Hear Us Roar: Parade Beams With Pride In New Hope-Lambertville

NEW HOPE, PA — The riverfront communities of Lambertville and New Hope roared with pride on Saturday as New Hope Celebrates pulled out all the stops for this year’s Pride Parade.

All along the parade route, which stepped off in New Jersey and ended in Pennsylvania, thousands of parade watchers and parade participants waved rainbow flags and cheered as bursts of confetti filled the air.

The energy level and enthusiasm was off the charts as young people carried a giant 100 foot by 100 foot Rainbow Equality Flag through the streets of Lambertville and across the bridge to New Hope filling the streets with a diversity of color.

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New York City’s Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

(Photos By Jeff Werner)

Cheerleaders formed human pyramids on Bridge Street prompting applause from the hundreds of onlookers filling the sidewalks. And a giant duck "waddled" its way across the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge making for quite a scene.

Local politicians joined the march including State Senator Steve Santarsiero, State Rep. Tim Brennan, State Rep. Brian Munroe and Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie along with members of the New Hope Borough Council, the Lambertville City Council and Solebury Township.

The New York City’s Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band and DC’s Different Drummers from the nation’s capital had everyone dancing in the streets and waving their flags.

Hair Couture at 52 North Union in Lambertville encouraged everyone to “Follow Your Yellow Brick Road.” Another float simply said, “Be You.”

Balloons with Flair filled the streets with balloon creations while other floats and marching groups represented the ACME Screening Room in Lambertville, the Atelier Shop in Lambertville, the Cub Room, Lilly, Merck, Capital Health, the Lambertville Human Rights Commission, and others.

The parade was part of this year’s PrideFest whose theme “Hear Us Roar” emphasizes the need to amplify LGBTQ+ voices and elevate queer art. The event formally introduced the new Miss NHC, Queen Diva Divine Monroe, and Mr. NHC, Sir Harold Angels.

The parade also featured New Hope Arts, PFLAG Bucks County, Music Mountain Theatre, the Free Library of New Hope-Solebury, the Bucks County Democrats, Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Unitarian Unversalist Church of Washington Crossing, the Unitd Christian Church of Levittown, Impact Signs, WPST, the Human Rights Campaign, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and many other groups, organizations and businesses.

The Cub Room float. (Photos by Jeff Werner)

(Photos by Jeff Werner)

Cheer Philadelphia.

The Lambertville Human Rights Commission.

(Photos by Jeff Werner)

(Photos by Jeff Werner)

New Hope Borough's new Chief of Police Kevin Edwards consults with a member of the fire police and a MIRT team member prior to the start of the parade. (photo by Jeff Werner)