New Jersey Pride’s 20th Annual LGBTI Pride Celebration will be held the first weekend in June in Asbury Park. The parade, rally and festival is on Sunday, but be sure to mark the entire weekend on your calendar – you won’t want to miss it. This year there are more than a half-dozen events being held on Friday and Saturday to fill your entire weekend with plenty of Gay Pride. Check the Out In Jersey events page for June for a detailed updated list daily as plans are finalized by each organization.
Can you believe Jersey Pride’s first celebration was held 20 years ago? What started out as a relatively modest event, has grown by leaps and bounds, and now draws tens of thousands to Asbury Park for this annual gay pride tradition.
The parade, rally, and festival take place from noon to 7 PM, rain or shine, on Sunday, June 5th. The parade begins at City Hall, goes up Cookman Avenue (past many of the gay-owned establishments in town), turns onto Grand Avenue and then Sunset Avenue and finishes at the festival grounds in Bradley and Atlantic Parks. The parade boasts rainbow balloons, motorcycles, colorful floats, decorated vehicles, marching bands, walkers, rollers, strollers, and plenty more. The parade will enter the festival grounds approximately 12:45 p.m. with a flurry of sights and sounds.
More than one hundred artisans, crafters, merchants, and community organizations, as well as about twenty food vendors will have goods, services, and information available at the festival. Families will enjoy games and rides in the “Family Zone”, sponsored by Prudential Financial.
The performance stage features stellar headline, regional, and local performers all afternoon after the parade. The emcee will be nationally known comedian Karen Williams. Williams is ferociously funny and is known for her quick repartee, insightful commentary and audience rapport. The performance stage will rock this year with Trina Hamlin, A. Salih, the Aster Pheonyx Project, Josh Zuckerman, Mama’s Black Sheep, Lori Michaels, Aiden Leslie, and Alyssa Ford. As well as a spectacular headline dance performance.
Jersey Pride is teaming up with with Seer Farms in Jackson earlier in the weekend. They will present “Pets Are Family Too” on Saturday, June 4th from noon to 3 pm. A Pet Promenade alongside the boardwalk will kick off at noon. Fabulously adorned pets and people will stroll down Ocean Avenue strutting their stuff. Prizes for best use of rainbow and most fabulous will be awarded. Pet oriented vendors and rescues will in Bradley Park at the end of the walk, where contest winners will be announced.
Other events over the Gay Pride weekend in Asbury Park include:
- Foreplay from noon to 6 pm on Saturday, June 4th, at Club Paradise, 101 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park sponsored by the New Jersey Leather community – with proceeds going to assist Jersey Pride Inc and several other charities. Please see www.4playnj.com for more information..
- A showing of the film, “God’s Square Mile” on Saturday, June 4 from 3:30 – 5:30 pm at Hotel Tides, hosted by the New Jersey Stonewall Democrats. The movie is about Ocean Grove and its decision not to allow Civil Unions to take place in the Boardwalk Pavillion a few years back. The event is free and there will be finger food and a drink ticket to all who attend and plenty of social time and special guests.
- Jersey Shore Qspot Pride Jubilee Dinner Dance starting at 7 pm. Tickets are $50 per-person. Visit http://www.jsqspot.org for more information.
- Christine Martucci will perform on Saturday Night at the Stone Pony. Doors open at 6 pm. Also performing will be Sinsanity and Virago. See Ticketmaster for advance tickets at $25, $30 at the door.
- The Miss Gay New Jersey Pageant will be held late into the evening at the Berkeley-Oceanfront Hotel. Tickets are available in advance and may also be be purchsed at the door.
There are several more events and party extras. So check our Out In Jersey news and events page for updates up to the minute.
This years lead commercial sponsor of Jersey Prides 20th Annual Parade, rally and festival is Bank of America. Out In Jersey is the media sponsor for Jersey Pride. For more information about the 20th Annual LGBTI Pride officail Celebration please visit www.jerseypride.org.
New Jersey Pride’s 20th Annual LGBTI Pride Celebration will be held the first weekend in June in Asbury Park. The parade, rally and festival is on Sunday, but be sure to mark the entire weekend on your calendar – you won’t want to miss it. This year there are more than a half-dozen events being held on Friday and Saturday to fill your entire weekend with plenty of Gay Pride. Check the Out In Jersey events page for June for a detailed updated list daily as plans are finalized by each organization.
