Woodstock Pride Board Members
Anthony Alfaro
He/Him
Shane Fitzpatrick
They/Them
Alphonse Littlejohn
They/He
Melissa McMahon
She/Her
Brittney Stec
She/Her
Cris Squires
They/She
Our History
Our very first pride event called Kid’s Pride Fest laid the foundation for our organization’s existence. After the event we realized that we had started needed to become organized so we founded Woodstock Pride.
With the founding of the organization we also began our association with the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This partnership helps us to focus on our mission.
2018
2019
We held our very first annual Woodstock PrideFest! The events brought thousands of people to Woodstock to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.
As well as this event we hosted events to celebrate Coming out day, held a vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance. We also hosted a multitude of socials and educational events.
2020
A year that will go down in infamy, the year Covid-19 shut down the world. We were all effected deeply by the impact of the global pandemic, some more than others, due to this we were unable to host many of our popular events.
In lieu of our ever expanding Pridefest, we hosted our Pride Promenade, our answer to the parade of homes with an LGBTQIA+ spin!! Nothing will stop our self-celebration!
2021
In 2021 we welcomed back our traditional PrideFest with a parade and festival on the Woodstock Square as well as continue the now tradition of the Pride Promenade.
We were overjoyed to see the community come back out in support of the event and excited at the prospect of getting back to a new “normal”
2022
We are excited to be having a bigger and better PrideFest by expanding upon what we have all ready established.
The focus will also be on re-energizing and re-establishing our group with a focus on our mission and vision and expanding our services to the community.
2023
Even a little rain couldn’t keep us from enjoying a great PrideFest weekend.
Be a part of helping us build that future by getting involved and attending events!
2024
Grew to a seven-person Board, held our first annual Gayla , Became an independent 5013c, and doubled our membership.
2025
2025 was a landmark year for Woodstock Pride, defined by growth, visibility, and deepened community impact. The organization fresh into it’s official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status opened the Woodstock Pride community center—creating a dedicated, year-round space for connection, resources, programming, and support for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies across McHenry County.
Woodstock Pride also brought the powerful and deeply moving NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt to the community, offering a space for remembrance, education, and reflection on the lives lost to HIV/AIDS and the ongoing importance of awareness and compassion.
PrideFest 2025 marked another incredible success, drawing nearly 10,000 attendees to Woodstock over the course of the weekend. The event showcased the strength, joy, and unity of the community through inclusive, family-friendly celebrations on the Square.
Our Values
Community
We are dedicated to providing a safe space and creating a stronghold to uplift and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.
Empowerment
We strive to provide LGBTQIA+ community members will tools and resources that enable them to overcome barriers.
Stewardship
We hold ourselves accountable for maintaining transparency and open dialogue regarding all we do.
Integrity
We pledge to hold ourselves to the utmost sincerity and honesty.
Respect
We vow to respect all persons regardless of their identity.
Diversity
We embrace diversity and encourage everyone to participate and engage with us.