// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Jersey say to Pride? "You're a shore thing.
| Jersey Pride | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Pride parade and festival |
| Date | First Sunday in June |
| Location | Asbury Park, New Jersey |
| Inaugurated | 1991 |
| Organized by | Jersey Pride, Inc. |
Jersey Pride is the state of New Jersey's annual gay pride parade, festival and rally. It is held on the first Sunday in the month of June in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It is the largest and oldest pride celebration in the state.[a]
History and origins
[edit]The Jersey Pride parade originated in Asbury Park, where local businesses such as the Talking Bird Café and Sands Hotel played a role in fostering a sense of community for the gay population.[6] The café and hotel, managed by Ed Schau and his partner of 60 years, Carmen DiFilippantonio, were known as spaces where people of various ages and backgrounds could gather.[7]
In 1991, the city hosted its first pride parade, a short procession that passed by the Talking Bird Café and Sands Hotel. The event was a small tribute to the local LGBTQ+ community. With the return of the parade in 1992, Asbury Park became the site of the Jersey Pride Parade.
Event
[edit].jpg)
The Jersey Pride parade is always held on the first Sunday in June and typically takes a route spanning approximately 1.25 miles (2.01 km).[8] The parade begins at Asbury Park City Hall and proceeds south on Main Street. It turns left onto Cookman Avenue, left again onto Grand Avenue, and continues north on Grand to Sunset Avenue, where it ends at the festival grounds.
After the parade, the Jersey Pride Festival takes place on gated festival grounds between Sunset Lake and Convention Hall in Asbury Park, in Atlantic Square Park and Bradley Park (bordered by Ocean Ave to the east, Fifth Ave to the south, Webb St to the west and Sunset Ave to the north.[9]
The festival is a ticketed eventand typically features live music and performances, with local and national LGBTQ+ musicians, drag performers, and other entertainers. Food and drink vendors, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, and merchants are present.[10] The event is designed to be family-friendly, with activities for children, such as face painting and crafts.[11]
See also
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Jersey Pride Festival marks 33rd year in Asbury Park". News 12 New Jersey. June 2, 2025. Archived from the original on February 17, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
More than 27,000 people came out last year to kick off Pride Month at New Jersey's largest and oldest pride event.
- ↑ "Thousands gather for New Jersey's oldest Pride event in Asbury Park". News 12 New Jersey. June 2, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
A decades-old tradition brought thousands to the streets Sunday for the state's largest Pride celebration, featuring a parade, live entertainment, and booths for businesses and community groups.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Pride Events in New Jersey This June". New Jersey Monthly. June 11, 2025. Archived from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
"Jersey Pride Parade & Festival ... includes a parade, rally and festival" as part of Pride Month celebrations.
- ↑ "Asbury Park Pride Parade and Festival draws thousands". The Coaster. June 3, 2025. Archived from the original on June 22, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
The Pride Parade in Asbury Park ... stepped off Sunday on Main Street, with thousands attending the event as it moved along Main Street and ended up at the beachfront.
- ↑ "Jersey Pride Parade & Festival 2025". Out In Jersey. June 1, 2025. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
It is the largest and oldest LGBTQ Pride Celebration in the Garden State, with attendance exceeding 20,000 under normal circumstances.
- ↑ Watson, Spencer (June 4, 2024). "A history of LGBTQ Pride in New Jersey". Out In Jersey. Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ↑ Asbury Park: A Century of Change, Images of America, by Helen-Chantal Pike
- ↑ "The Parade". Archived from the original on 2025-05-24. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ↑ "Festival Grounds". Archived from the original on 2025-05-24. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ↑ Jordan, Chris. "Fletcher playing two Pride weekend shows at Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park". Asbury Park Press.
- ↑ "Where to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month in New Jersey in 2025". Jersey's Best. May 31, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
Asbury Park – Jersey Pride: Sunday, June 1, Parade at noon, festival and rally from noon to 7 p.m. rain or shine. The largest and oldest LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration in New Jersey returns for its 33rd year.