Festival Info 2026

The festival will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at Canal Place in downtown Cumberland, MD. The festival will be from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. filled with music, drag performances, and unity in our community. Our march to the festival meets at the City Hall steps at 11am. We have limited vendors with priority for our LGBTQ+ members for booth/table space at this year’s celebration. Watch for other events to be announced leading up to the festival!

Parking

There are several parking garages downtown that offer free public parking on the weekends. Canal Place has a lot off Howard Street under I-68. There are more than 70 spaces that can be used for an unlimited time. There is no charge for using this lot. The is also close parking at the train station and is free on the weekends. The Center City Parking garage is on S George Street and just a few blocks from Canal Place. Cumberland Municipal Parking is also available off Frederick Street and is adjacent to city hall.

More on parking options at City of Cumberland website.

HEADLINER

becks!

is a queer singer-songwriter whose Appalachian roots ground their music to place, while pushing the envelope of what it means to 'belong' in the folk and old time scenes. Their family history of union organizing and three generations of 'card carrying communists' bring an edge to their live performances that ties in some of their more commercial catalogue with the history of the Appalachian region and their family's own resistances in the Ohio River Valley.

Sponsors

A large part of our festival is funded by our amazing sponsors! We are grateful for their support of Pride and our growing community.

Be sure to check out and support each sponsor.

OPENING ACT

Mark Robert Cash

is a genre-bending singer, songwriter, actor, and activist making waves in Nashville's evolving music scene. Originally from the rugged corridor of Western Mountain Maryland, Cash’s artistic identity is deeply anchored in his upbringing in Northern Appalachia. Growing up in a region where bluegrass, traditional country, and gospel form the cultural bedrock, he absorbed the rich storytelling traditions and resilient spirit of the Appalachian people. The juxtaposition of small-town traditionalism with his journey as a queer youth forged the fierce individuality and raw emotional honesty that define his compelling southern soul queer country sound—an authentic blend of country, R&B, pop, and gospel.

Before pivoting fully to music, Cash captured the public's attention on stage and screen. He spent three seasons acting on ABC’s hit drama series Nashville, worked alongside Billy Ray Cyrus on Still The King, and appeared in music videos for prominent artists like Ashley McBryde, Katy Nichole, and Big Daddy Weave. In a significant career milestone, Cash also shared the screen with his long-time idol, Dolly Parton.

Raised as a church kid who grew up singing gospel, Cash developed his performative edge as a live emcee before diving into songwriting without formal musical training. Pulling inspiration from iconic vocalists like Whitney Houston, Reba McEntire, and Kelly Clarkson, he channels heavy emotional depth into a modern, groove-laden alternative.

●       "Craving California" (2024): A summery, upbeat pop-country track written through the lens of heartbreak.

●       "Feelings Lie" (2025): A deeply personal anthem about outgrowing childhood friendships. The single earned features from the Academy of Country Music, Holler, and Rissi Palmer's Color Me Country Radio.

●       "From the Gutter" (2026): A powerful, soul-infused protest track and battle cry celebrating survival and pride.

As an openly queer artist, Cash uses his platform to champion individuality and grassroots change, regularly headlining central community events like Nashville Pride and Pride 615. His commitment to his adopted hometown shines through his work as the founder of Blankets on Broadway, a grassroots collective that has expanded from handing out blankets on lower Broadway into a city-wide effort providing food, clothing, and emergency tents to Nashville's unhoused population.