10 am: Opening Ritual with Frederick CUUPS
Event Field

Led by Frederick CUUPS members, our family-friendly Opening Ritual will open the Otherworld Gates and establish safe, welcoming sacred space for the duration of Frederick Pagan Pride Day and beyond.

After the opening circle is cast, three Gatekeepers will formally open the Gates. Then representatives from different Pagan paths will call upon their Deities and the Elements to establish a wellspring of hospitality, compassion, and aid.

Participants are welcome to bring drums, shakers, and other percussion instruments, and to join us as we sing and dance.

11 am: Self Care and Community Care with Tiffany

Self care is prescribed in today’s world in every article, meme or post about life. But we, as interconnected beings that require a village, also need to recognize when community care is what is truly called for. This workshop covers community from a behavioral science perspective, the need to be aware of our larger communities, community needs, and finding a balance between showing up, and getting a case of helium hand.

11 AM performance: Stephen Darnell

Stephen Darnell is a spiritual and passionate performer of the Native American-style flute, Irish Whistle, and Didgeridoo, whose music is a place of peace, a place of rest, and a place for coming home with bouts of playfulness and spirit. Inspired by musicians such as Douglas Spotted Eagle, Jeff Ball, Ash Dargan, David Hudson, and Clannad, Stephen has embraced the melodic wonder that the flute and didgeridoo has to offer, opening a realm of soulful and empowering creativity.

12 PM: Fighting Dragons and Nazis with Eric

Our ancestors understood that Dragons were sometimes emblems of Greed (Misers) that refused to support their community and our very recent ancestors all worked together to defeat the Nazis. Can we do anything BUT honor their memory and take Inspiration from their courage? This ritual will honor these truths and find our courage to follow in their footsteps. There will be toasts and declarations in the fashion of Heathen traditions, nonalcoholic and alcoholic options will be available for toasting.

12 PM: Witching for a Warming Planet with Alythia

Climate change is the biggest thing affecting the planet we hold sacred. Alythia will share what she knows after a decade of professional experience about where we are in the fight against climate change. Explore what we can do as witches — both magically and mundanely — to help meet the challenge.

1 PM Keynote Address: Building a Vibrant, Resilient Pagan Community in Challenging Times

Join keynote speaker Enfys Book for a fascinating discussion on creating stronger Pagan communities.

Enfys J. Book (they/them) is ​​the author of Queer Rites: A Magickal Grimoire to Honor Your Milestones with Pride (Llewellyn, 2025) as well as the Gold COVR award-winning Queer Qabala, and co-author (with Ivo Dominguez, Jr.) of Sagittarius Witch. Enfys has taught classes on magickal practice around the world, including at the Omega Institute, Paganicon, ConVocation, and the Glastonbury Goddess Conference. They are also the creator of majorarqueerna.com, a website devoted to queer magickal practice, and host a podcast called “4 Quick Q’s: Book Talk with Enfys,” where they interview pagan authors using questions determined by a roll of the dice.

2 pm: Main Ritual, “Wielding Fierce Hope” with Stone Circle Wicca

SCW invites all of FPPD attendees to focus on resilience and community care for people of all paths. Together we will gather our energies, exchange blessings and empower each other. We  offer a ritual of magick for our sacred selves, our community and our nation with the intention of Wielding Fierce Hope!

3 PM: Invoke Your Magical Name with Tara 

Whether you use your given name in magical circles and working, or a specific name reserved only for your magical craft, your name has inherent power. It brings with it the history attached to it — as well as the special meaning(s) you assign to it. This workshop will focus on imbuing your name with power, invoking it, and tapping into the attributes of your name to accomplish your magical, mundane, and community-oriented goals. 
*You do not need an existing magical name to participate in this workshop, and many practitioners, such as your facilitator, use their given or mundane names in

3 PM performance: Vesper’s Echo

Vesper’s Echo is currently a merry band of nine, initially conceptualized around a ritual fire in April 2022 by a mutual longing to make pagan music. With a core sound of Celtic and Appalachian folk music layered with lush choral harmonies and a myriad of genre-defying influences, the band strives to reflect core values of social justice and community building, as well as to encourage everyone to find the joy in music and sing along!

4 PM: An Introduction to Paganism with Lory

Join Frederick CUUPS board member Lory (and guests) for an interactive workshop on Paganism. Learn about common Pagan beliefs, celebrations, values, and more. Bring your curiosity and questions.

4 pm: A Celtic Ritual of Resistance with Jack

Join Celtic Polytheist and FCUUPS member Jack for a ritual honoring Boudicca, Vercingetorix, Llewellyn, Fergus Mac Roich, and other ancestors of resistance from the Celtic traditions. We will invite them to stand beside us and fortify our spirits, inspire us to good trouble, and watch over us in the struggles ahead.

5 PM: Closing Ritual with the Fellowship of the Ancient White Stag

Focus your intent on that which brought you hope during the day’s events, and join your hope and gratitude with the hope and gratitude of the other participants as we chant and pour intentions into a central cauldron to share amongst those present. Express gratitude to those who helped make the day possible with a loud and spirited “WE GIVE THANKS!” to end the day.