New Hope Pride Parade Set For May 19

The 15th Annual Pride Week festivities will kick off in New Hope on Sunday, May 12. The highlight of the festival — the annual Parade and Pride Fair — will be held Saturday, May 19.

Festivities, organized by New Hope Celebrates, will begin with the inaugural Pride 5K Run and 1 Mile Health Walk, hosted by NHC and the Delaware River Towns Chamber and Visitors Bureau. At noon, NHC will unfurl the official 25 ft. Rainbow Equality Flag atop the Delaware House building (the Starbucks on Bridge Street).

A diverse lineup of entertainment and events is scheduled for the entire week, and culminates with PrideFest weekend. “This is my favorite time of the year where the entire community shows up to celebrate and embrace diversity," former NHC President Sharon Fronabarger said.

The parade will begin Lambertville at 11:30 a.m., stepping off at City Hall, turning down Bridge Street and crossing over the bridge into New Hope.

A 100-foot-long Rainbow Equality Parade Flag will be on display. Parade participants include motorcycles, scooters, floats, decorated vehicles, marching bands such as New York’s Big Apple Corps, Philadelphia Freedom Band and DC Drummers, local businesses, several church groups, local nonprofit organizations and many more.

It is the only nationally-recognized Pride Parade that crosses state lines to include both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to organizers. The parade has grown in attendance from about 1,000 people the first year to almost 15,000 in 2017.

Some additional highlights from the week will include:

• The annual Pride Fair will be held on May 19 in the Logan Inn parking lot, and will feature many exciting vendors offering arts and crafts, Pride goods and local services. The Logan Inn will offer food and drinks. The Pride Fair Gates open at noon with a suggested donation of $5. Kids under 16 are free. The fair will feature live entertainers, including Chris Weaver as "Nedra Belle" as seen on The Voice Finale.
• The Raven, one of the event's main sponsors, will have dance parties with special DJs and piano sing-a-longs. There will also be a Sunday brunch on May 20 and a Pool Party closing event.
• Havana will once again sponsor the annual Ladies 2018 Pride Party with DJ Steven Singer on Sunday, May 20.
• There will be a Service for Justice at St. Philips.
• Gay-themed trivia is planned at Triumph Brewing Company.

Local bars and restaurants will participate in the Best Cocktail Contest. The local establishment will feature their specialty drinks from May 12 to 20; visitors can sample them and vote for their favorite. Go to www.bestcocktailcontest.com for a list of participants.

For more information on the festivities, visit www.newhopecelebrates.com.

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