Don’t miss the Pride parade!

Patchogue’s Second annual Pride parade is scheduled for this Sunday, June 9 at noon. The parade will run down Main Street from Route 112 west towards Blue Point.

Over 50 marching units are expected, including seven churches. The event is family-friendly and will include two stages, at the Capital One Plaza and in front of Arooga’s, with MC drag queens Dorothy & Sohpia and Labelle, announcing. The parade will end with a visit from gay Santa, Santa John 631, who will grace the audience aboard a sled with his rainbow robes.

“I keep getting messages asking if this is a family-friendly event, and non-stop I keep saying, ‘Yes,’” said Patchogue Pride committee co-chair James Diele-Stein. “This is a family, fun, friendly event. Come out, enjoy yourself. It’s about everyone having a great time. It doesn’t matter what your sexuality, religion, or race you are.”

“[My daughter] is 4; she’s very excited. She calls it the rainbow parade with rainbow Santa,” added committee member Todd Balch of the family-friendly event. “She was there last year. We live in East Patchogue and that’s why we moved here—everyone is so inclusive.”

There will be free parking in the village for the event as well as a list of several locations with single-user bathrooms. Local bars and restaurants will also be participating with specials and events.

After the parade, head to Birdies on North Ocean Avenue for a free Pride vendor market and show from 3 to 6:30 p.m. The market will be hosted by the Patchogue Arts Council and will include poetry readings, performers and artists. 

Prior to the parade, on Saturday, June 8, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Rider Avenue will be hosting a pre-Pride service at noon, open to anyone who wants to join. There will also be complimentary mimosas outside after the service.

The Patchogue Pride Committee held its inaugural Passing of the Sash ceremony on May 19 at Birdies, where the 2023 Pride parade grand marshal, Cheryl Felice, honored this year’s grand marshals, Al Milite and Jose Pagan.

“I applaud you guys as young people,” said Felice of the committee. “It’s just remarkable that we’ve come to this point and see the families that come out in this parade to say thank you.”

The organization is led by co-chairs James Diele-Stein, Michelle Quadri, and Ron Diele-Stein, who formed the group after attending Babylon Village Pride, which started in 2020. The committee also hosts giveback events like their “Pridesgiving” during November.