EASTON, Pa. — A group of Christian protesters disrupted Lehigh Valley Pagan Pride Day on Saturday, repeatedly confronting attendees and reportedly directing warnings about Hell and repentance at both adults and children before police were called and the protesters were removed from the event.
Lehigh Valley Pagan Pride Day was held September 12 with a daylong program of religious observances, educational presentations, workshops and community activities. Presenters included Robert L. Schreiwer, founder of the Urglaawe tradition, who offered an introduction to Urglaawe, and Joe GhostFox LeVasseur of the Green Mountain Druidry Order, who presented on Druidry. The Coven of the Wooded Vale and the Order of Esoteric Knowledge led the event’s Mabon ritual.
Members of the Covenant of the Goddess were also on hand representing the national organization and the local council. Other programming included a session on Wiccan and Pagan prison ministry led by the Rev. Jamie Dana, a Bollywood dance class with Sophie of Henna Chakra, a presentation on Spiralheart Witchcamp and Soundspinning, community processions, author signings and vendors.
Vendors and authors also participated throughout the day.
The gathering included a charitable component. Organizers collected nonperishable food for Second Harvest Food Bank and later thanked attendees for their contributions.
Lehigh Valley Pagan Pride Day via Facebook.
The disruption began when a young person entered the event and began preaching to attendees, according to an eyewitness who spoke with The Wild Hunt. The individual reportedly told people that they were going to Hell, that what they were doing was wrong and that they needed to repent.
The eyewitness said the preaching was directed at children as well as adults.
Event security intervened and escorted the individual from the gathering.
Some time later, according to the eyewitness, the person returned accompanied by two other young people. One was equipped with a headset and microphone that amplified their voices.
The three began loudly preaching to people attending the event, again telling them they were going to Hell, condemning their religious practices and calling on them to repent and turn to Jesus, the eyewitness said. Children were again among those addressed.
Security personnel quickly responded, surrounding the protesters and moving them away from the main event and into the parking area.
Police were subsequently called to the scene. According to the eyewitness, officers dealt with the three individuals and had them removed from the event.
There were no reports provided to The Wild Hunt of physical violence during either confrontation. An eyewitness confirmed no physical violence.
Despite the disruption, organizers characterized the 2026 Lehigh Valley Pagan Pride Day as a success and focused their public comments afterward on the community that participated.
“Once again we are humbled and awed by the actions of our community,” Lehigh Valley Pagan Pride wrote in a post following the event.
Organizers thanked those who donated classes and workshops, vendors who brought “their wares and expertise,” patrons and community organizations representing different spiritual paths. They also thanked attendees for donations destined for Second Harvest Food Bank.
“You truly demonstrated the meaning of unity and the beauty of our peaceful spiritual practices,” organizers wrote.
Lehigh Valley Pagan Pride describes its annual gathering as an opportunity to bring together members of the region’s Pagan community and introduce visitors to its different religious and spiritual traditions. This year’s programming reflected that diversity, with representatives of several Pagan traditions participating alongside workshops, ritual and community service.
The event concluded with its scheduled closing procession at 5 p.m.
The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content.
To join a conversation on this post:
Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click “JOIN”. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit.