First Boothbay Pride Day held on Boothbay Common
Mon, 07/13/2026 - 4:00pm
Boothbay Pride Day was held July 11 at Boothbay Common. Pictured, from right, Liam Kent, Dona, Meghan Delaney and Icelynn Delaney. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Cornhole and croquet were among the lawn games at the first Boothbay Pride Day held July 11 at Boothbay Common. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Barney Balch and the Sheepscot Jazz Band plays during Boothbay Pride Day at Boothbay Common. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Boothbay Pride Day participants played lawn games, heard jazz music and enjoyed snacks and drinks during the three-hour event. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Margi Spratt attends the first Boothbay Pride Day event July 11 on Boothbay Common. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Music lovers enjoy Barney Balch and the Sheepscot Jazz Band July 11 during the first Boothbay Pride Day event. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Boothbay Pride Day was held July 11 at Boothbay Common. Pictured, from right, Liam Kent, Dona, Meghan Delaney and Icelynn Delaney. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Cornhole and croquet were among the lawn games at the first Boothbay Pride Day held July 11 at Boothbay Common. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Barney Balch and the Sheepscot Jazz Band plays during Boothbay Pride Day at Boothbay Common. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Boothbay Pride Day participants played lawn games, heard jazz music and enjoyed snacks and drinks during the three-hour event. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Margi Spratt attends the first Boothbay Pride Day event July 11 on Boothbay Common. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Music lovers enjoy Barney Balch and the Sheepscot Jazz Band July 11 during the first Boothbay Pride Day event. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay RegisterIt was a day of peace, love and acceptance on Boothbay Common. The first Boothbay Pride Day celebrated July 11 showed a community embracing those sentiments.
The event ran from noon to 3 p.m. The Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor was an event sponsor. Coastal Maine Popcorn Co., Hannaford, Lincoln Arts Festival, Out Maine ( a statewide coalition supporting people coming out), and Healthy Lincoln County were other sponsors. The event included jazz music performed by Barney Balch and the Sheepscot Jazz Band, lawn games and snacks.
The Rev. Todd Weir said the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor wanted to support Pride causes with a local event. Typically, "Pride" Month is in June, but this year's Boothbay Pride Day was an attempt to expand the celebration and promote equality. "We really wanted to do an event here," Weir said. "We want to bring the community together to counteract some stereotypes (and) prejudices and have the church's name on it."
Weir described the Congo church as an "open and affirming" worship place. The church has been an advocate of LGBTQ+ clauses for 15 years, and hoped the first Boothbay Pride Day would be a catalyst for local acceptance. "This is a way to show people that all are welcome, and we support them. So, this is the very first one so we don't know what to expect," he said.
David Applegate of Barters Island was one of several volunteers who participated in organizing the event. He and his husband have been together for 43 years. The couple lived in Palm Springs, California which he described as a community with a healthy respect for LGBTQ+ issues. "I wanted to participate in this because we came from a supportive community in Palm Beach. We wanted to support and participate in this event."
Liam Kent is a trustee at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor. He was a volunteer who spent nearly three months planning the event. "This is the first year of the Pride Day event in Boothbay. We want to make sure this is a community where everyone is welcome," Kent said. "We also wanted an event focused on the family. A lot of times there is a misconception viewing the LGBTQ+ community from the outside. This event is all about community love and acceptance."
Sandra Leonard is the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor's lay leader. She summed up "Pride" as "a day to honor all people of all colors, varieties and persuasions. Love is for everyone."
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