11:00 AM – Sunday – LGBTQ+ Silver Social

Third Time’s the Charm
East Central Minnesota Pride to Host 2026 LGBTQ+ Silver Social for Seniors and Allies

Feb. 15, 2026 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Braham Event Center

BRAHAM, Minn.
East Central Minnesota Pride, the first rural Pride event in the nation, will host its third annual LGBTQ+ Silver Social from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Braham Event Center. The event, held in Braham, the Homemade Pie Capital of Minnesota, brings together LGBTQ+ seniors and allies from Pine, Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties for connection, community and conversation.

The event includes a free lunch served at 11:45 a.m., featuring pizza pies from Pizza Pub and homemade dessert pies in celebration of Braham’s pie tradition. Attendees can enjoy an afternoon of activities, including a pie walk, drag bingo, live music, a pie social and opportunities to meet with local vendors and organizations that support older adults.

Natalie Matthewson of the Central Minnesota Council on Aging will speak on issues affecting aging LGBTQ+ adults and their allies. Event organizer and East Central Minnesota Pride board member Val Mondor said the Silver Social has become a highlight for many in the region. “It’s community building at its finest,” Mondor said. “It’s inspirational, silly, fun, informative. We’re a demographic so susceptible to isolation; the Silver Social reconnects us with our kin.”

The event is funded in part by the Initiative Foundation, a regional organization dedicated to improving quality of life in Central Minnesota. More information is available at EastCentralMinnesotaPride.org. About East Central Minnesota Pride East Central Minnesota Pride promotes a supportive, inclusive and visible LGBTQ+ community in the region. Through events such as the Silver Social, the organization creates welcoming spaces where people of all ages can connect and celebrate their authentic selves