Queer Cleveland

The Fall Hayride, an annual Halloween-themed LGBT+ community event and fundraiser, was first held at Boyert’s Farm (7171 Wooster Pike, Medina) in 1986. Between 1986 and 2002, the event was sponsored by Cleveland Couples Together (formerly the Monotones), an LGBT+ social group. In its first year, the Fall Hayride featured “country and club-style dancing, a roaring bonfire, a hay maze…and hayrides throughout the evening.” In 1989, Cleveland Couples Together expanded the Fall Hayride’s offerings with the addition of “a DJ, [square dancing] demonstrations from the Cleveland City Country Dancers, and a photo booth.” Dancing, hayrides, bonfires, complimentary refreshments, and the opportunity to select a pick-your-own pumpkin were included in the price of admission to the event, though catered foods and various other goods were available for from Boyert’s Farm and outside vendors at an additional cost. Though the event had only 50 attendees in its first year, attendance swelled to 200 by 1991. The 1992 event “broke all attendance records,” resulting in some hopeful attendees being “turned away at the gate due to overwhelming response.” A limited number of 250 tickets were made available for advance-sale-only purchase the following year. In 1994, the newly-formed Rainbow Wranglers joined event to provide square dancing lessons and performances in the Boyert’s “large” barn alongside the City Country Dancers. Country and square dancing in the barn was followed by DJ’d electronic and dance music into the evening. In 2002, the Rainbow Wranglers took over the event from Cleveland Couples Together and continued to organize it in subsequent years. Proceeds from the annual event were used to fund Cleveland Couples Together and the Rainbow Wranglers, while excess profits were donated to Cleveland LGBT+ organizations.

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Additional information coming soon.

Resources

• “200 Attend This Year’s Hayride.” Gay People’s Chronicle. December 1991. Page 7.
• “300 Enjoy Crisp Autumn Night of Hay and Pumpkins.” Gay People’s Chronicle. December 18, 1992. Page 10.
• “Annual Fall Hayride is Set for October 19.” Gay People’s Chronicle. September 13, 1996. Page 11.
• Glassman, Anthony. “A Good ‘ol Barn Dance.” Gay People’s Chronicle. October 18, 2005. Page 1.
• Glassman, Anthony. “Barn Dancing.” Gay People’s Chronicle. October 26, 2007.
• Glassman, Anthony. “Hay is for Horses.” Gay People’s Chronicle. October 31, 2003. Page 3.
• Glassman, Anthony. “She’s Got a Ticket to Ride.” Gay People’s Chronicle. November 5, 2004. Page 5.
• “Hayride is this Sunday.” Gay People’s Chronicle. October 1, 1994. Page 3.
• Kukolec, Kevin J. “Monotones’ Hayride Comes Early This Year.” Gay People’s Chronicle. August 1, 1991.
• Kukolec, Kevin. “Roll, Roll, Roll in the Hay.” Gay People’s Chronicle. August 21, 1992. Page 8.
• Nelson, Leslie. “Tickets on Sale for Hayride.” Gay People’s Chronicle. September 1, 2006. Page 6.
• “Seventh Annual Fall Hayride is Set for October 30.” Gay People’s Chronicle. September 17, 1993. Page 9.
• “Tickets are Now on Sale for the Wranglers’ Fall Hayride.” Gay People’s Chronicle. September 30, 2005.

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1980s 1990s Mixed Gender Spaces Parades and Celebrations