From parties to parades to picnics, you can celebrate Pride and show your support for the LGBTQ+ community in June. Now that the weather is warming up, there are more reasons than ever to get out and celebrate at these fun, family-friendly events.
June 1
Pride Kickoff Party
Montclair Art Museum, Montclair
This party starts a weekend of events to celebrate Pride.
June 1-10
Pride 2023
Montclair
Out Montclair will present 10 days of Pride events. June 1 is a Pride kickoff party at the Montclair Art Museum. June 2 is the Pride Ride in Canterbury Park. June 3 and 4 will be Workout Weekend all over town. Declan McKenna with special guests Oracle Sisters perform June 4 at the Wellmont Theater. A Pride Reception on the plaza will be June 8 at Wellmont Plaza. A Pride rally and flag raising is planned for June 9 at Watchung Plaza. The festivities conclude on June 10 with the Montclair Pride festival.
June 2
Pride Flag Raising Ceremony
Monument Hall, Princeton
You can watch as the LGBTQ+ Pride flag is raised in front of Monument H all, which is next to the Battle Monument.
First Friday
2 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick
The Arts Institute of Middlesex County will celebrate Pride, Black music history, Caribbean American Heritage Month and Juneteenth, all in one celebration. Come by for live music, free refreshments, face and body painting, caricatures and giveaways.
Pride Kickoff
Town Hall, Maplewood
There will be a flag raising, community art installation, entertainment and food.
June 3
Downtown Pride
Metuchen Town Plaza, Metuchen
“Love always wins.” The Metuchen Downtown Alliance and the Metuchen Human Relations Commission will plan a day of fun activities that will be all-inclusive.
“Agita” and “The Key”
The Jersey Shore Arts Center, Neptune
Maryann Maisano presents a screening of her award-winning LGBTQ short film “The Key”, followed by a performance of her one-woman play, “Agita.”
Pride Faire
Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta
Lunar Faire is a pop-up night market that celebrates the strange and unusual, the moon, and all the weird things people make and do. Attractions typically include curiosities, fire dancing, a potions lab, fortunes, crystal charging, group spellmaking, medium readings, a witch coven, music, matchmaking, wizardry, stilts and aerials, fairy hair and face painting, ukeleles, magical book exchange, drum circle and more. The theme tonight will be celebrating Pride.
Pride Fest
Greenview Park, Pequannock
Bring the kids to a fun-filled day of food and craft vendors, live music and family fun.
Rainbow Tie Dye Workshop
Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
In this class, you will learn the basics of tie dyeing and how to create your own unique rainbow shirt in honor of Pride Month. Choose from a variety of colors and patterns to create your own shirt to wear and take home. This is a family-friendly class that kids and adults can participate in.
Let’s Celebrate Pride
PJ’s Pancake House, Robbinsville
The event will include a short program of speakers from Robbinsville High School’s Genders and Sexualities Alliance, followed by music, celebration, and light food and beverages. The event is for all ages, but attendees must be 21 or older to drink. Pride attire is not required, but is encouraged.
The Pride at Peak Fashion Show
Peak Secondhand, Merchantville
Models will walk down the runway displaying the best in secondhand fashions.
Community Pride Picnic
Palmer Square, Princeton
Families will gather to celebrate inclusivity, tolerance and acceptance. There will be community partners from Princeton Public Library, McCarter Theatre Center, HiTOPS, YWCA Princeton, Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton Civil Rights Commission and Princeton Human Services.
June 4
Inclusive Pride Family Day
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York City
Families of all ages and experiences will learn all about LGBTQ+ figures in space exploration and the Navy, take part in hands-on art and storytelling activities, and explore the museum at their own pace with a scavenger hunt. A quiet room will be available to families who need to take a break. A social narrative, visual vocabulary and visual schedule will be sent to every family before the event.
June 5
Pride Drag Show
Vanguard Theater, Montclair
Harmonica Sunbeam is the host and star of this drag queen show.
June 6
Doughnuts and Drag
Rabble Rise Doughnuts, Montclair
Enjoy delicious donuts that are decorated with rainbow colors.
Famous LGBTQ Artists
Virtual, through the Woodbridge Library
Lecturer Suzanne Altman explores the lives, works and impact of famous LGBTQ artists in honor of Pride Month. Until recently, most of these artists had to conceal their true identities, but more contemporary figures like David Hockney, Bradford Delauney, Catherine Opie, Keith Haring and others have used their art as a tool for social and political change.
June 7
Big Pride Run
Montclair Brewery, Montclair
Fleet Feet of Montclair will host this run that the whole family can take part in.
June 8-9
HT Pride Parade and Events
Haddon Twp.
Due to Camden County’s declaration of a Code Red for Unhealthy Air due to smoke traveling from the wildfires in eastern Canada, Haddon Twp. and the Haddon Township Equality Initiate (HTEI) postponed their third annual HT Pride Parade and Pride + Progress Community Night; the dates are not yet announced.
June 10
Toms River Pride Festival
Washington Street, Toms River
The Toms River Pride Committee and Exit 82 Theatre Company invite the community to the fifth annual LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Ally, Two Spirit, Plus) Pride Festival where you can have some food, shop from vendors, watch performances and shop. Reps from B98.5 radio will be on site.
Pride and Community Day
Bordentown City
The meet up for the march will be at 2 pm at the Riverline. There will be a mass wedding before the march at Old City Hall (where there will be tarot card readings later on). The Community Fun Area is back at Bordentown Home for Funerals: there will be face painting, arts and crafts, a henna tattoo artist, a pet fashion contest, music and more. Fun times are planned all through town, including a Pride Party at HOB Taver with DJ Justintime, drink specials at Tindall Road Brewing Company and an event at Old Town Pub.
Montclair Pride 2023
Montclair
There will be six hours of entertainment catered to the whole family, including more than 100 local vendors. There will be three stages throughout the day, plus a street dance party at night.
Pride Fest in the Park
Huddy Park, Highlands
Pride Fest will include live music and entertainment, food vendors, specialty vendors and a wine and beer garden.
June 11
North Jersey Pride Festival
Memorial Park, Maplewood
All are invited to attend this all-day festival.
June 14
Pup Pride Parade
Sloan Street Parking Lot, South Orange
Pups can grab their owners, dress up and head to the South Orange Farmers Market for this parade filled with Pride. Sign them up for a chance to walk the red carpet and win some great prizes for the Most Sparkle, Most Creative & Best in Show. There will be giveaways, crafts and more.
June 16
Six Flags Pride Night
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
The celebration inside the theme park will feature guest deejays, live performances, a collection of Six Flags Pride merchandise and fireworks.
June 21
Contributions and Experiences of LGBTQ+ Service Members and Military Children
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York City
Veterans and family members will share stories of resilience, struggle and activism in the past and present during a panel discussion. You will learn about the evolution of the military’s policies and practices affecting LGBTQ+ service members as well as the new challenges service members and military children face today. ABC7 reporter Derick Waller will moderate the panel. Light refreshments and beverages will be served in the museum’s hangar deck.
June 23 and 24
“I Am Harvey Milk”
Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Princeton
As part of the Princeton Festival, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will perform two shows telling the story of Milk, the first openly gay man who was elected to public office in California, through music.
June 24
Pride Bingo
Wayne YMCA, Wayne
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday there is a King Queen Jester payout, but on this night there will be Pride themed activities.
June 25
SOPAC Celebrates Pride
SOPAC, South Orange
SOPAC’s first-ever drag show will feature over-the-top entertainment by drag queens from NJ, NY and Pennsylvania as part of its Cabaret in the Loft series.
Hub City Pride Brunch
Outside of the State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
Drag Queen Pissi Myles hosts an afternoon of a buffet brunch, prizes and more.
June 28
Pride & Puppies Drag Show
Pub 17 & Lounge, Ramsey
Serving as a fundraiser for Southern Paws Inc., the evening – for adults 18+ – includes a drag show, photos with the queens, a free drink, a dance party, swag bags and giveaways.
June 30
Family Pride Night
Turtle Back Zoo, South Orange
On an early summer night, see the animals with special enrichment and get to know the zoo’s amazing community partners. Food, drink and attractions are an additional purchase. Ride the train for free.
Here are more LGBT-friendly places in New Jersey you can visit.
Read more:
The Best Fairs and Festivals in June
Free Things to Do in June
North to Shore Festival is Coming to New Jersey
The Best Concerts in NJ This Summer