Gay Travel Information | Gay Travel Blog, Gay Travel Reviews, Gay Travel Blogger

Where to Celebrate Pride Across New York State

Posted by gaytravelinformation on June 13, 2025 · Leave a Comment 

New York is the favorite destination in the world for LGBTQ+ travelers and a top destination for Pride travel, offering some of the most meaningful and dynamic LGBTQ+ celebrations in the country.

As the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, the Empire State honors its legacy each summer with events that stretch far beyond New York City.

From rainbow-filled stadiums at Brooklyn Cyclones Pride Night to queer-led paranormal investigations at the Matilda Joslyn Gage House in the Finger Lakes and colorful parades lighting up towns from Buffalo to Beacon, Pride in New York delivers experiences that are both meaningful and deeply rooted in history.

See below for some of the top ways to celebrate Pride across New York State (in chronological order):

• Catskills: Mountaintop Pride Weekend (June 6–8): Mountaintop Pride turns the Catskills into a weekend-long Pride escape with DJ sets, garden parties and high-spirited events at spots like Scribner’s Lodge and Deer Mountain Inn. Between festivities, travelers can explore the area’s creative small towns, grab a latte at queer-owned 2 Queens Coffee in Narrowsburg or dance into the night at Blue Fox Motel. For those looking to unwind, scenic hikes at Overlook Mountain or North-South Lake offer quiet escapes, followed by cider tastings at Left Bank Ciders or flights of local brews at West Kill Brewing, tucked into the forest and known for its LGBTQ+ friendly events.

• Capitol-Saratoga: Say It Loud! BIPOC Pride & Capital Pride (June 7- 8): Washington Park in Albany comes alive with Say It Loud! BIPOC Pride, a high-energy celebration of LGBTQIA+ black, indigenous and people of color. This year’s lineup includes powerhouse performers like Taína Asili and a headlining DJ set by Monét X Change, plus community-led programming, local vendors at A Big Gay Market and wellness resources from organizations like the Alliance for Positive Health. The festivities continue on June 8 with the Capital Pride Parade and Festival, bringing the community together for a vibrant day of advocacy, celebration and music by international pop artists DEV and Mila Jam. Both events are organized by longtime advocates including In Our Own Voices and the Pride Center of the Capital Region. While in Albany, visitors can sip coffee and browse vintage shops on Lark Street, explore exhibits at the New York State Museum or enjoy river views along the Corning Preserve.

• New York City: Harlem Pride & NYC Pride (June 28-29): New York City’s Pride weekend kicks off uptown with Harlem Pride, a vibrant, family-friendly event celebrating its 15th anniversary with live performances, celebrity hosts, food vendors and valuable community resources including health screenings. The event features activities for all ages, including face-painting and a Drag Queen Story hour. The celebrations continue on June 29 with the annual New York City Pride March, which fills the streets of Manhattan with teeming crowds and glittering floats, along with NYC PrideFest in Greenwich Village featuring food vendors, community booths and live entertainment in the heart of this historic neighborhood. Beyond the main events, visitors can pay tribute at the Stonewall National Monument and explore the newly opened Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, which offers exhibits and programming honoring LGBTQIA+ history and activism. Art lovers can explore queer art at the Leslie-Lohman Museum in SoHo while those looking for lively entertainment should join a drag brunch at spots like Fresco’s Grand Cantina or Lips New York. At night, longstanding favorites like Julius’, Industry and The Eagle NYC keep the celebration going, while Brooklyn’s 3 Dollar Bill hosts some of the city’s most legendary Pride events with DJs, drag performers and dance floors packed well past midnight.

• Long Island: Fire Island Invasion (July 4): Each year on July 4, Fire Island transforms into one of the most colorful stages for queer celebrations for the Fire Island Invasion, a vibrant reenactment of the 1976 protest that began when a drag queen was denied service in the Pines. Her friends responded by arriving in full drag via ferry from Cherry Grove, launching what is now an annual spectacle. Today, queens keep the tradition alive by parading through Cherry Grove and sailing across the bay, greeted by cheering crowds on the Pines dock. Visitors can sip cocktails at Cherry’s on the Bay, dance into the evening at Sip-N-Twirl or enjoy Low Tea at The Blue Whale or spend the day relaxing on the sands of Atlantique Beach or poolside at the Grove Hotel.

Beyond these regions, travelers can find vibrant Pride celebrations across each corner of the state, from a month of Binghamton Pride events in Central New York to Pride Day at the Great New York State Fair in the Finger Lakes. From small towns to major cities, every part of New York brings Pride to life in its own way, shaped by local voices and shared history. For those looking to explore even more, visit I LOVE NY’s 2025 Pride Guide and  LGBTQ+ Travel Guide.

While celebrating Pride, travelers can look for the I LOVE NY Experience at celebrations across the country, from Harlem Pride and NYC PrideFest, to WorldPride and Provincetown Family Week. The interactive mobile tour features getaway pods, digital kiosks, a prize wheel and photo ops highlighting New York’s top LGBTQ+ travel experiences.