Event Program and CNY PPD T-shirts. 780lbs. of food was collected for the Food Bank of CNY, and in the aftermath of 9/11, $905.78 was collected for the Red Cross. Only year it hasn't rained (so far).
September 14, 2002
Approximately 661 people in attendance. Opening Ritual was by Muin Mound Grove, Celebratory Circle was by CNYC and Closing Ritual was by Chalice Circle. First year for a Guest Author to do a book signing; Lauren Manoy, Where to Park Your Broomstick. Brightpath Counseling Center loaned us a portable labyrinth for the day. First year for Sponsorships. A beautiful handfasting was held for Mike and Julianna in the pouring rain. Nine adult workshops, three children's workshops and a Drum Circle were held. There were 25 vendors, first year with a food vendor. 1,139lbs. of food was collected for the Food Bank of CNY and $212.84 was collected for the Red Cross.
September 13, 2003
Approximately 702 people in attendance. Opening and Closing Ritual were by KiaMarie Wolfe, Celebratory Ritual was by Circle of the Rising Phoenix. Guest Author was Eileen Holland, A Witch�s Book of Answers and The Wicca Handbook. First year for Goddess 2000 Project display. First year for Border�s Book fundraiser. First year for "workshop" rituals (Muin Mound Grove) and for a children's ritual. Fourteen adult workshops, two children's workshops and a Drum Circle were held. 27 vendors. 1,273 lbs. of food was collected for the Food Bank of CNY and $138.33 was collected for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund.
September 18, 2004
803 people passed through our gates and attended the event. Opening and Closing Rituals were by WebPath Center. Main celebratory circle was by Circle of the Rising Phoenix. Guest Author was Gail Wood, Rituals of the Dark Moon. The Children's Ritual was facilitated by some of our friends from the Rochester PPD committee. S.P.I.R.A.L. (the Syracuse University Pagan Association) held a ritual geared toward teen/college ages. There were 13 adult workshops, 3 children�s workshops, including a children�s drum circle, and a Drum Circle held. This was the first year for our "So Vote It Be" campaign with 10 people registering to vote and receiving a free "I'm Pagan and I Vote" button and The Pagan Alliance of Nurses, who ran the first aid tent, gave 25 free blood pressure readings. We had 33 vendors. $276.15 was raised for Vera House and 1,079 pounds of food was collected for the Foodbank of CNY.
September 17, 2005
526 people braved the rain and outrageous gas prices to attend the event. Opening and closing rituals were facilitated by the Mohawk Valley Pagan Network. The main celebratory ritual was facilitated by Muin Mound Grove, ADF. Our guest author was Skip Ellison, ArchDruid of ADF. The Family Mabon Ritual was facilitated by Circle of All Paths. Clan of the Hearth facilitated a children's Full Moon ritual. There were 14 adult workshops, along with the ever-popular drum circle, and 4 children�s workshops. We had 31 vendors and many free blood pressure readings were given at our First Aid tent by the Pagan Alliance of Nurses. We raised $180.50 for The Jenna Foundation, $320.41 for the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief and 921 lbs of food for the Food Bank of Central New York. A special thanks goes out to our security team for bravely looking into the face of death, risking life and limb to capture a marauding rooster that was causing mayhem in the parking lot. The rooster was dubbed Longbranch and relocated to the farm of a relative of one of our security staff, where he is still happily strutting his stuff and creating mayhem with the farm hens.
September 16, 2006
676 people came out to enjoy a beautiful day at Longbranch. The opening and closing rituals were facilitated by SPIRAL, and the SU students did a fantastic job of getting the energy going - not only in the main ritual area, but throughout the entire grounds. The main celebratory ritual was facilitated by Corellians. Our guest author was Maggie Shayne. There were 15 adult workshops, along with the ever-popular drum circle, and a number of children�s programs. 29 vendors dazzled us with shiny dangly things. We raised $296.50 for Chadwick Residence and 1,201 lbs of food for the Food Bank of Central New York.
September 15, 2007
Over 725 people came out to enjoy a "classic Autumn" day at Longbranch, complete with chill winds and occasionally soaking rain. The opening and closing rituals were once again facilitated by SPIRAL, and the SU students did another great job of getting everyone up and moving. The main celebratory ritual was facilitated by the Circle of All Paths, who got everyone into the spirit and mood of the Harvest celebration. There were 15 adult workshops, plus the ever-popular drum circle, as well as a full slate of children�s programs. 30 vendors provides us with a host of wonderful and beautiful items and services - many thanks to the vendors who make this program possible. We raised over $200 for Beaver Lake Nature Center and 1,193 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Central New York.