Event Information:
Parking is available at Lancaster Park off of Willows Rd, the commuter lot at Tulagi Place, the Post Office and Grass Lot on S. Coral Dr., all within easy walking distance of Passive Park and our event. Please do not park in the Newtowne Players parking lot.
Restrooms are located at the Lei Dr/Coral Drive entrance to Passive Park as well as at the Interpretive Center on Rennell Ave and Coral Drive at the other end of the park. Gender neutral toilets will be available at the Interpretive Center as well as two porta potties at the park entrance. Please use whatever restroom you feel most comfortable using and, of course, be respectful of others.
Food will be readily available for sale from our wonderful food vendors but you’re also welcome to bring your own and enjoy a picnic lunch.
No alcohol is permitted in our park.
Dogs are welcome and encouraged to attend! Please keep them on a leash and pick up after them.
Seating: There are picnic tables and benches around the park but feel free to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the festivities throughout the day.
It all began in 2017.
A group of LGBTQIA+ youth that were part of Our Common Calvert in Calvert County, Maryland decided they wanted to host a Pride event for the community.
The very first Pride SoMD was held at the Solomon’s boardwalk pavilion and had about fifty attendees. They held a rally, did a march up the street and ended with a potluck picnic. The next year they held a similar event, but expanded into the Corbin Nature Pavilion and had about 150 attendees. In 2019, we saw an estimated 600 attendees. As word spreads about our small Pride event we are seeing continual growth and saw even more attendees at our 4th annual Pride event in 2021. In 2022 we expanded our Pride Festival and moved to Lexington Manor Passive Park which gave us much more space and allowed more vendors to participate in our event. Come join us and celebrate Pride during National Coming Out and LGBT History month in October, when the weather is cooler and more pleasant.
In 2024 we applied for and were approved as a 501c3 Non-Profit charitable organization. We formed a Board of Directors and officially became Pride SOMD Inc.
Pride SoMD is completely volunteer run and a free event for our community. Every donation we receive goes directly to the production of our events and paying our expenses and is now tax deductible! We are always looking for more volunteers to help us in a multitude of ways as well as financial sponsors to help keep the event going from year to year. Please consider becoming a volunteer or a sponsor or both!