Central New York Pagan Pride Day returns to Long Branch Park for its 15th year Sept. 20. The festival, hosted by the Church of the Greenwood, celebrates the harvest holiday of Mabon, which coincides with the autumnal equinox.

Kurt Hohmann, co-coordinator of the festival, said Pagan Pride Day is a chance for Central New Yorkers — pagan and non-pagan alike — to come together and learn about the local pagan community, enjoy local eats and entertainment and give thanks to nature.

Hohmann said fall is a time for “returning gratitude to what comes out of the ground.” In that spirit, festivalgoers are encouraged to donate to the Food Bank of Central New York.

“Every time we receive something, we should be giving something in exchange,” Hohmann said.

Many religious practices fall under the umbrella of modern paganism, which is largely nature-based. Some pagans practice Wicca, worship Norse or Greek deities or revive pre-Christian and aboriginal religious beliefs.

Festivalgoers can browse local vendors or attend several workshops, such as “Ghosts, Hauntings and Paranormal Investigation,” “Children in Pagan Groups” or “In Search of the Ancestors,” led by special guests Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor-Grimassi. Grimassi is the author of numerous books on Wicca and witchcraft; his wife, Taylor-Grimassi, is an author and teacher as well. “In Search of the Ancestors” will explore the realm of the dead and what people can learn from their loved ones who have passed.

The festival has added more musical entertainment this year, including folk-fusion band Ashagal, the Renaissance-inspired Arethusa, fae rock songstress Jessica Star and alternative funk group Project Wendigo. The Madison County-based Adi Shakti World Fusion Bellydance troupe will perform as well.

Hohmann said one of his favorite components of Pagan Pride Day is the drum circle.

“Even if you don’t drum, it’s fun to dance. It’s fun … to tap your toes,” he said.

In addition to its purpose as a gathering for CNY pagans, Hohmann said Pagan Pride Day is a chance for Central New Yorkers to be exposed to a variety of pagan groups in the area. Each year, the festival welcomes a different group to lead the midday Mabon ritual. This year, Willow Hill Circle, a Wiccan group from Herkimer, will lead it. Syracuse University’s student pagan group, SPIRAL (Student Pagan Information, Relations and Learning), will open and close the day’s festivities.

Evangelism is not the goal for Pagan Pride Day.

“These are ordinary people with a different faith,” Hohmann said. “We’re not looking for anybody else to join. We’re just looking for acceptance.”

Pagan Pride Day will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Long Branch Park in Liverpool. Admission is free, but festival organizers encourage a donation of nonperishable food items for the Food Bank of Central New York. For a full schedule of events, visit cnyppd.org.