PORTAGE | Members of the pagan religion found it especially meaningful to celebrate their faith surrounded by trees at Woodland Park.

"We're very nature-oriented," said Chesterton resident Patricia Riley-Churilla, a pagan since 1972. "We see nature as a symbol of our gods being with us, and we see the earth as a living organism."

Riley-Churilla was one of hundreds of local pagans who turned out Saturday for the annual Northwest Indiana Pagan Pride Day. The event, which draws pagans, followers of nature- or earth-centered, pre-Christian religions, featured vendors, information booths, workshops, children's events, a food drive to benefit the greater community and a harvest ritual.

"We want people of the pagan faith to come out and network, and we also hope that people who are unrelated to this spiritual path will come out and see that we're just regular people," said Riley-Churilla, who served as co-coordinator of the event.

The festival also featured classes on various topics including heathenism, tarot cards, astral projection, ghosts and pagan holidays.

Children's activities included a scavenger hunt, a "stuff-a-goddess" workshop, musical meditation and making God's Eyes with popsicle sticks and yarn.

Kele Ivey, of Griffith, who considers herself a "nondenominational pagan," volunteered at the children's activities table.

"It's good to see this many people (of the pagan faith) come together," she said. "We get to network and catch up with each other. It's a lot of fun."

Hammond resident Glen Karwick, priest of the Wolves Den coven, also enjoyed the day of fellowship.

"The main concept behind this day is to support one another," said Karwick, event co-coordinator. "We also try to help out the community with a food drive."

For more information about Pagan Pride Day, visit paganpride.org.