New Hope Pride Kicks Off Pride Celebrations This Week

For over two decades, PrideFest has taken over New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ for an interstate Pride celebration. This year will continue that tradition and bring folks from both towns to celebrate 2025’s theme: “Together, We Rise! Defying Fear, Embracing Hope!”

“We’re choosing love over division, community over isolation, and strength over silence,” Vice President of Communications Paul Kokesh tells GO. “That’s what New Hope Pride is all about: lifting each other up, celebrating who we are, and refusing to leave anyone behind.”

New Hope Pride is the only Pride celebration in the U.S. that crosses state boundaries. “That’s a beautiful metaphor for what the LGBTQ+ community strives for—breaking down barriers, crossing boundaries, and coming together in love and celebration,” says Kokesh. “Pride here doesn’t live on just one street or one side of a bridge—it lives throughout these towns, and that’s what makes it so special.” 

To ring in the celebration, a massive Progress Flag will be unfurled on May 10 followed by a reception and opening tea. On May 14, you can get your head in the game at Pride Bingo or get all dolled up to go to the Love is Love Gala on May 15. Dancing will be a must at the nighttime parties from May 16-18. 

Throughout the month of May, local bars and restaurants will be participating in the Best Cocktail Contest with specialty Pride cocktails for attendees to test and vote on.

As always, the star of the show is the Pride Parade, which will take place on May 17 at 11 am. Starting at Lambertville City Hall, where New Jersey’s first same-sex marriages were performed, the 1,500+ participants will cross over the Delaware River and march into PA. 

Following the parade, the celebration will continue at Pride Park for the PrideFest Fair and PrideFest Live. From 12–5 pm, the fair will showcase LGBTQ+ artists, food vendors, nonprofits, and exciting live entertainment.