Although Pride Month doesn’t start until June, Montclair Pride and Out Montclair are bringing the celebrations as early as March and ending in June with something special. The first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride Festival in downtown Montclair will happen on June 11th. Read on to find out more about all the events, the hosts, local and national talent involved, and more.
The Events
There are 10 events leading up to the festival, all involving local spots and programs. The happenings are as follows:
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Thursday, March 31st – A fundraiser for Montclair Pride called the “Spring Fling” to kick off the events
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Sunday, April 10th – Launch of Montclair Brewery and Out Montclair’s special Pride Beer
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Thursday, April 21st – Another fundraiser for Montclair Pride, the “Little Mermen” in concert
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Thursday, June 2nd – Official Montclair Pride Launch Party at the Montclair Art Museum
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Friday, June 3rd – The Rocky Horror Picture Show outdoor film and performance at Lackawanna Plaza in partnership with Montclair Film
Read More: LGBTQ-Owned Businesses to Support in Essex County
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Weekend of June 4th + 5th – Pride workouts at local Montclair fitness centers. If you own a gym or workout studio and want to participate, email peter.yacobellis@outmontclair.org
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Monday, June 6th – Drag Night at the Vanguard Theater. If you are a Queen, King or non-binary performer and want to be involved, email info@outmontclair.org
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Wednesday, June 8th – Montclair Pride Dine Around, a Pride-themed night out, with Out Montclair at local bars and restaurants. If you own a restaurant or bar and want to participate, email info@outmontclair.org
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Thursday, June 9th – Pride Stride running fundraiser – A running fundraiser for Montclair Pride
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Friday, June 10th – Pride flag raising at Church Street and Bloomfield Avenue, followed by an official Pride VIP party
Saturday, June 11th will mark the final monumental event, the Montclair Pride Festival. The two-stage event will last from 12PM – 6PM in downtown Montclair, including performances from Broadway stars, local and national singers, appearances from local dignitaries, an entire stage dedicated to family-friendly programming, and more. The big event of the day will be a Montclair Pride Concert at The Wellmont Theater. Specifics on the talent and events will be announced in the coming weeks.
About the Hosts
Out Montclair and Montclair Pride operate in conjunction with one another, and aim to raise awareness and provide support for the LGBTQIA+ community in the Montclair area. In addition to the upcoming events leading up to Pride Month, this nonprofit offers both educational and charitable affairs for everyone that identifies as LGBTQIA+. Out Montclair is known to be a safe space that allows its people to celebrate who they are.
See More: Resources for the LGBTQ+ Community in North Jersey
Stay updated with Out Montclair and the Montclair Pride Festival here, as well as on Instagram. If you are interested in being a sponsor or vendor at Pride click here, and if you want to become an Out Montclair donor, click here.
