Woodstock Pride opens 1st brick-and-mortar location to serve as community center, office and meeting space

Woodstock Pride has opened its first brick-and-mortar location inside the Woodstock Square Mall in downtown Woodstock.

The community organization previously met at other locations in town, including the train station, said Melissa McMahon, who sits on the Pride organization’s board and also is a City Council member.

She said the organization is excited about having a “home base.”

Some of the activities planned for the new hub include a lending library and pop-ups for things such as a clothing swap. Workshops previously at the Rec Center, including self-defense, will move into the new space, McMahon said.

Woodstock Pride hosted an open house, housewarming and effort to help furnish the new space Saturday. The hub’s name was also announced: Woodstock Pride Community Center, which McMahon said earlier was chosen by a membership vote.

The open house will allow people to see “what our footprint is,” McMahon said.

The group has an Amazon wishlist for items such as office supplies and cleaners it would like to have for the new site.

There also will be a “Wall of Pride” in the organization’s headquarters, which McMahon said is a twist on the traditional buy-a-brick fundraiser. People can buy a rainbow-colored “brick” that will go up inside the new space. Several families and businesses have bought bricks so far.

Woodstock Pride had a “milestone year” in 2024, McMahon said in March, when the group won Nonprofit of the Year at the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry awards gala. The group became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which enabled it to have greater reach in education, grants and resources, McMahon said.

In the acceptance speech, McMahon acknowledged the current political climate on LGBTQ issues, saying that supporting LGBTQ groups “can sometimes feel like a bold choice” and the award proved that chamber leadership and the Woodstock community believe in inclusion.

The group also doubled its membership in 2024, according to its website; there was a membership drive in the fall, McMahon said. The membership comes with a $25 fee and perks including being able to take the self-defense course for free. McMahon said the organization’s meetings are open to all, and the group didn’t want cost to be a barrier to participation.

Woodstock Pride has faced negativity over the years, including online comments. Last year, someone opposed the city’s Pride Month proclamation, and there was some back-and-forth from the speaker and those gathered to support the Pride proclamation when the City Council backed it.

While the organization is named Woodstock Pride, McMahon said it aims to “serve all of McHenry County.”

PrideFest is just around the corner in June, and banners advertising the event are up around the downtown area. This year’s festivities are scheduled for June 14 and 15, according to the Woodstock Pride website. The parade is scheduled to step off June 15 and will follow the same route as it did last year, McMahon said, noting that the parade takes place on Father’s Day.