2023 Pride Month events in the Hudson Valley

In New Paltz in 2004, the Green Party mayor caught a charge for marrying a couple dozen same-sex couples on the steps of Village Hall. The Westboro Baptists showed up to whine, and the New Paltz church congregations sang songs at them until they went away. It’s a song we have never ceased to sing and never will, because love is love, and love makes everything better.

Every year, Pride Month is a time for celebration and solidarity, but especially this year as anti-LGBTQ sentiment and legislation have surged across the country. Drag performances, crafting, tea dances, bangin’ music, insanely delicious drinks—you can find it all nearby. Celebrate our local LGBTQ community and culture with 2023’s round-up of Pride Month events in the Hudson Valley.

Thursday, June 1

Launch of Nine Pin Cider’s Seasonal Pride Cans
5-8pm. The party happens in Albany, but a portion of the sales of food and cider will benefit OutHudson.
Nine Pin Tasting Room, 929 Broadway, Albany

Family Pride Craft: Decorate a Western Hat!
5pm. Round up the fam and decorate your own straw hat with fringe, flowers, and ribbon. Suitable for all ages, no experience needed.
Hudson Area Library Community Room, 51 N. 5th Street, Hudson

Friday, June 2

Rainbow Flag Raising Ceremony
4pm. Presented by the Columbia County NY Legislature and OutHudson.
401 State Street, Hudson

Hudson Valley Pride Kickoff Party
5-10pm. DJ Prephab will spin the upstairs tap room, while DJ Jimmy Prada will be on the lower level and back lawn area. Sunset Cabaret performance by Key West’s live-singing diva Epiphany Get Paid. Prizes for best Pride picnic blanket and best Pride picnic table. Wood fired-pizzas and Smokin’ Grate BBQ Food Truck. Rain date June 16. 21 and over.
Angry Orchard Cider House, 2241 Albany Post Road, Walden

Saturday, June 3

Second Annual Stanford Pride
1-4pm. Everyone is invited to enjoy food and refreshments and connect with neighbors and friends. The event will feature an ice cream truck and activities for all.
Bangallworks, 97 Hunns Lake Road, Stanfordville

Columbia County 14th Annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade
2-4pm. The parade begins at 7th Street Park and will travel down Warren Street to Front and Promenade Hill.
Warren Street Park, Corner of Warren and 7th Street, Hudson

Cooper’s Daughter OutHudson All Day Happy Hour and Pizza Party
12-7pm. Drinks are $1 off with $1 donated to OutHudson.
Olde York Farm, 284 NY-23, Claverack

RECESS by The Hudson Eye OutHudson Pride Edition
3-6pm. “Fire, Ice, Naughty, Nice” patio celebration at Kitty’s co-hosted by the Hudson Eye, Mariano Testa, and Jonah Bokaer.
Kitty’s, 60 S. Front Street, Hudson

Main Street Mixer
6-9pm. Music, mocktails, beer, wine, and munchies.
The Courtyard at High Rock Home, 443 Main Street, Catskill

Poughkeepsie Pride Kickoff Party
6pm. Pride kickoff dance party, silent auction, and a drag show hosted by Ego Parties with Lola DeVille, Janine Extreme, Swisha Sweets, and Tabitha Phoenix.
Reason & Ruckus, 305 Main Street, Poughkeepsie

Vowel Movements
7pm. Cabaret meets classical in this subversive evening of song. Pretty Lamé and David Sytkowski explore the boundaries of genre (and good taste) for an evening of music encompassing grand arias all the way to Ariana Grande.
Hudson Hall, 327 Warren Street, Hudson

Lucia Fuschia’s Drag Extravaganza
7pm.
Lawrence Park, 260 Warren Street, Hudson

Catskills Roller Disco ’23
7-11pm. Groovy classic disco skate tracks, old schoolhouse jams, and jumpin’ rolling tunes by the queen of the decks Defected Records Anna Collecta! DJ sets from Eli of Soul Clap and Roller Disco founder and one half of Wolf + Lamb, Zev Eisenberg. Wristband includes afterparty at Stonehill’s Barn with Wolf + Lamb’s Baby Prince, House of Yes’s David Kiss, Sensay Shnay, and more.
Skate Time, 5164 Route 209, Accord

Julian Fleisher and His Rather Big Band
8pm. Iconic new-cabaret stylings (plus some special guests) to kick off the Park Theater’s summer concert series in style.
The Park Theater, 723 Warren Street, Hudson

Sunday, June 4

Hudson Valley Pride Coalition March and Festival
12-5pm. March steps off at New Paltz Middle School, followed by a festival in Hasbrouck Park.
New Paltz Middle School and Hasbrouck Park, New Paltz

OutHudson Closing Tea Dance and Drag Show
2pm. Hosted by Lucia Fuschia and presented by Bar Bene.
Bar Bene, 538 Warren Street, Hudson

Foreland Pride Lawn Party
4pm. Wood-fired pizza and frozen drinks by the Half Moon, music, lawn games, a bounce house for the kids, and more! Along with Pride celebrations, there will be an opening reception of Chris Bogia’s “Candle” and the launch of the Glass Bridge Series with an inaugural site-specific installation by fiber and textile artist Rachel B. Hayes.
Foreland, 111 Water Street, Catskill

OutLoud Hudson Valley Pride Tea Dance
4pm. Get ready to dance the night away with Hudson Valley native and New York City music sensation DJ Jimmy Prada, and an incredible sound and lighting setup by Superior Sounds. Key West’s live-singing diva Epiphany Get Paid will host Out Loud’s sunset cabaret on the deck overlooking the Hudson River. Open to all ages.
The Hudson House & Distillery, 1835 Route 9W, West Park

Thursday, June 8

Backroom at the Pansy Club Open Mic Poetry Readings
3-4:30pm. A senior meet-up group hosted by the Rainbow Lounge. Anyone over 50 is invited to read their original poems or very short stories.
Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, 300 Wall Street, Kingston

2023 Short Play Festival, Love is Love, The LGBTQ+ Plays
7:30pm performances on June 8, 9, and 10; 4pm on June 11. All original short plays that speak to different perspectives on LGBTQ+ issues and themes, plus short films from Queer Youth Animated, an original series produced by the Future Perfect Project, and the HUDSY original, Andramada.
Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Friday, June 9

Pride Youth Talent Show
5-8pm. No auditions or judging. Anyone can join in! To add your act, email programs@lgbtqcenter.org and include your name, pronouns, and a brief description of your talent. Friends and family are welcome.
Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, 300 Wall Street, Kingston

Saturday, June 10

Poughkeepsie Pride Parade and Festival
11am. Parade lineup at the intersection of Main and Market streets. Parade and festival at Waryas Park start at 12pm.
Intersection of Main and Market streets and Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie

Mountains of Pride
3-10pm. Celebration at the Andes Hotel hosted by Delaware County Pride.
Andes Hotel, 110 Main Street, Andes

OutLoud Hudson Valley Pride Tea Dance at The Academy
4pm. Get ready to dance the night away with Hudson Valley DJ duo PrePhab, and an incredible sound and lighting set-up by Superior Sounds.
The Academy, 33 Academy Street, Poughkeepsie

Queer Summer Nights 2023 Orchard Disco
6pm. Superior Sounds will be serving up the beats while the Bad Seed Cider Tap Room offers pizza and snacks from their food truck and locally brewed cider and other drinks from their on-site bar. All ages. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Bad Seed Cider Taproom, 43 Baileys Gap Road , Highland

Sunday, June 11

Rainbow Run with Fleet Feet
9am. Untimed 5K run/walk. 50 percent of all race fees and 100 percent of all donations will be given to the Dutchess Pride Center.
Sola Salon Studios, 1895 South Road/Route 9, Poughkeepsie

Youth Pride Paint and Create
1pm.
Dutchess County Pride Center, 710 South Drive, Hopewell Junction

Community = Love. Warwick Pride Day 2023
11am-4:30pm. Party starts at the Warwick Valley Community Center with free brunch, art, music, henna, support tables, fun, and community, followed by the Pride parade led by Funkrust Brass Band and the Pride Show at Stanley Deming Park hosted by drag darling Ms. Eve Starr and a sparkling line up of guest performers. The event is free, family-friendly, and all are welcome.
11 Hamilton Avenue and Stanley Deming Park, Warwick

Cornell Creative Arts Center Pride Month Celebration
Scheduling details TBA. Drag fashion show, Vogue workshops, and performances start June 14 and run through July 1. Visit Ccacny.org for more info.
Cornell Creative Arts Center, 129 Cornell Street, Kingston

Thursday, June 15

Discussion: History of Pride within the Gay Men’s Movement
5:30-7pm. With a queer eye toward keeping the Pride alive, the Mankind men’s group will continue its Pride celebration with a discussion of the history of Pride, particularly the Gay Men’s Movement as compared to the Lesbian Political Activist Movement, as well as the more recent Transgender Movement.
Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, 300 Wall Street, Kingston

Sherry Vine is Everybody’s Girl
Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm. International drag icon and “Sondheim of Drag” Sherry Vine returns with a brand new show stuffed full of her signature hilarious, naughty parodies, hysterical videos, gorgeous costumes, and more.
Revel 32, 32 Cannon Street, Poughkeepsie

Saturday, June 17

Annual Crosswalk Painting
7:30am.
Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, 300 Wall Street, Kingston

Pride 2023 BBQ
3-6pm. BBQ, music, and live entertainment, oh my! Come celebrate, eat, drink, and dance.
Forestburgh Playhouse, 39 Forestburgh Road, Forestburgh

Sunday, June 18

Sunday Pride Brunch
Performances at 11:30am and 2:30pm. Special guest host Cookie Doe will be the mistress of ceremonies for the day with her special guests Demi Gawdess and Noa Peele. Seating is limited.
Mama Roux, 96 Broadway, Newburgh

Thursday, June 22

Mix It Up: A Pride Month Mixer for Hudson Valley Community Services
6-9pm. Classic arcade games, bar finger foods, local brews, and an open-air courtyard. HVCS will be playing safer sex and harm reduction quiz games in the courtyard all night and giving away plenty of incentive items. Every quarter played in Happy Valley Arcade’s games will be donated to HVCS to support its queer health initiatives. Specialty “Rainbow Road” and “Blinky’s Revenge” cocktails created by Happy Valley’s mixologists will benefit programs, too. No cover, and everyone is welcome. (Kids 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult).
Happy Valley Arcade Bar, 296 Main Street, Beacon

Saturday, June 24

Peekskill Pride’s Third Annual Family Pride in the Park
1-6pm. Events include the ultimate Disney tribute band, “The Little Mermen,” along with “Christina Picciano & All My Friends,” drag queen story time, drag performances, pet photo contest, craft activities, vendors, games, and more.
Pugsley Park, 1036 Main Street, Peekskill

Fourth Annual Putnam Pride in Brewster Village
1pm. Gather at the old Town Hall and March to Wells Park. Speakers, vendors, and music to follow with Angel Elektra and Shay D’Pines.
Wells Park, 98 Oak Street, Brewster

This article appears in May 2023.