Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: GENEVIEVE WRENN, DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
EMAIL: GENEVIEVE@OUTMONTCLAIR.ORG
CELL: (914) 830-1444

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MONTCLAIR, NJ — Out Montclair announces the postponement of the Montclair Pride Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026, to Saturday, August 1, 2026. This decision was made by Out Montclair, in accordance with the Township of Montclair and our public safety partners, after careful evaluation of the financial and operational requirements necessary to safely produce the festival while keeping it free and accessible to the public.

As a small, grassroots, volunteer-led nonprofit organization, Out Montclair is responsible for funding the municipal services required to host Montclair Pride, including police coverage, emergency medical services, fire safety personnel, sanitation services, public works support, and traffic management.

Like many Pride organizations across the country, Montclair Pride has experienced significant sponsorship challenges this year. While Out Montclair has secured many generous sponsors and community partners, the loss of a major presenting sponsor created a substantial funding gap that requires additional time to address.

In an effort to reduce expenses, Out Montclair relocated the festival to Lackawanna Station for 2026, significantly lowering anticipated public safety and operational costs. New community partners also stepped forward to help support this year’s event, including MM by Morimoto, the recently opened Montclair restaurant from acclaimed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, which signed on as the Beacon Sponsor and host of the Montclair Pride VIP Hospitality Tent. Despite these cost-saving measures and additional sources of support, the remaining funding gap could not be fully overcome in time for the June event date.

This year also presented unique logistical challenges. June 13 coincides with the opening day of the FIFA World Cup in New Jersey, creating extraordinary demand on public safety resources throughout the region. As a result, municipal service planning and funding commitments needed to be secured significantly earlier than in previous years.

The Township of Montclair has been working closely with Out Montclair throughout this process. The Montclair Police Department, the Montclair Ambulance Unit, the Montclair Fire Department, the Department of Public Works, and other municipal partners remain diligent in ensuring appropriate public safety measures are in place for events of this size. Mayor Renée Baskerville has been a strong supporter of Montclair Pride and the LGBTQ+ community, regularly participating in Pride events and community celebrations, including the annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony.

“Montclair Pride has always been about ensuring that every member of our community can participate, regardless of their financial circumstances,” said Reubena Spence, President and Co-Founder of Out Montclair. “We made the conscious decision to keep Montclair Pride free rather than shifting these costs onto attendees through admission fees. While postponing the festival was a difficult decision, we believe it is the responsible one. This additional time will allow us to secure the resources necessary to deliver the safe, welcoming, and inclusive event our community deserves.”

Community partners and sponsors are integral to the success of Montclair Pride. The Montclair Center BID remains one of the festival’s most important partners, supporting its production and marketing as well as outreach to local businesses. Longtime sponsors include Porta Montclair, Montclair State University, Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center, RWJ Barnabas Health, Valley Bank, the MC Hotel, KPMG, West of Hudson Real Estate, Through the Lens Studios, and many others. Both Valley Bank and The MC Hotel increased their sponsorship levels in 2026.

Out Montclair remains confident that its partners and the community will come together once again to celebrate Montclair Pride’s fifth anniversary on August 1.

About Out Montclair

Out Montclair is a grassroots, volunteer-led nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering community, advocacy, visibility, and support for LGBTQIA+ individuals and families in Montclair and throughout New Jersey. Montclair Pride® is the organization’s flagship event, helping to fund and sustain year-round programming, advocacy, and community-building initiatives.