Yonkers Pride Announces Upcoming Celebrations for June

Festivities include Kick–Off Party, Flag Raising, Festival featuring Xunami Muse, Rupaul’s Drag Race-Season 16 and Mini Ball Vol. II in collaboration with the House of De La Blanca International.

Yonkers Pride is gearing up for another year of embracing joy and unity through an exciting lineup of events throughout the month of June. On Friday, June 7, the annual Flag Raising with Yonkers Pride, Yonkers LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and Mayor Mike Spano will take place, followed by an official Kick-Off Party at 86 Main Street in Downtown Yonkers. Saturday, June 8, is the main event, Yonkers Pride Festival, featuring Xunami Muse, one of this season’s RuPaul’s Drag Race’s contestants. Coming back for a second year of fun and revelry is Yonkers Pride Mini Ball Vol. II, which will take place on Thursday, June 27.

Yonkers Pride is hosting a series of mixers to fundraise and bring the community together before the festival begins. Two more are coming up in April and May: April 25 at Yonkers Brewing and May 9 at El Cantito Cafe. Be sure not to miss the fun!

More than just celebrations, Yonkers Pride is once again running a scholarship program supporting the local LGBTQ+ teen community. Yonkers Pride will be giving away a $1,000 scholarshipto a member or ally of the LGBTQ+ from the Yonkers Public High Schools who will be attending an accredited college, university, or vocational school in the US or Canada. The deadline to submit an application is May 19. For more information about the Yonkers LGBTQ+ Pride Scholarship, visit https://www.yonkerspride.org/scholarship.

Pride Month Festivities

The festivities commence with the iconic Flag Raising ceremony, where Yonkers Pride, the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board and Mayor Mike Spano will raise the rainbow flag high above the city. This symbolic act underscores the importance of unity and LGBTQ+ visibility within our vibrant community. Join us at City Hall’s Unity Fountain on Friday, June 7, as we collectively raise our voices and spirits. Later that night, dance the night away at the official Kick-Off Party at 86 Main Street from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

Celebrations continue at Yonkers Pride Festival on Saturday, June 8 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Prepare to be dazzled by celebrity entertainment, headlined by none other than the sensational Panamanian drag performer, Xunami Muse. Her electrifying performances fuse fierce fashion, outstanding makeup, and spotlight dance moves, leaving an unforgettable mark on the world of drag. Local drag talents will also grace the stage, adding their unique flair to the festivities. The Yonkers Pride Festival is a celebration of love, acceptance, equality, and joy. In addition to celebrity entertainment, the festival showcases food, merchandise, activities, and numerous community organizations.

Yonkers Pride is celebrating all month long. On June 27, 2024, Yonkers Pride and the House of De La Blanca International presents the Mini Ball Vol. II.The dazzling affair pays homage to the ballroom scene, an artistic movement that emerged from the fierce creativity and resilience of African American and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities. There will be trophies and cash prizes for all categories, which include open to all Runway OTA (European & American), Old Way vs. New Way, BQ Voguing Femme: Homage, FQ Voguing: C’mon Barbie, Sex Siren OTA: First Responders, Realness OTA: Return to Arms, Face OTA: Commencement, Bazaar OTA: Recycle, Hands Performance OTA: Paint the Town Red, and Realness With A Twist: 90s Streetwear. This year’s judges will be Legendary Father Julian De La Blanca, Legendary God Mother Veronika Mugler, Legendary Overall Mother Koppi Mizrahi, Frida LaBejia, and Gorgeous Danny Gucci. Advanced tickets are priced at $28.52 via Eventbrite, and $30 door tickets.

“This year, we are taking Yonkers Pride to another level. With the addition of a Kick-Off Party, the amazing talent we have lined up, including Xunami Muse, and the return of our wildly successful Mini Ball with House of De La Blanca, this year is a Yonkers Pride that is not to be missed,” said Angel Castro, Festival Chair of Yonkers Pride. “By bringing together our diverse and vibrant community through these events, we hope to spread love, joy, and unity and create a real sense of inclusivity for everyone in the area.”

“The Yonkers Pride Festival is a day to celebrate love and the individuality of who we are,” said Mayor Spano. “Yonkers’ greatest strength continues to be our diversity, and what better way to demonstrate that than by our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, friends, and allies coming together for this festive event. We invite all to join us.”  

Event Schedule:

Yonkers Pride is proudly supported by the following sponsors:

  • Leadership Sponsors: City of Yonkers, Yonkers EDC
  • Fierce Sponsors: Webster Bank, JSquared
  • Champion Sponsors: Hope Center, Westchester County Board of Legislators
  • Sustaining Sponsors: Con Edison, COY City Council President, COY City Council Majority Leader, Montefiore Hospital, NY Presbyterian Hospital, Pure Wonder NY
  • Ally Sponsors: RXR Sawyer Place, Shoprite, Valley Bank
  • Beverage Sponsors: Yonkers Brewing Co.
  • Friends of Yonkers PRIDE: Leonard Litz LGBTQ+ Foundation, World Health Clinicians Inc, Yonkers Rotary Club-East Yonkers, Rising Development
  • In Kind: 66 Main Street, iPark Hudson

Stay tuned for more details and line-up announcements by following @YonkersPride on social media and visiting YonkersPride.org.

At Yonkers Pride, our unwavering commitment is to uplift and enrich the lives of LGBTQIA+individuals in the vibrant city of Yonkers. Through a multifaceted approach, we strive to create positive change and foster a sense of belonging within our community.

To continue to improve the lives in our community, we need your support! Please donate at YonkersPride.org/donate

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