May 30
Celebrate Pride All Month Long in Dutchess County
READ TIME: 7 MIN. SPONSORED
June is Pride Month, and here in Dutchess County, the celebration lasts all month long – and beyond! Here's a look at some of the wonderful Pride Month events scheduled here in the heart of New York's beautiful Hudson Valley.
The Poughkeepsie Pride Parade and Festival returns Saturday, June 8, at 12 p.m. This annual parade marches down Market Street, onto Main Street and then to the festival at Victor C. Waryas Park on the Hudson River's edge.
BeckHook supports and celebrates the LGBTQ+ communities of Rhinebeck and Red Hook and has a wide selection of events engaging the unique attractions and businesses of northern Dutchess County. Saturday, June 8, head to the RhineCellar for the BeckHook Pride Kickoff Party. This adult-only event serves specialty Pride cocktails, local Hudson Valley craft beverages and more. The following day, Sunday, June 9, marks Rhinebeck Community Pride Day, where the village comes together to listen to live music, sample local food, shop for new looks and more.
The Children's "STEAM Pride" Event is a free program led by a drag performer at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum in Poughkeepsie. Come for educational demonstrations of science, performance, singing and fun activities. Sunday, June 9 at 1 p.m., right along the Poughkeepsie riverfront.
Hudson Valley Renegades host their Pride Baseball Game Tuesday, June 11, 6:35 p.m. at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls. "Baseball is for everyone" is the resounding theme of the night. Have major fun at this minor-league ballpark as the Renegades (a Class-A affiliate of the New York Yankees) compete against the rival Brooklyn Cyclones. Show up early for a free special T-shirt commemorating the occasion. Don't forget to sip local Dutchess draft beer from the Sloop Brewing Co. Beer Balcony.
On June 15, head to The Yard in Beacon for Family Pride from 1-5 p.m. followed by an adults-centric Queer Dance Party from 6-10 p.m. The Yard regularly fills their space "just off the Beacon path" with works from local artists – this weekend hosts a curated Queer Art Show. Stay for Sunday, June 16's market of indie toy makers, craft beer, specialty pizza and live comedy.
On Thursday, June 20, watch the Oscar-winning and industry-changing film "Moonlight" at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie. This historic venue is the perfect place to witness the power of cinema, and BardavonPresents offers this screening for free.
Discover the quaint Village of Red Hook on Saturday, June 22 at 10 a.m. during the Red Hook Pride Parade (hosted by BeckHook). Have food from Tarts & Bread in Amenia and Corner Counter in Red Hook while enjoying live music and other performances.
Summer renewal is here. Omega Institute for Holistic Studies has set June 28-30 as Queer Pride Weekend: A Celebration and Exploration of Queerness, Soul and Spirituality. Yuval Samburski and his husband, German Henry, lead the retreat that spans a summer weekend in nature. Explore activities and workshops aimed to facilitate a community of support and to celebrate identity. Take advantage of Omega's stunning campus that offers yoga and meditation sessions, kayaking, pickle ball, hiking and more.
The Rock Steady Farm PRIDE Celebration on June 29 invites all visitors to this charming farm in Millerton. Learn how to forage on a guided walk, take a plant essence-making workshop, use flower dyes for crafts and soak in the peace of nature in pastoral Dutchess County. Plus, a farm tour and live performance is included with registration.
Stay tuned for Pride in July, a celebration at one of the region's most bucolic apple orchards featuring live music, family-friendly activities, local treats and more (July 27, details coming soon!).
During the Dutchess County Fair in August, visit for Pride Night on Wednesday, August 21. The Dutchess County Fair is celebrating more than 170 years of summer fun; learn about Hudson Valley agriculture, meet adorable animals, eat classic fair fare (including local dairy milkshakes), tackle rides and catch thrilling live performances.
Queer and Trans Game Night runs every other Friday at 6 p.m. Play unique tabletop, board and card games at Megabrain Comics in Red Hook. Stay tuned for special events bringing in queer artists, writers and other professionals from the comic and graphic novel industry.
Visit www.dutchesstourism.com/lgbtq for travel inspiration and more Pride Month Events in Dutchess County, N.Y. Plus, check out footage from Pride in the Sky, the first-ever pride celebration at the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. It featured performances, the new LED color-changing lighting that lit the bridge in rainbow colors and the parading of a nearly 1,000-foot-long rainbow flag by 250+ volunteer flag marshals. In fact, this was a portion of the Key West flag, a 1.2-mile-long flag created in 2003 by Gilbert Baker – the designer of the original rainbow flag – to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the iconic community symbol. The inaugural event was hosted by Big Gay Hudson Valley, an online resource and events company for the LGBTQ+ community in New York's Mid-Hudson Valley, in partnership with the Friends of the Walkway and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, with support from Dutchess Tourism, Inc. and other local organizations. In addition, Big Gay Hudson Valley worked with Dutchess Tourism on queer travel guides for Dutchess County.
