Hamilton Pride 2026

Hamilton, OH - Amazing what a few pipe cleaners become with some imagination.

Nearly 350 people made free headband crafts at the Fitton Center tent during the sixth annual Hamilton Pride festival June 6 at Marcum Park.

Guests of all ages affixed multicolored pipe cleaners, beads, pompoms and sheer fabric squares to plain black headbands to create a dazzling array of innovative headwear.

Some went for depth, others for altitude. Still others didn't make headbands at all and turned the materials at hand into wristbands, necklaces and even a stand-alone pink spider.

One did serious structural engineering work to build a stand - amidst the rainbow pompoms that went ear to ear - to hold a pride flag in place at the center of the headband. Another added a light-blue fabric square that flipped back and forth to serve as both veil and train.

Pride marked the unofficial start of summer for the Fitton Center Community Engagement team. They'll be making FREE crafts with guests at number of area events all summer, including the 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 13, for the West Chester Juneteenth celebration in The Square at Union Center and the return of Liberty Township's Creative Arts in the Park program from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 18, at Fort Liberty Playland.

We'll see you out in the community soon!