Ogden Pride has selected themes each year to reflect a call to action for the community. Each year, we host a community planning meeting to hear from them on what our theme should be. We find community support and input really brings the whole process full circle.
Over the years, themes have included actions that may have been the focus in the state, country, or globally. Below is the history of our themes & important event dates:
March 20, 2015
The first fundraising event was held benefiting the festival. At Alleged, community entertainers held a drag show. There was even a local stand up comic with great jokes. The event was a success with over 100 people in attendance. That night the theme for the first annual festival was announced.
August 1, 2015
The first annual festival theme was provided by the graphic designer who designed the original Ogden Pride logo and selected among a list by the board of directors. The theme selected that year was a homage to the city theme of Ogden “All within Reach”.
Festival attendance was between 300 – 500 people. The Ogden Amphitheater plaza was filled with vendors and organizations. Entertainment included local acts, drag queens & kings, and more.
“Love within Reach”
May 14, 2016
The first 5k Fun Run was held in support of fundraising for the festival. Held at MTC Learning Park, the Fun Run would soon become a part of Ogden Pride tradition.
August 6, 2016
The second annual festival theme was also among the list provided by the graphic designer who designed the original Ogden Pride logo and selected by the board of directors. The theme selected that year was festival! ;)- Ogden Pride will be proud we went there first! Attendance more than doubled, and everyone had a blast.
“Pride Elevated”
July 2016
Ogden Pride added another festival event to the mix with the first annual Poetry Contest in collaboration with Booked on 25th.
The winner that year was Patrick Ramsay.
August 5, 2017
The 3rd annual festival theme was the results of a community planning event held in the beginning of the year. A group of more than 30 people showed up to participate in ideas about activities, entertainment, committees, and yes the theme.
In 2017, the nation witnessed the ushering in of an unlikely leader, and the rise in anti-LGBTQ politics. The call to gather and be a strong community was important.
The 3rd annual festival also saw the addition of activities from a single day to double events, with a collaborative hosted event with the Imperial Rainbow Court of Northern Utah. The 1st annual Pride Weekend Youth Drag show the night before was held in support of Ogden OUTreach Resource Center.
“Rise Together with Pride”
February 16, 2018
In 2018, Ogden Pride and OUTreach merged to bring the Youth OUTreach program under the Ogden Pride umbrella. The business merge brought new life, a new program, and the beginnings of more for the organization to focus on. No longer was Ogden Pride just a festival planning group. They were now a community resource focusing on youth support and developing activities and programming.
The launch event ushered in a new logo as well. While many loved the train from the original logo, the board of directors felt a clean look would be much more sustainable. The original logo creator once again brought Ogden Pride the clean look they were going for. We will always love the train and it’s connections to Junction City.
August 4, 2018
The 4th annual festival theme was the results of the second annual community planning. An group of eager community members showed up once again to participate in the festival planning.
The theme coming from the increased attacks on the transgender and non-binary community. Vigilance in allyship was in high demand. The community could no longer stand back and be silent.
“Stand OUT, Speak UP”
August 4, 2019
The 5th annual festival theme came about as the nation and world was celebrating and honoring the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
Embracing our past, standing proud and Encouraging our movement forward, would Empower us as a community. The tie-dye theme throughout was a homage to the hippy movement of the 60’s.
“Embrace, Encourage, Empower”
August 1st & 2nd, 2020
The 6th annual festival theme came about as the nation was dealing with the affects of Covid and lock downs. Ogden Pride wanted to continue their work in the best way they could.
Embracing technology, the board of directors worked to provide a two day live virtual festival. They connected with community partners to bring resources and messages of support to the Ogden Pride community. They hosted live entertainment from across the country, and were able to reach a good amount of people, even with technology issues popping up, as they hosted from the basement of the festival directors home, while the board all joined in via Zoom and streaming services.
These videos are still available on their FB page.
“Don’t Mask Your Pride, but Please Wear a Mask”
August 7th, 2021
The 7th Annual festival brought us all back together after a long hard break from the world. The festival was able to bring in local talent, the largest vendor list to date, and close to 8,000 attended. We know that the community a big event like pride to connect once again.
This year also brought challenges for the first time with weather. Fitting for the theme, but the day went by without issue. The moment the Ogden Pride board and volunteer crew rolled the gate down on the rental trailer, the weather finally broke it’s pause for us and a downpour sent the remaining staff scramble to get out of the torrential down pour.
“The Bigger the Storm, the Brighter the Rainbow”
August 7th, 2022
The 8th Annual festival continued traditions with out local talent. However, we brought in a nationally recognized lesbian comedian, Suzanne Westenhoefer as our Mistress of Ceremonies.
Suzanne joined us on Saturday of the weekend for a comedy fundraiser. They day held the new tradition of bad weather, with a downpour all the way up to the last hour before gates opened.
She hosted all day with us on the main stage on Sunday, and had the crowd laughing in between amazing performances.
“SEE US.”
August 4th – 6th, 2023
The 9th Annual festival brought the opportunity for our youth to have a chance in the spot light, with our first ever Youth Talent Showcase and Dance on Friday of the weekend, with us shutting down the Ogden Amphitheater just to those under 20, so they had a safe space to celebrate. We kicked out the parents, who many stuck around in our parents corral outside the gate. Our awesome Dragon Dads were our security detail, keeping would be curious community at large out, so the kids could shout!
On that Saturday, we held a drag show and had a couple of big bands entertain us, in the first time we held a Saturday evening event in the Ogden Amphitheater. With our wonderful out-of-town Misters of Ceremonies from Arizona, Mr. Trans USA 2019/2021 Eddie Broadway and Mr. Phoenix Pride 2017 Kristofer Inez Onyx kept the crowd going and created some Utah fans for the boys.
They continued to entertain and woo the crowds through out the day that Sunday. We had an amazing support from our more than 15 festival sponsors, almost 150 vendors, and a crowd of over 7,000 throughout the weekends events.
“The Future is Inclusive”
August 2nd – 4th & 6th, 2024
The 10th Annual Anniversary Festival brought our first Ogden Pride Prom with almost 400 attending. It was a great evening with all ages, families, queer youth, queer young at heart, allies, and even people visiting the Monarch for art stroll got in on the fun.
We held our first two day of vendors on the amphitheater plaza, with our sponsors and VIP vendors joining us for a lively evening of drag entertainment.
Day 2 of the festival and our full list of vendors brought a long hot day, still with wonderful entertainment, many vendors, and lots of spirits holding community together.
Our Mister of Ceremonies, Landon Cider winner of Broulet Brother’s Dragula – Season 3 Super Monster, entertained the crowed with his dazzling ensemble and introduced a wonderful array of entertainment from bands to dance groups, to drag performances.
“Decade of Diversity | Celebrating 10 Years of Ogden Pride”