June is Pride Month and plenty of related events are slated around the Lower Hudson Valley region.
Pride festivals are expected to draw thousands to places like Yonkers, White Plains and Nyack. Smaller events also are slated around the region.
What is Pride Month and why is it in June?
Pride events occur worldwide in celebration of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) rights.
Pride Month is rooted in a riot when marginalized people fought back in the face of harassment and discrimination.
Pride commemorates the June 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City’s Greenwich Village. Police had repeatedly harassed patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a bar frequented by members of the LGBTQ+ community. After a raid, bar patrons and neighbors, fed up with police harassment, fought back. The protest lasted for six days.
In 2016, Stonewall National Monument in Greenwich Village was dedicated as the first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and history.
Stonewall was in the news again this year. In February, the Trump administration quietly removed the rainbow flag from the monument, causing national outrage.
National Parks Service told USA TODAY at the time that only the American flag and other authorized flags, with limited exceptions, are permitted on flagpoles managed by the agency.
In April, the Pride flag was quietly put back up at the historic monument.
Pride events in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam
These are some of the Pride events taking place this month.
2026 Westchester Pride: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, June 7, with an 11 a.m. flag-raising with County Executive Ken Jenkins and other elected officials. The event takes place on Court Street between Main and Martine in downtown White Plains. More information: theloftcenter.org/westchester-pride.
New Rochelle Pride: 2-7 p.m. Sunday, June 7 (rain date Saturday, June 13.) At Anderson Plaza, along Anderson Street between North Avenue and LeCount Place. Highlights: The theme is “Carnival.” Information: newrochellepride.com.
Yonkers Pride: 1-7 p.m., Saturday, June 13. Takes place at Main Street and Buena Vista Avenue, downtown Yonkers. Theme: “Bigger City, Bigger Pride!” Information: yonkerspride.org.
Putnam Pride: 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13. The rally and march will start at Putnam County Courthouse, 40 Gleneida Road, Carmel, followed by a celebration from 1-5 p.m. at Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park, 201 Gipsy Trail Road, Carmel. Information: putnampride.com.
Rockland County Pride Festival: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 14, downtown Nyack; parade starts at 11:15 a.m., up Broadway to Hezekiah Easter Veterans Park at Main and Cedar. Theme: “America 250: We the People means all of us.” Information: rocklandpridecenter.org.
Peekskill’s Family Pride in the Park: 2-6 p.m. Saturday, June 27. Information: peekskillpride.org
Know about a Pride Festival or related event that’s not on the list? Email Nancy Cutler at ncutler@lohud.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Pride events in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam this June
Reporting by Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
