Jacqueline Apicella
Director, Experience Montclair
NJTIA Board Member
From lively festivals and dance parties to art exhibits and bar crawls, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a longtime resident, a visitor, or simply looking to celebrate love and inclusion, North Jersey offers plenty of ways to get involved. 🏳️🌈✨
In Bloomfield, Pride is honored during the town’s popular Dinner Under the Stars on May 30th, when Washington Street transforms into a pedestrian-only outdoor dining space. Restaurants extend their seating into the street while live performances set the tone for a fun and festive night.
Pequannock joins the celebration on June 7th with PrideFest, a daytime event featuring music, food trucks, crafts, and resource tables for LGBTQ+ support and advocacy. That same day, Rutherford PrideFest will take place in Lincoln Park following a flag-raising ceremony. This family-friendly event includes live performances, a beer garden, food trucks, inflatables, and local artisan vendors—all promoting visibility and community inclusion.
Maplewood will host its annual North Jersey Pride Festival on June 8th, bringing families and allies together for a day of live entertainment, local vendors, and children’s activities.
On June 13, South Orange sets the stage for a night of dancing and celebration with Pride Under the Stars—a 21+ outdoor dance party at Spiotta Park, hosted by the fabulous drag queen Honey Marie and DJ Dirty Preston.
Then, on June 14, all eyes turn to Montclair for Montclair Pride—one of New Jersey’s largest Pride festivals. Hosted by Out Montclair, this all-day celebration draws over 27,000 attendees and features live music, live art, food vendors, family-friendly fun, and more. To make it all happen, Montclair shuts down Bloomfield Avenue—a major county road—transforming the heart of town into a walkable, colorful celebration of pride and community.
Leading up to the big day, don’t miss the Art for Pride exhibition (June 1–30), a creative collaboration with RIA and The Frame Shop of Montclair, showcasing powerful and inspiring work by local LGBTQ+ artists.
The celebrations keep rolling into June 21, when Boonton Rainbow Pride transforms Grace Lord Park into a joyful gathering with music, crafts, games, a rainbow art installation, and multiple flag-raising ceremonies. That same evening, Morristown turns up the energy with its Pride Bar Crawl—a 21+ event featuring live DJs, exclusive drink specials, and access to multiple venues around town.
Just a short ride away, West Orange joins in later in the month with Together With Pride on Thursday, June 26, from 5–8 PM. This youth-led event kicks off the town’s summer season with music, art, local vendors, food trucks, and a vibrant celebration of pride and community.
Heading further west, Randolph Pride wraps up the month with a three-day celebration from June 27–29. The main event, PrideFest, takes place on June 28 behind the Turner Free
Library, featuring live music, food trucks, a bounce house, and a community-focused worship service to close out the weekend.
Finally, the season wraps up with the Newark LGBTQ Pride Parade on July 14th, part of the city’s 20th annual Pride Festival. The parade kicks off at Lincoln Park and winds through downtown Newark, ending with a high-energy festival in Harriet Tubman Square that runs until 8 PM.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, North Jersey Pride Month offers a rich variety of events that honor the spirit of love, inclusion, and equality. Bring your flags, your friends, and your full selves—there’s a celebration waiting for you in every corner of North Jersey.
Photo credits:
Out Montclair – Montclair
Bloomfield Center Alliance – Bloomfield Dinner Under Stars
South Orange- South Orange Downtown
West Orange -Downtown West Orange BID
Ruherford- Rutherford Pride Alliance
Morristown- Pubcrawls.com
Newark- Newark Pride
Booton- Rainbow Pride
🗓️ KEY PRIDE EVENTS BY DATE:
📍 June 1–30 – Montclair RIAx Gallery
🖼️ Art for Pride
Gallery show celebrating LGBTQ+ artists.
📍 June 7 – Pequannock & Rutherford
🎶 PrideFest (Pequannock): Music, food trucks, crafts
🌳 Rutherford PrideFest: Live shows, beer garden, vendors
📍 June 8 – Maplewood North Jersey Pride
👨👩👧 Maplewood Pride Festival
Family-friendly fun with local vendors + entertainment
📍 June 13 – South Orange
💃 Pride Under the Stars (21+)
Outdoor dance party w/ drag & DJ
📍 June 14 – Montclair
🌈 Montclair Pride Festival
20,000 gather for music, food,shopping, live art
music performances on three main stages
📍 June 21 – Boonton & Morristown
🌳 Boonton Rainbow Pride: Crafts, games, rainbow art
🍹 Morristown Pride Bar Crawl (21+): Drink specials & DJs
📍 June 26 – West Orange (5–8 PM)
🎨 Together With Pride
Music, youth-led art, vendors, and food trucks
📍 June 27–29 – Randolph
🎡 Randolph Pride: Live music, food, bounce house
🕊️ Community worship closes the weekend
📍 July 14 – Newark
🏳️🌈 Newark LGBTQ Pride Parade
Parade + downtown festival in Harriet Tubman Square