June is Pride Month - a time to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community, allies, and families. Ridgefield’s Second Annual Pride in the Park celebration will take place on Saturday, June 26th from noon until 3 pm in Ballard Park. Parade around the park starts at 1:00 pm. Bring a picnic, blankets, and friends and family. We will have bands, a DJ and family-friendly activities as well as some information tables. This family-friendly event is FREE! All non-vaccinated individuals are required to wear a mask and we are recommending and encouraging masks for all.
We are grateful to the town for their continued support and their expanded role in helping to promote awareness and understanding for our LGBTQ+ community. RidgefieldCTPride falls under the umbrella of Friends of Ridgefield, a 501c3 non-profit. In addition to organizing the annual Pride in the Park celebration, we also run two monthly support groups, one for LGBTQ+ Youth and a second group for family of members of people in the LGBTQ community. For more information on the support groups contact supportgroup@ridgefieldctpride.com.
This year we are also offering a Pride Perks Card. Here's how it works: Participating business sponsors offer discounts or perks at their stores to any person who shows a Pride Perks Card at their business during the months of June, July and August. The cards will be available online at ridgefieldctpride.com for $10, and at the Ridgefield Pride in Ballard Park event. To find a list of participating businesses and the discounts they are offering, cardholders can scan the QR code on the card which will bring them to our website.
Businesses interested in showing their Pride spirit can participate in the Pride Perks Card program for a $50 donation. Each business will be able to determine what type of a discount or perk they would like to offer.
June Pride events include:
June 1-30 - Deborah Ann’s - Pride Ice Cream (vanilla base with gummy skittles & candy-coated mini rainbow chips) A portion of the proceeds will be donated to RidgfieldCTPride.
June 2-30 - Ridgefield Public Library
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The Ridgefield Library will have a table near the Teen Center with resources, media recommendations and a button-making station to create your own pronoun and pride pins starting on June 2 through the month of June.
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They will also make their resource guide available on ridgefieldlibrary.org starting in June (and will thereafter be available).
June 15-29 - Ridgefield Library - “Reading Colors Your World”
Rainbow Week June 15-26 part of “Reading Colors Your World” Summer Reading Program:
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Pride Craft: Rainbow Keychain for Teens on Thursday, June 17 from 5-6pm, virtual with materials pick-up, registration required
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Monday, June 21 @10:30 am, Gazebo Grooves: Rainbow Edition in Ballard Park, no registration
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Friday, June 25, Floating Rainbow Take & Make available for Grades K-5, no registration
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Saturday, June 26, Pride in the Park Table: “Pride Prize Wheel,” resources, button-making, and recommendations from 12-3pm
June 22 - RidgefieldCTPride Parent Support Group - 7-8:30pm
June 26 - Ridgefield Pride in the Parks 12-3, march around the park at 1pm
June 26 - Ridgefield Playhouse: Christine O’Leary - stand-up comedy, 7:30
June 28 - Prospector Theater - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert @7pm
June 30 - Ridgefield Playhouse: The Birdcage, (25th anniversary of The Birdcage), 7pm
Check out RidgefieldCTPride.com for more details on events and participating shops, organizations, restaurants and businesses.
In these times of social upheaval and division it is essential that we come together and support each other. The LGBTQ community is one of our vulnerable populations. It is important that we work to lift people up rather than pull them down. RidgefieldCTPride provides just such an opportunity to do so, so please come and join us.
Activities include:
- DJ
- Bands
- Bring your own picnic
- Raffle
- Photo station
- Other kid-friendly activities (ie: Simon Says, coloring…)
- Informational Tables
- Ridgefield Public Library
- GLSEN
- Dignitaries
- First Selectman, Rudy Marconi
- CT House Representative, Aimee Berger-Girvalo
- CT House Representative, Ken Gucker
Below is some of our promotional material and sponsorship information in case you know anyone who might be interested in sponsoring us or who can help promote the event.
Website: ridgefieldctpride.com
Facebook - click here As many of the details do not appear in the image, when I repost, I tend to include the following info in the section where you can say something at the top above the post.
Ridgefield Pride in the Park
Date: June 26, 2021
Time: 12-3pm (Parade starts at 12:30)
Location: Ballard Park, 485 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Free admission - Family friendly event.
Music, Games and Activities.
Bring a picnic and come with family and friends.
Hosted by Ridgefield CT Pride and the Ridgefield Schools Combined GSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrideRidgefield
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prideridgefield/
DONATE: ridgefieldctpride.com (then click the Donate button)
Sponsorship information: https://ridgefieldctpride.com/become-a-sponsor/