Inaugural Poughkeepsie Pride Weekend to be Held June 7-9

Dutchess County Pride Center will hold its first Poughkeepsie Pride Weekend in support of the LGBTQ community June 7-9. The festivities will culminate Sunday with a parade and festival.

A Pride Celebration at Friday Fiesta, featuring poetry readings and live music, will be held at  from 5-10pm at the Earth, Wind, and Fuego Cafe in the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory. Saturday morning, proud participants will gather to paint the sidewalk with rainbows, then there will be two performances of "The Wizard of Oz" at the Bardavon Theater Saturday afternoon and evening.

Sunday’s parade will begin on Market Street in Poughkeepsie at 1pm and will continue down Main Street to Waryas Park, where a family-friendly festival featuring food vendors, live music, and information from community organizations will continue till 5pm.

Dutchess County Pride Center aims to improve the health, safety, and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth in Dutchess County by offering them a safe space to meet and socialize with each other, their families and allies.

Michael Dupree, vice chair of both the Dutchess County Democratic Committee and Dutchess Community College Board of Trustees, and Sarah Salem, City of Poughkeepsie Common Council member and director of development at Dutchess Outreach, are serving as parade grand marshals. The event is being supported by the City of Poughkeepsie and sponsored by Prime Print Shop, Chronogram magazine, Hudson Valley Primary Care, Holly McCabe, New Beginnings Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and others.

Individuals who want to march or volunteer, or companies/organizations interested in a table or booth at the festival, should visit www.dutchesspridecenter.org/poughkeepsie-pride-weekend.html or send an email to [email protected].