The Best Pride Events in New Jersey

June is a special month for the LGBTQ+ community. It's a time to celebrate the community's progress in fighting for equal rights. It's also a time to remind the rest of the world that LGBTQ+ members are people who deserve to live their lives in peace.

This year, some of the biggest pride events are taking place in New York, Los Angeles, and New Jersey. In this guide, we'll focus on pride events taking place in the Garden State.

But first, let's look at what to expect from some of these festivities:

Fun Activities like Casino Gaming

Pride marches aren't always about social justice issues. Sometimes members congregate to have fun at a zoo, nightclub, or casino. In the clubs, people share drinks, participate in trivia, and dance.

In the casinos, fans bond over slot machines, poker, or blackjack. To be clear, online gambling is legal in NJ. You don't have to visit Atlantic City if you just want to enjoy an after-party with your friends at home.
Read more information available online to find the best New Jersey online casinos. Also, learn about different games–choose card games so that everyone has a fair chance to play.

Pride Parades

Most LGBTQ+-related events taking place this June will involve marches aimed at championing members' rights. Some festivals feature short one-mile walks. Others involve long walks around the city.

Usually, members come dressed in their true selves–clothes, rainbow, flags, and other symbols that celebrate their sexuality. Although the community encourages attendees to walk these walks, they're not always compulsory.

Speeches

The main goal of celebrating the LGBTQ+ community conspicuously is to advocate for their rights. As a result, it's common for pride festivals to feature speeches by community leaders.

Speakers often talk about the progress the community has made or what should be done to make LGBTQ+ members feel included. Speakers range from celebrities and political leaders to local activists.

Food and Drinks

It's not an LGBTQ+ festival if doesn't involve delicious meals and drinks. It doesn't matter if it's a walk or a charity event. After every pride festival, members come together to bond over food. Usually, attendees buy meals from vendors directly instead of organizing cookouts.

With that said, below are the most anticipated LGBTQ+ events in New Jersey from June to August:

Princeton Pride–June 17

This year's Princeton Pride march is inspired by the family unit. So, tell your friends and family to show up at Witherspoon Street, Princeton on June 17. The event's organizers expect thousands of people to show up from 11 am.

The social justice walk will take no longer than three hours. After that, the after-party will start at 12.30pm and end at 5pm. For clarity, the after-party will be held at the Princeton Family YMCA.

To spice up the event, the fine folks at Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice are inviting Alan Muraoka and Gavin Grimm to act as Grand Marshals. For the uninitiated, Alan stars in Sesame Street. He also stars in his show–Hooper's Store. Gavin is a young transgender activist.

Atlantic City Pride Festival–June 17

Atlantic City is planning a weeklong pride festival starting June 13. The first day of the week will see pride members congregate at the Anchor Rock Club for an electrifying evening starring DJ Skyline.

The main walk will take place on June 17 starting at one in the afternoon. The event will be graced by food and drink vendors. It will also feature games and other fun activities for the members.

Pride at the Zoo–July 8

Many Pride events take place inside clubs or on the streets. On July 8, LGBTQ+ members in Bergen County will elevate their pride a notch higher with an event held at the Bergen County Zoological Park.

The event's main agenda is to celebrate the LGBTQ+ family in Bergen County. Members will meet to share food, drinks and do fun activities from 11.30 am to five in the afternoon.

South Jersey Gay Pride–September 10

Although June is packed with pride events, it's not the only time to celebrate your pride. Rochelle Johnson and Damon Strothers will host the event starting 12 noon to 6pm.

To be clear, this will be a family-friendly celebration of queer people in New Jersey. Members can bring their kids, friends, and family members. Rochelle and her team are also asking the community to carry blankets and chairs because they will meet at Cooper River Park–AKA the Victims of Terrorism Site.

Pride March & After Party–June 23

LGBTQIA members in Cape May County are all about unity. Later this month, the community will congregate at the May Convention Hall before starting a March for social justice.

Alexia Love, a Miss America pageant winner, will host the gathering and later lead the march starting at six in the evening. In the usual style, community leaders will host speeches related to the progress made in achieving equal rights for the Cape May LGBTQ+ community.
Beyond speeches, this event will include a trivia section for team building. That said, the organizers are asking members to express themselves as much as possible–rainbows signs, flags, and anything else that shows their pride.

Jersey City LGBTQ+ Pride Festival–August 26

Jersey City has been holding a pride festival every year since 2000. This year's celebration will welcome everyone who identifies with the LGBTQ+ family at Newark Avenue.

The organizers of this festival will promote it throughout August in the hopes that it can attract thousands of attendees from all over the country. Last year, the event's 21st anniversary attracted 20,000 fans, some of whom hailed from Pennsylvania and New York.

Your Turn

June is packed with LGBTQ+ events. If you have free time, you can attend a pride festivity almost every day of the month. However, keep in mind that pride doesn't end this month.

There will be more marches in July, August, and the remaining months of the year. Make a point to attend one or more of these events to support the community.