The month of June is all about pride, and Mercer County communities are holding a range of events and celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community.
Mercer County
The 2025 Mercer County Pride Flag Raising takes place at Mercer County Park Marina & Boathouse in West Windsor on Wednesday, June 4, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The Mercer County Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs offers a presentation titled “Bias, Prejudice, and Stereotypes” on Saturday, June 21, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Mercer County Office Park, 1440 Parkside Avenue, Ewing. The presenter is Dave D’Amico, chief investigator for the Middlesex County Department of Corrections. Contact LGBTQIA@mercercounty.org or 609-503-9895 for more information.
Mercer County hosts its inaugural Equity Gala on Saturday, June 28, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Social Profit Center at 1 North Johnston Avenue in Hamilton. Jeannine LaRue, senior vice president of the Kaufman Zita Group, will be honored. Performers at the event include Lady Celestina and DJ Boogie. Formal attire requested. Tickets are $95. Register via TicketLeap.
Pride in the Capital City
A range of Pride-related events are coming to the city of Trenton, starting on Thursday, June 5, with a Pride Happy Hour at Cooper’s Riverview from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. From there, it’s just a short walk over to the Trenton Thunder’s Pride Night game against the Williamsport Crosscutters. First pitch is at 7 p.m., and fireworks follow the game. For tickets, visit www.trentonthunder.com.
A Flag Raising takes place at Trenton City Hall on Friday, June 6, from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by a casual mixer at Tracey’s Kitchen, a counter-service soul food restaurant at 241 East Front Street.
The Trenton Pride Festival takes place Saturday, June 7, from noon to 7 p.m. in Mill Hill Park. The day begins at 11 a.m. with a solidarity march starting at the State House Annex, passing by Trenton City Hall, and ending at Mill Hill Park.
Opening ceremonies at noon are followed by live music, drag performances, DJ sets, dancing, and more. Food trucks, vendors, and artists will be on site. Free parking for the event is available in the Liberty Commons Garage at 16 East Front Street, and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs.
For more information, visit www.trentonpridecenter.org/trenton-pride.
New Jersey Young Democrats host a Pride Month Mixer at Cooper’s Riverview on Wednesday, June 11, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Connect with young Democrats across the state and celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQ community. Register via EventBrite for the free event.
Pride on the Plaza
“Pride on the Plaza,” a community disco dance party featuring live music, takes place Friday, June 6, from 7 to 10 p.m. on Hinds Plaza to kick off Pride Month in Princeton.
The event is the fifth annual celebration of LGBTQ Pride by the library and its community partners and the first to be presented in this format. “The Pride Picnic exceeded our expectations right from the beginning,” said adult program manager Janie Hermann, who has coordinated the event each year. “We know the dance party will also be a wonderful success and are looking forward to another year of celebrating Pride with our community.”
“Pride on the Plaza,” an all-ages event, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the disco era and features music by the EAMC Disco Funk Machine. Attendees are encouraged to wear clothing inspired by the era. The event will also feature an appearance by drag artist Divinity Banks, who will host a contest for best outfit in three categories: pride, disco era and disco/pride mashup.
“Pride on the Plaza” is co-presented by the library, the Municipality of Princeton, the Arts Council of Princeton, McCarter Theatre Center, HiTops and Princeton University’s Gender + Sexuality Resource Center.
In the event of rain, “Pride on the Plaza” will be moved to the Community Room.
PRIDEfest in Lawrence
Lawrence Township will host its first-ever PRIDEfest on Sunday, June 15, with a morning of events celebrating love, diversity and community spirit.
Organized by Lawrence Neighbors Together — a coalition of local individuals and organizations dedicated to respect, compassion and justice — the free festival will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the side parking lot of the Lawrence Shopping Center, near Burlington Coat Factory.
The day begins with the inaugural Pride Walk Run Roll, a three-mile event open to people of all abilities. Participants are encouraged to wear rainbow colors and festive attire. A group warm-up is scheduled for 8 a.m., followed by the race’s 8:30 a.m. start.
Throughout the morning, visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities, live entertainment, food and refreshments for purchase, and a variety of vendors and exhibitors.
“This is an opportunity for our community to come together in a demonstration of compassion and commitment to each of our neighbors,” said organizer Martha Friend.
“At the festival, after the Fun Run Walk & Roll, we have the added benefit of highlighting local businesses in the Lawrence Shopping Center and throughout Lawrence,” she said. “This festival will demonstrate why Lawrence Township is simply the best place to live.”
Lawrence PRIDEfest will take place at 2495 Brunswick Pike. For more information or to register for the Pride Walk Run Roll, visit Lawrence Neighbors Together on Facebook.
Parade & a Party
The Princeton Pride Parade and After-Party hosted by the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice takes place Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The parade starts at the municipal building at 400 Witherspoon Street and proceeds up the street and through the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood to the YMCA on Paul Robeson Place for the after-party. For more information visit www.rustincenter.org/pride.
Pride at PJ’s
The Allentown, West Windsor, and Robbinsville Democratic Clubs host a joint pride celebration on Saturday, June 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. at PJ’s Pancake House & Tavern at 17 Main Street, Robbinsville. Pride attire is encouraged but not required.
