Pride Week Celebrations
The South Orange Performing Arts Center—in partnership with North Jersey Pride—will present its inaugural Pride weekend celebrating the LGBTQIA community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) starting June 9 with a series of shows starring LGBTQIA performers. Tik Tok Comedian and South Orange native Jessica Kirson kicks it all off on Friday the ninth. Soul singer Akenya will perform a concert, then host “The Night Before Pride Party” Saturday the tenth in the SOPAC loft with music by DJ Ryan The Person. Sunday June 11 means the Tony Awards so the main stage will be the setting for a big-screen viewing party.
For more information and tickets: SOPAC Pride Weekend
Out Montclair will present its free Montclair Pride celebration again June 1-10. Bloomfield Avenue—between Church and Park streets—will become one big block party with Tony Award-winning singer/actress Laura Benanti, actor/producer Patrick Wilson and his actress wife Dagmara Dominczyk, plus Broadway’s Kathryn Gallagher (who received raves for her appearance in Jagged Little Pill) and drag entertainer Rose from the television show RuPaul’s Drag Race. Other performers include sister singers Dane & Stephanie, singer-songwriter Lilli Lewis, The New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus and comedian Jaye McBride, all hosted by writer Judy Gold.
Out Montclair—a non-profit volunteer-run entity providing community support for LBGTQIA people in the area—issued a press release from Executive Director Peter Yacobellis. “I am encouraged that Out Montclair has grown stronger since its [2021] inception, with dedicated volunteers and leadership that seek equality and justice for [our] community. While other towns and stages battle discriminatory legislation, book bans, curriculum censorship and hateful words, Montclair shows what’s possible and necessary: a world where everyone is free, safe and celebrated for who we are…the antidote to DeSantis’s Florida. It is more important than ever that we come together to show our pride as people, allies, neighbors, friends and family.”
The first 10 days of June will be filled with dance parties in the street from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with music supplied by DJ Vito Fun. After-parties will be held at Porta Restaurant and other locations. Besides Main Stage action, the Bravitas Family Stage will feature talent of all ages. The Open Call Stage will host amateur talent with the theme of “Be You. Be Heard.” There will also be a pop-up skate park.
The Schedule
June 1
Free Launch Party at the Montclair Art Museum
June 2
Pride Ride hosted by Bike Walk Montclair
June 4
Pride Concert at the Wellmont Theater with Declan McKenna and The Oracle Sisters
June 5
Pride Drag Show at The Vanguard Theater
June 7
Pride Craft Party at the Montclair Public Library
Big Pride Run hosted by Fleet Feet Montclair at the Montclair Bewery (The Brewery will also be hosting “biergarten” on South Park Street.)
June 9
“Pride On The Page” will have story-time for families, hosted by Watchung Booksellers, at Watchung Plaza Park. This event will be followed by a rally and Progress Pride flag-raising.
For more information: outmontclair.org