SLPS attended the 17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at Liberty Park. The theme was “One Forest, Many Paths.” The day was hot, but breezes kept blowing in to cool the vendors down. The setup began at 6am with festival leader Debra Hurst going in and staking zones. Vendors were set up by the opening, 9am, and all the traffic rolled through. Muad’Dib opened the event with a sunrise ritual to Perun, Slavic deity of the sun, asking for a blessed day and to open the heart and pocketbooks of the attendees.
SLPS did $10 tarot and palm readings, and did about 15 in total. Not bad for an event full of psychics and fellow readers. SLPS was tented next to the Blue Antler of Tooele-a Pagan shop out that way. A few local shops, like Elemental Inspirations of Sugar House and the Rusty Skull were there as well.
A couple local groups also attended. The festival even had the return of long time community members who had previously been excluded or felt they couldn’t attend due to community politics/wars of the past.
Mr. Hooper, A rapper from Sacramento, California drove in to give a few hours of music in the afternoon. The closing rite was performed by local druid Kay M. who led everyone in the calling of the Great Irish Queen, the Morrigan.
Vendors left tired, but happy. Overall, a great day for all who attended. Each year the festival improves in small measure, but grows and shows the vitality of the Pagan community.


17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, morning ritual altar to Slavic Perun, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, SLPS booth with Woman Between the Wolves, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, vendor booths looking west, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, entertainment booth with a mermaid performing, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, vendor booths looking east, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, vendor booths on south side looking west, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, vendor booths on west side looking south, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, Rusty Skull vendor, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, Muad’Dib, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, Kay M. leading closing druid rite to the Morrigan, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT