May 2nd-4th, 2025
Greater Damariscotta Area
As of February 3rd, 2025, individual youth registration for Rainbow Ball Weekend is NOW OPEN! Be sure to sign up before space runs out. And bookmark this webpage, as it will soon be updated with this year’s retreat schedule, workshop details, a campus map, and more important information to get you ready for the weekend.
The following link will take you to our camper registration portal, CampSite. There, your parent or legal guardian will be asked to create a free account if they don’t already have one, and you can register for Rainbow Ball Weekend 2025! Registration costs $75 per attendee, but scholarships are also available for folks who need assistance.
Please email kiana@outmaine.org with questions.
About Rainbow Ball Weekend
Looking for a reason to get dressed up, dance, perform your talents, or play some games, all while connecting with your peers?
Rainbow Ball is a weekend-long experience for LGBTQ+ youth to safely express themselves, ending with a queer prom!
Get outside with us and enjoy the views of the lake while making new friends through educational workshops, outdoor activities, art making, and more. Then strut your stuff on stage and show us what you got in our annual talent show! Pick a ‘fit from our glam boutique and join us for an LGBTQ+ safe prom as the highlight of the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
School/Youth Groups: transportation, chaperones, and more
Schools and youth groups will arrange their own transportation for students to and from the event, and will also provide adult chaperones who will attend the weekend alongside their students. Each school or youth group may send up to 2 adult chaperones. Chaperones do not pay a fee to attend because they are volunteering, but donations towards expenses or your students’ registration fees are welcomed!
Individuals: transportation and chaperones
What's the schedule for the weekend? (2025)
A more detailed schedule for 2025 including workshop options will be available soon. Below you’ll find a general outline that past Rainbow Ball Weekends have followed.
Friday
Afternoon and Evening – Arrive with whatever talent (music, poetry, dance, you name it!) you registered to perform OR your best audience attitude to cheer on your peers at the Talent Show created BY and FOR attending students.
Saturday
Morning and Afternoon – You’ll be moving between small group team building activities and various workshops. Past workshops have included anything from Queer Sex Ed to Creative Writing.
Evening – The event you’ve been waiting for: attend an LGBTQ+ friendly prom, with formal wear donated by friends and allies, free of charge! If you aren’t in the mood to dance the night away, you can head over to our quiet hangout room for some games, coloring, and other quiet activities.
Sunday
Morning – Fill up with a good breakfast before checking out and heading home from the weekend!
The History of Rainbow Ball Weekend
Started over 16 years ago, Rainbow Ball Weekend is more than just a one-off event. It’s a 3-day weekend of educational and social programming for 150+ Maine lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) and allied high school students. Rainbow Ball Weekend builds community and connections, opens youth to a wider world of acceptance and opportunity, and encourages educational aspirations.
Rainbow Ball Weekend’s programming and activities directly address the creative limitations, academic challenges, health risks, and other risk factors faced by many queer youth in Maine. Each workshop that is run by OUT Maine staff or volunteers follows at least one social and emotional learning (SEL) outcome.
Each year, youth look forward to this weekend, which includes a safe prom, workshops, and leadership skill-building. Rainbow Ball Weekend is a direct youth suicide prevention intervention, giving participants a lasting sense of community, hope, joy, and motivation to complete high school which is supported by ongoing regional youth events in the following months with OUT Maine.
“I found myself being completely carefree, and open about my sexuality. That’s something I’ve never been able to do before.”
– Rainbow Ball Weekend youth participant
Support Rainbow Ball Weekend!
Rainbow Ball Weekend is made possible by donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. Your support helps make this important retreat happen each year!
We also hold a clothing drive for the free pop-up boutique that is held on campus for youth during the weekend. Many teens get their prom outfits from the boutique. If you would like to donate clothes, accessories, or makeup (makeup must be unopened/unused), please email rachel@outmaine.org.
How Much Funding Do You Need?
The total cost for OUT Maine to put on Rainbow Ball Weekend every year is $60,000. In 2024, we received $13,400 in individual donations, $3,000 in sponsorships, and $6,200 in registration fees.
To help make the retreat accessible for all young people, we only ask for a $75 registration fee and offer full scholarships for those in need.
2025 Rainbow Ball Weekend Sponsors
Also, see our Gala sponsors! The 21+ fundraiser Rainbow Gala & Dance Party directly benefits Rainbow Ball Weekend.
Major Sponsors
Sponsors
Boutique
