Our big list of Pride Month 2024 events in North Jersey

Since 1970, the month of June has been filled with marches, festivals and other events to honor LGBTQ+ identities for Pride Month.

And, while many still use Pride Month as an opportunity for activism for LGBTQ+ rights, it is also a time to celebrate resilience and the importance of being who you are. In North Jersey, there are flag-raising ceremonies, parades, festivals and more planned throughout June to celebrate the occasion.

North Jersey Pride Festival, Maplewood

At Memorial Park in Maplewood, the North Jersey Pride Festival will take place on June 9. Running from noon to 6 p.m., the celebration will feature live entertainment from both local and national talent as well as more than 100 vendors selling jewelry, art, crafts, clothing and more. There will also be a food court with local cooks and a rainbow kids zone filled with obstacle courses, giant slides and more.

Admission to the festival is free, and bracelets for the rainbow kids zone inflatables are $10 per child for all-day fun.

Go: Memorial Park, 580 Valley Street, Maplewood; northjerseypride.org/pride2024.

North Jersey Pride Run 5K, South Orange

The North Jersey Pride Run in South Orange is an event that brings the community together to raise month for North Jersey Pride, Inc. The event features 5K races for participants both over and under the age of 18, as well as a Kids' Race for those ages 3 to 9.

All races will begin and end at Grove Park in South Orange. Registration is $25 for 5K participants 18 and older, and $15 for 5K participants under 18, when purchased in advance — or $30 for both when purchased on race day. And, registration is $5 when purchased in advanced, or $10 on race day, for Kids' Race participants.

Go: Grove Road and S. Orange Avenue, South Orange; runsignup.com/race/NJ/SouthOrange/NorthJerseyPrideRun.

Here are some other Pride Month events taking place in North Jersey:

Bergen County

Fair Lawn

The Borough's Community Relations Advisory Committee presents :Fair Lawn Pride 2024: Celebrating Our Rainbow Past, Present, and Future" on June 9 at Borough Hall, 8-01 Fair Lawn Ave. at Parmelee Avenue. The rainbow flag raising and ceremony will be at 11 a.m., followed by the Pride block party from noon to 3 p.m. The block party will include a community fair and vendor bazaar, food and drinks for purchase, a DJ, live music, drag story hour, drag bingo, kids activities, an inflatable slide, and a rainbow family and friends meetup. For information, contact [email protected] or visit FairLawnInclusion on Facebook.

The George Frey Performing Arts Center, 10-10 20th St., will present "Big Gay Cabaret" at 7:30 p.m. June 21 and June 22. The co-directors are Jeff Parsons and Dave Toussas, and the musical director is Christopher Vehmas. Visit oldlibrarytheatre.com.

Fort Lee

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, the Fort Lee Pride event will be held at the Recreation Center. Hosted by Fort Lee High School's Prism Club, there will be vendors, arts and crafts, music and more.

Garfield

The 4th Annual Garfield Pride Celebration will be from noon to 4 p.m. June 15, 20th Century Field, 75 Elizabeth St,

Glen Rock

The Glen Rock Pride Committee will host the 8th Annual Pride in the Park on June 1 at Borough Hall. The flag raising will take place at noon, followed by the main event, from 1 to 4 p.m. Toast a drink in the rainbow lounge, sponsored by Stone and Rail (21+). Glen Rock Pride's mission is "to celebrate and promote awareness of our LGBTQIA+ community and allies with a flag raising ceremony, speakers, music, art, crafts, vendors, food and family fun!" Write to [email protected] with questions. Sponsored by the Borough of Glen Rock.

Leonia

Be proud out loud with the 4th Leonia Pride event, 5 to 8 p.m. June 8 at the Leonia Rec Center. Featuring drag queens, a DJ dance party, K-pop dancing and more. Everyone is welcome at this family-friendly event. Performances include the alt rock of Layns, dance music by DJ Bias, Spades dance crew and drag queens Harumy & Kay.

Mahwah

From 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, Mahwah Pride will take place at Commodore Perry Field. The event will include live music, speakers, a DJ, information booths, local food trucks and a family area.

Oakland

On Sunday, June 23, the Oakland Pride Festival will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. At this all-ages event, there will be appearances from local organizations, live music, arts and food.

The second annual Pride & Puppies event hosted by Southern Paws, will be held at Portobello's Banquets, 155 Ramapo Valley Road, on June 28. Doors open at 6 p.m. $80 admission, includes buffet style dinner, giveaways and prizes, swag bags, photo opportunities, access to the cash bar, 50/50, tricky tray, and a drag show starring The Amazing Kay Gorgeous & Her Dolls. This event was created to raise funds Southern Paws and provide a safe and welcoming environment for supporters, friends, family, animal welfare professionals, rescue partners, members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to celebrate Pride. Attendees must be at least 21 years old. Visit southernpawsinc.org for information.

Paramus

Bergen County will be hosting a series of Pride month celebrations in Paramus. On June 3, the Pride flag raising ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. Then, Pride at the Zoo will take place at the Bergen County Zoo on June 23.

The Valley Hospital Pride flag raising ceremony will be held outside the first floor lobby entrance, 10 to 11 a.m. June 6. Park at 611 Valley Health Plaza. The speaker will be Nathan Rodriguez of the Trans Equity Coalition.

Ramsey

June 1st, Saturday 6pm-8pm, The 6th Annual Ramsey Pride Ceremony will be from 6 to 8 p.m. June 1 on the front lawn of Ramsey High School, 256 E. Main St., with live music, speakers and food trucks.

River Edge

A Pride ceremony will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. June 1 at Veteran's Memorial Park on Continental Avenue.

Rutherford

On June 1, PRIDEFEST 2024 will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at Lincoln Park, 115 Highland Cross, Rutherford.

The theme of this year’s event is “The Power of Pride.” The event will feature vendor tables, food trucks, a beer garden and kids’ activities. There will be live entertainment with host Kimmy Sumony, DJ Dean Seda and several musical acts, including Tami Hart. The festival is co-hosted by the Rutherford Arts Council, a community-driven group created in 2019 to help foster and fund artistic endeavors in Rutherford youth and adults. Sponsors include Variance Films, BCB Bank and Skopos Hospitality Group. The park is located at Park Avenue and Highland Cross. For information, visit rutherfordpridealliance.org. Rutherford Pride Alliance was founded in 2018 and organized the first raising of the rainbow Pride Flag at Rutherford’s Borough Hall in June 2019, a tradition that has continued. The RPA was established to introduce LGBTQ+ community members to one another, on a social level, as well as to benefit all members of the community – whether LGBTQ+ identifying or not.

Teaneck

Gather with the community and hear from local officials as inclusion and acceptance are celebrated at the annual Pride flag raising, 1:30 p.m. June 2 at Votee Park.

Actor and producer David Drumgold brings a special Pride Month edition of his variety show to the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck, 7 to 8:30 p.m. June 22. "The David Drumgold Variety Show" hearkens back to the variety shows of the '60s and '70s with talent, cheer and the escapism of a good time, celebrating everything magical about art, and featuring comedy, drag, dance and musicians. Featured performers include the New York Metropolitan Opera soprano Brandie Inez Sutton, pianist Yosuhiko Fukuoka, and R&B/soul singer Diana Taylor. N95 or equivalent masks are required - a limited quantity will be available at the door. $10 suggested donation. RSVP via Eventbrite or call 201-836-3499. Those that cannot pay the suggested donation can call or write to [email protected] to make a free reservation.

Tenafly

Tenafly Pride Day will take place on Sunday, June 9. The event will kick off with a parade, starting at 1:30 p.m. on George Street. Then, there will be a flag raising ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Huyler Park, followed by a Party in the Park.

Westwood

The Borough's Pride Celebration will begin at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 50 Madison Ave., 3:30 p.m. June 9, where there will be sidewalk chalk for kids of all ages to draw colorful rainbows on the sidewalks. At 4, march to Borough Hall, after looping around the park a few times, for the Pride flag ceremony on the front steps at 4:30. Bring homemade signs and posters showing Pride.

Essex County

Maplewood

The MAPSO March for Equality will begin at Ricalton Square at 11 a.m. on June 2. Those participating in the march will make their way to the Maplewood Town Hall, where the town will hold its annual Pride flag raising ceremony.

Then, at noon, the Youth & Family Pride Picnic will be held at The Gazebo at Hillton Library in Maplewood. There will be games, activities and music until 3 p.m., and admission to the event is free.

The North Jersey Pride Festival 2024 will be from noon to 6 p.m. June 9 at Memorial Park, 580 Valley St., Maplewood. Admission is free for this all-day celebration of equality, community and love. The live stage will feature all family-friendly material. The vendor court will have more than 120 vendors selling jewelry, art, crafts, clothing and rainbow gear. Find local culinary artisans, baked goods, frozen treats and lemonade at the food court. The Rainbow Kids Zone will have inflatables for toddlers, challenging obstacle courses for older kids and giant slides for everyone ($10 per child for bracelets for inflatables, with a max of $20 per family). The interactive Kids Stage will feature a new show every hour on the hour. Bring a blanket or some beach chairs, spread out on the lawn, and enjoy a day of fun, family and celebration. Visit northjerseypride.org for information.

Millburn

The second annual Pride Celebration will be held at Millburn Public Library, Auditorium Room A, 200 Glen Ave., 2 to 4 p.m. June 8. This event - with activities, live music food and more - aims to celebrate and embrace the mental health and acceptance of youth in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond by providing access to local and regional outreach organizations, local businesses and library resources to deliver a clear message: "You are not alone, we are here for you."

Montclair

The Montclair Pride event will begin at June 8 in Downtown Montclair, Bloomfield and Fullerton avenues. This free event is hosted by Out Montclair. Help raise awareness and provide support for the township's LGBTQIA+ community. From noon to 6 p.m., there will be performances, culture, art, music, food and more. Then, the Street Dance Party with DJ Vito Fun will be from 6 to 9:30 p.m., and the official After Party with DJ Toni B NYC will be from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Alto on the rooftop of the MC Hotel.

The festival, presented by Audi Tristate Dealers, spans five blocks and will include more than nine hours of entertainment across three stages including MC Hotel’s Main Stage hosted by emcee Shi-Queeta-Lee and headlined by drag queen Peppermint; the Rainbow Reading Stage, emceed by Lady Keyante; and the Open Call Stage emceed by Mimi Sashimi. More than 190 vendors will offer a shopping experience while supporting local businesses, artisans, crafters and community organizations. There will also be three bars and a beer garden stocked with beer, wine, bubbly and cocktails, plus a giant monitor screening all the action from the Main Stage. A diverse array of food trucks and vendors will offer sweet and savory options. Jenny Henny will channel Taylor Swift with three sets.

Main Stage talent includes headliner Peppermint, Emcee Shi-Queeta-Lee, DJ Vito Fun, Suzi, She’s All That, Mariah Ayscue, Eddie Nicholas, She Ain’t Right, Jenny Henny, Joe Colwell, The Ordinary Kids’ Rocky Horror Revue, Amanda Is Tall, Pride Choir, Brandi Chavonne Massey, Daryl Stewart, the cast of Vanguard Theater’s Pippin and the School of Rock Montclair House Band.

The Family Zone, sponsored by Ikea, is a kid-friendly oasis with games, activities, the Rainbow Reading Stage featuring hourly Drag Story Time hosted by Lady Keyante, DJ No Requests spinning tunes and local talent performing. All families are invited to play, create, make friends, make memories.

Verona

Join the annual pride celebration and flag raising with the Township Council and Verona's Multicultural Inclusion & Accessibility Advisory Committee at 11 a.m. June 8. Spread the love and celebrate LGBTQ+ unity with music, activities, face painting and tasty treats. Show our support and embrace the diversity of the community.

West Orange

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., the Board of County Commissioners and the Office of LGBTQ Affairs invite the public to Family Pride Night at Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., 5:30 to 9:30 p.m June 15. $12. turtlebackzoo.com.

Morris County

Boonton

Boonton Rainbow Pride, a grassroots collaboration of Boonton residents and business owners with varying connections to the LGBTQIA+ community, will celebrate Boonton as a safe and supportive town from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 15 at Grace Lord Park, 121 W. Main St. Support the businesses on Main Street while celebrating the diverse community. The Boonton Elks Lodge will host the annual pride flag raising in front of the lodge at 11 a.m. Then, there will be speakers, performers, a town proclamation, D.J. and dancing, crafts, lawn games, a community rainbow art installation, nonprofit resources and a Raise Your Pride interactive flag display. The focus of Boonton Rainbow Pride is on education and community pride with a splash of fun and celebration. Visit boontonrainbowpride.com for information. The rain location is Boonton Elks Lodge.

Pequannock

The 2024 Pequannock Pride Fest will be held on June 1 at the Greenview Park lacrosse field. Running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the event will feature food trucks, local vendors, live entertainment and a kids area with arts and crafts.

Randolph

The Morris County Pride Festival, 1 to 7 p.m. June 22, will be at County College of Morris, 214 Center Grove Road, with all-day live entertainment, local vendors, a beer garden, a fun zone and more. The family-friendly event supports visibility and local LGBTQ+ programming and care. For information, contact 973-285-0006 or [email protected].

Passaic County

Clifton

The Pride flag raising will take place 11 a.m. to noon, June 15 at City Hall, 900 Clifton Ave.

Haledon

The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark, 83 Norwood St., invites the public to "Pride Night: A History & Poetry Celebration" at 6 p.m. June 12. This program is co-sponsored by Wayne for Change, an organization based in Wayne. The program features a presentation on queer history and culture, with a focus on poetry and the time of the 1913 Paterson Strike. Presenter Akira Albar-Kluck is an historian, activist and a founder of Wayne for Change. The presentation will be followed by Q-and-A, discussion, and an open mic for guests to recite a favorite poem, even one of their own. This program is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Little Falls

On June 6, Little Falls will be hosting their Pride Month flag raising ceremony at the Little Falls Town Hall on Main Street. Free to attend and held by both Little Falls Mayor James Damiano and the Township Council, the flag raising ceremony will begin at 6:15 p.m.

Passaic

The City's third annual Pride Event will include merchandise, drag queens, live DJs, food trucks, raffles and games, 4 to 8 p.m. June 15 at Christopher Columbus Park, 390 Paulison Ave. There will be five drag queen performances, headlined by Passaic’s own Harumy Doll, and a spotlight on local talent. Passaic Pride will also host supporting organizations such as the Latino Action Network Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Planned Parenthood and Garden State Equality. Visit linktr.ee/passaicpride for information and free tickets. Follow @lgbtpassaic on Instagram for program updates. Passaic Pride celebrates the intersectionality between Latinx and LGBTQ culture and communities, within a family-friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Wayne

UPDATE - THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED - Organized by the Pride Alliance of Passaic County, PrideFest 2024 — the first countywide pride event in Passaic County — will be held on the campus of William Paterson University on June 22. Special guests will include Robert Bannon, host of "The Roundtable"; Tony "Cannoli" Ardolino; and drag performer Harmonica Sunbeam.

Sussex County

Newton

The Sussex County Pride event will be in at 1 Brooks Plaza in downtown Newton, noon to 5 p.m. June 8.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Pride events in North Jersey throughout June 2024