Westchester Pride Month Celebrations
June 1st marks the beginning of Pride Month, and we are excited to begin celebrating in Westchester. The first Pride march in New York City occurred on June 28th, 1970, to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising. The march aimed to unite the LGBTQ+ community to commemorate the Christopher Street Uprisings and protest against various forms of discrimination and abuse. According to the Library of Congress, the first march in the city was estimated to have had about five thousand marchers who attended, and this historic event is one that we continue to celebrate and show our pride in. Today, millions of New Yorkers and visitors travel to attend New York City’s Pride march in June to honor Pride month.
The celebration has rightfully become recognized worldwide, and many places hold their own celebrations so that locals can show their pride close to home and the representation that exists everywhere. In Westchester, we are fortunate to have several celebrations throughout the county, each a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and acceptance. This year’s list of events is extensive, and we have everything you need to know to celebrate Pride Month throughout Westchester this June.
Be sure to check out Westchester’s Summer Festivals and Celebrations.
LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Raising
Join the Westchester County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, County Executive George Latimer, and the Westchester County Board of Legislators for Westchester County’s 2024 LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Raising on Sunday, June 2nd at 11:30 a.m. The event will take place at the Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains, N.Y. 10601.
2024 Westchester Pride Hosted by The Loft
Following the flag-raising, the Westchester Pride festivities kick off with a march down Court Street. Hosted by The LOFT, Westchester Pride will take place on Sunday, June 2nd, from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., on Court Street between Martine and Main and at Renaissance Plaza in downtown White Plains, NY. This event is open to all, free of charge. The festival will feature a variety of vendors, a concert stage, and special events. After the festival, join the LOFT for an after-party at Ron Blacks Beer Hall from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. This event will also offer confidential and free health screenings onsite, an excellent resource for all residents of Westchester.
Beacon Pride
Hosted by the Queer Family Network, Beacon Pride will be taking place on June 1st. QFam started as a free training session for parents of LGBTQ+ kids and has since grown into a network of organizers, families, and caregivers in the Mid-Hudson Valley, NY, working to create a more affirming and accepting community for all youth. They partner with local LGBTQ+ organizations and allies to provide free and accessible programs, training, and events for families. This year’s Beacon Pride will be a day full of fun, with a Queer Liberation March, Community Care, Family Pride, and ending with a Queer Dance Party. Bring out the entire family for this fun-filled free event in Beacon this June.
2024 Rye Pride Celebration
Head to Rye for the Fourth Annual Pride Month Celebration hosted by The Town of Rye, Rye Town Park, and pRYEde on June 1st at Rye Town Park. The day will be packed with art, music, activities, a parade, and a beach after-party. Events include a Popup Art Fair and Pride Fair from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the South Pavilion and North Pavilion. The Flag Raising will happen at 6:00 p.m. at the Rye Town Park Flag Pole, followed by a parade at 6:30 p.m. from the Rye Town Park Boardwalk to the North Gate. An after-party will kick off at 7:00 p.m. at the Rye Town Park North Gate, Barley Beach House. Registration is required for the after-party.
Peekskill’s Got Pride Color Run
Join Run PB and Peekskill Pride for the Peekskill’s Got Pride Color Run on June 1st. This 5K Fun Run celebrates Pride Month with color stations every 1km, so be sure to wear white to finish showing your colorful pride. The run kicks off at 10:00 a.m. along the Peekskill waterfront. Participants get a themed t-shirt (if registered before 5/18) and a drink at the end. The top three male and female finishers will receive prizes. Packet pickup starts at 9:00 a.m. at The Central.
Pound Ridge Color Run
The Pound Ridge Color Run is hosted by the Pound Ridge Partnership in collaboration with the Human Rights Advisory Committee. The town’s only 5K Road Race & Fun Run is dedicated to celebrating Pride Month with a splash of Holi-inspired color. Every year, hundreds of runners and walkers from all over the tri-state area join in to honor our LGBTQ+ community. The event welcomes families and participants of all ages and abilities, including kids in strollers. Join the 3rd Annual Color Run on Sunday, June 2nd, 2024, and lace up for a great cause.
Ossining LGBTQ+ Flag Raising
On Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, at 4:00 PM, the Ossining LGBTQ+ Alliance, in collaboration with the Village of Ossining, will raise the Pride Flag at Market Square, Ossining. All are invited to attend this event, which provides an opportunity to reflect, honor, and amplify the voices of the LGBTQ+ community, both past and present, and those of the future.
LGBTQ+ Listening Library
On Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., an interactive LGBTQ+ Listening Library will be hosted at Bethany Arts Community in collaboration with The Ossining LGBTQ Alliance from June 1st to July 31st. Families will have the opportunity to explore the legacy of queer musicians through vinyl, CDs, and cassettes. The opening celebration will take place on June 5th. Organizers are inviting queer musicians, record stores, labels, and music enthusiasts to contribute vinyl, cassettes, or CDs featuring LGBTQ+ artists from any era to be a part of this immersive journey.
Hastings-on Hudson: Friday Night Pride
The community of Hastings is coming together to celebrate on Friday, June 7th. From 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Warburton Ave. will be closed to traffic for Friday Night Pride. The festivities begin with a pre-event at Good Witch from 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., featuring family banner-making and a march to Warburton at 5:45 p.m. led by the Brass Queens. The main event at VFW Plaza will include a live concert with a massive lineup of incredible musicians, dancers, performers, and more.
There will also be free, family-friendly activities such as a giant rainbow slide, face painting, spray paint art, kids’ craft activities, dancing, community quiltmaking, a scavenger hunt, temporary tattoos, and games. Plenty of vendors will also be offering delicious food, rainbow cookie decorating, LGBTQ+ books for all ages, rainbow swag, and tons more.
Yonkers Pride
Yonkers Pride festivities will begin with the Yonkers Flag raising on June 7th, a Kick-Off Party on the same day, and a massive Yonkers Pride Festival on June 8th. It will be a weekend full of Pride. The Yonkers Pride Festival is organized by the City of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano’s LGBTQ Advisory Board, the Yonkers Pride Planning Committee, and the Downtown Yonkers Business Improvement District.
New Rochelle Pride
New Rochelle will begin its festivities on June 5th, with a Pride month gala held at The Rotunda Gallery at City Hall. The festivities will continue with a Pride festival on June 8th, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Families can find carnival games, food trucks, live music, vendors, and more at Ruby Dee Park, Lawton Street, New Rochelle.
Tarrytown Pride
Families are invited to celebrate Open Streets Tarrytown Pride on June 9th from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will feature live music, street dining, and activities for all ages. Residents can meet local LGBTQ+ organizations and vendors, take a selfie under the giant rainbow, and leave a note on the Love is Love tree. It’s an excellent opportunity to enjoy shopping, dining, and strolling the streets with the entire family.
Pride Flag Raising Ceremony
The Town of New Castle LGBTQ+ Committee invites everyone to the New Castle Pride Flag Raising Ceremony. Following the ceremony, a children’s art program, co-sponsored by the Chappaqua Library, will take place on the 1st floor of Town Hall.
Pride Celebration at the Jewish Community Center Mid-Westchester
This event celebrates Pride with a colorful, family-friendly afternoon of unity and togetherness. Families can enjoy activities such as braiding rainbow challah, making unique crafts, and partaking in music, games, and rainbow refreshments. Rakhel Silverman-Gitin from Keshet will lead a discussion with author Jeff Bender about his book “Apparel Has No Gender.” Amram Altzman, Keshet’s Associate Director of Youth Programs, will also explore the meaning of allyship with teens and tweens. People of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and identities are welcome to join the fun, and wearing rainbow-colored clothes and accessories is encouraged.
Westchester Children’s Musem
Head to the Westchester Children’s Museum on Saturday and Sunday, June 22nd and 23rd, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for various colorful activities. The museum will offer Prism Power, Spectrum Squishy Circuits, Soap Bubble Shapes, Rainbow Weaving, Painting Number Bond Rainbows, and Progress Pride Flag Puzzles for children all weekend.
4th Annual Lewisboro Pride in The Park
Pride in the Park is at Lewisboro Town Park on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024. The event includes Drag Queen Storytime, Pet Pride Parade, Flag Ceremony with guest Mondaire Jones, and a performance by Drag Queen CICATRIX. Food trucks and ArtsWestchester’s ArtMobile will also be featured.
Peekskill Pride in The Park
Head to Pugsley Park in Peekskill, NY, on June 29th, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., for a fun Saturday in the park. The event will feature performances by Cacophony Daniels and Evita Loca, along with crafts, games, music, vendors, a drag queen story time, and opportunities for pet photos.
Yorktown Pride
The 4th annual Yorktown Pride event is set to take place on Saturday, June 29th. Yorktown Pride will be hosted by Yorktown For Justice. This local grassroots nonprofit organization seeks to aid and uplift every Yorktown community member to work collaboratively toward equity and justice through education, advocacy, and activism. The day will begin with a march through the town and a family-friendly festival at Railroad Park from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. The festival will include live performances, vendors, and community organizations. The Pride March will commence at 1:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to celebrate love and diversity at Yorktown Pride.
Tuckahoe Pride
Tuckahoe! It’s time to head out, show your Pride, and support your LGBTQIA+ community for the first-ever Pride celebration in Tuckahoe. This event is brought to residents by Tuckahoe NY Pride, a nonprofit organization in Westchester that aims to “create a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary and gender fluid individuals to help them live their full truth.” Families are invited to participate in this historic event on June 23rd from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Tuckahoe Community Center. There will be various performances, music, ArtsWestchester ArtsMobile will join with family-friendly arts and crafts activities, and Eastchester restaurants and businesses will also be participating by sponsoring vendor tables at the event and donating products and services for a raffle. The first Pride celebration is a monumental event for the village of Tuckahoe and can’t be missed. Bring the entire family and show your support as allies or your Pride during this beautiful month. All are welcome.
White Plains Library Pride Events for Children
The upcoming library events include an all-day Arts and Crafts event for grades K-3 on June 1st, 2024, and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month celebration for grades 3-6 on June 17th, 2024, and a Special Author Storytime for ages 2-6 on June 22nd, 2024. Each event offers unique activities and experiences for different age groups. Head to the White Plains Library calendar for details on all upcoming events.
Head out with the entire family to enjoy Pride Month this June!
