How to Celebrate Pride Month with Kids in NYC, Long Island, Westchester, and Rockland

8 fun ways that you can commemorate Pride and learn about LGBTQ+ activists and allies with your children.

By Marie Holmes June 4, 2021

This June, as the country re-opens, there are more ways to recognize gay Pride month in NYC and teach your kids about Pride, both in-person and virtually. Whether you read a book at home or attend a family-friendly Pride event in Manhattan, you can use this opportunity to teach your kids about some of the dedicated activists who have made the world a more welcoming place, one where diversity is not only tolerated, but embraced.

8 Pride Month Activities for Kids

1. Read about Pride and queer activists with one of these books.

Pride Colors by Robin Stevenson.
Ages: Newborn to 3
A lyrical exploration of the meanings of the Pride flag’s colors, and a celebration of a parent’s love for a child.

Our Rainbow by Little Bee Books
Ages: 2-5
Published in partnership with GLAAD, this board book also explores the colors of the rainbow flag, which here includes brown and black to honor racial diversity.

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman
Ages: 4-8
A picture-book journey to a Pride parade, complete with motorcycles, drag queens, leather, and queer parents and children.

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
Ages: 5-8
An inspiring illustrated biography of gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, highlighting his friendship with Gilbert Baker, who designed the original rainbow flag.

Pride: The Celebration and the Struggle by Robin Stevenson
Ages: 9-12
An award-winning history of LGBTQ rights, featuring activists from around the globe.

Looking for more great LGBTQ+ books? Check out this roundup of books for kids, tweens, and teens featuring LGBTQ+ characters.

2. Watch a movie featuring queer protagonists.

Check out one of these films together and discuss afterward as a family.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
Rated: PG
Where to stream: Netflix
The eccentric Mitchell family embarks on a road trip to drop daughter Katie off at college, but must defeat an army of alien robots and save the world first. Katie’s queerness is not a central plot point, but neither is it glossed over or obscured. Critics are hailing the film a model of what queer representation can be.

Freak Show (2018)
Rated: Not rated
Where to stream: Amazon Prime, iTunes, DIRECTV, Google Play, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube
Fabulously flamboyant Billy Bloom decides to run for homecoming queen at his ultra-conservative high school.

Love, Simon (2018)
Rated: PG-13
Where to stream: Amazon Prime, iTunes, DIRECTV, Google Play, YouTube
A coming-of-age, coming-out tale featuring supportive, loving parents.

Breakfast with Scot (2007)
Rated: PG-13
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
A closeted former-hocky-player-turned-sportscaster and his partner suddenly become guardians to Scot, an 11-year-old who loves singing, makeup, and feather boas.

Bend It Like Beckham (2003)
Rated: PG-13
Where to stream: Amazon Prime, iTunes, DIRECTV, Disney+, Google Play, YouTube
The main story, about Jess hiding her love of soccer from her traditional parents, unfolds in parallel with the story of her best friend coming out of the closet.

3. Attend the Pride parade, or watch it on TV.

Filled with music, dance, and joy, the famous annual NYC Pride parade is a favorite for all ages, and it’s the centerpiece of Pride festivities. You can also watch the parade on Sunday, June 27, 12-3pm, on ABC-7, ABC7NY.com, or other streaming platforms.

4. Join Family Movie Night, or another Pride event.

Family Movie Night is virtual this year, and registration is free. A number of organizations who work on behalf of queer families will be in attendance for this screening of a family-friendly film. Youth Pride, an event for teens, will also take place online this year.

5. Visit a site of queer history.

Some of the first stirrings of the gay rights movement were felt right here in New York City! You can check out the Stonewall Inn, site of the anti-police riot that Pride commemorates, and see the statues in nearby Christopher Park, as well as other sites in Greenwich Village. There are other markers of queer history in every borough.

6. Make a donation.

Look up some of the organizations doing work on LGBTQ issues like bathroom bills, kids’ access to sports teams, and employment discrimination. As a family, select one or more organizations to gift with a donation in honor of Pride. You can also donate gently used clothing and furniture to Housing Works, a local organization dedicated to helping marginalized folks access housing and health care.

There are also a variety of community centers and support organizations for LGBTQ+ youth and families in NYC, Westchester, Long Island, and Rockland you can reach out to see if they need volunteers or are accepting donations of any kind.

7. Craft some rainbows.

Who doesn’t love rainbows? Here are a few colorful craft ideas that are perfect for Pride month, whether you’re making art you can bring to the parade or simply decorating your home to celebrate the many shades of love.

8. Use inclusive language.

This one is for every month, not just June—although Pride offers us a nice annual reminder. It’s hard to make a change in the way you’re used to talking, but kids are quick to pick up new language patterns—and eager to hold you accountable! Don’t assume that everyone identifies as male or female, or that you can tell a person’s gender identity just by looking at them. Model asking for others’ pronouns and offering your own.

If your kids see you recognizing and respecting different sexual orientations and gender identities, they are more likely to do the same—and to feel free to grow into identities of their own.

Pride Events for Kids in NYC and Nearby

Click on your region below to jump to those events.

Manhattan
Brooklyn
Queens
Westchester
Rockland
Long Island

Pride Events for Families in Manhattan

Show Your Colors Origami Installation
WHEN: June 1-30, Wednesdays-Sundays, 10am-12pm, 12:30-2:30pm, or 3-5pm
WHERE: Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side
WHAT: Help create a unique Pride flag installation! Join the museum all month by adding your own colorful origami creations to a giant rainbow masterpiece.
WANT TO GO? $15; $12 seniors 65 and older and visitors with disabilities; free for children younger than 1. Advanced registration required.

Pride Party for Kids!
WHEN: June 12, 10:30-11:15am
WHERE: Washington Square Park, Washington Square, Greenwich Village
AGES: 2-10
WHAT: Join Curated Care for a love filled morning led by Kid Expert, actor, queer educator, and bringer of joy Nick E! Children will create rainbow friendship bracelets, make their own pride flags, and finish with a themed freeze dance with a special Drag Queen guest! Bring a picnic blanket or towel for your crew while enjoying socially distanced fun outdoors.
WANT TO GO? $25. Ticket includes one set of craft materials per child. Advanced registration required.

PrideFest
WHEN: June 27, 11am
WHERE: 4th Avenue between 13th and 9th Streets, Greenwich Village
WHAT: PrideFest combines exhibitors, entertainers, food and activities for a day of fun and celebration in the name of equality. PrideFest is the perfect place to stop and listen to a few tunes, grab a bite to eat or score some great Pride gear.
WANT TO GO? Free to attend.

Pride Events for Families in Brooklyn

Family Movie Night: The Princess Bride
WHEN: June 11, 6:30-9pm
WHERE: The Old Stone House, 336 3rd St., Park Slope
WHAT: Pack a picnic and see The Princess Bride under the stars. You’ll also be treated to pre-show entertainment including Gotham Cheer and songs from the new musical Prospect Hill. Part of Brooklyn Pride.
WANT TO GO? Free. Pre-show entertainment begins at 6:30pm.

Mini Street Festival
WHEN: June 12, 12-5:30pm
WHERE: 5th Avenue from 3rd to 5th Streets, Park Slope
WHAT: Celebrate with Brooklyn Pride at this Pride focused mini street festival featuring local vendors and organizations plus music ranging from Rock, Hip-Hop, Drag Performers & more.
WANT TO GO? Admission is free.

Celebrate Pride
WHEN: June 12, 10am-1pm or 2-5pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
WHAT: Join the Brooklyn Children's Museum to celebrate all kinds of love during Pride throughout the month of June! Families will be invited to enjoy a special storytime program with Drag Queen Story Hour, and then show off your dance moves for a family dance party with DJ Dynamite.
WANT TO GO? Purchase tickets in advance: $13; $12 grandparent; free for babies younger than 1.

Pride on Atlantic Ave
WHEN: June 13, 12-5pm
WHERE: Atlantic Ave, Waterfront to Fourth Avenue, Park Slope
AGES: All
WHAT: Atlantic Avenue will be beaming with pride for the first ever “Pride on Atlantic Ave” event. The Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation, in collaboration with Brooklyn Pride, is excited to launch this colorful celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community with food, drinks, shopping and music.
WANT TO GO? Admission is free.

Drag Queen Story Hour
WHEN: June 24, 5-8pm
WHERE: DUMBO Archway, 155 Water St., DUMBO
WHAT: Drag Queen Story Hour, presented by Brooklyn Public Library, Adams Street Branch featuring stories, songs and a celebration of individuality and LGBTQ Pride with Storyteller Paradise. DJ set to follow.
WANT TO GO? Free. Story hour from 5-6pm, DJ from 6-8pm

Queens

Here all Year: Virtual YA Pride Author Event with Inkyard Press
WHEN: June 23, 1pm
WHERE: Astoria Bookshop, Online
WHAT: There is no better way to celebrate pride month than with queer books. Join a panel of queer YA authors from Inkyard Press including Aden Polydoros, Alechia Daw, Alexandra Overy, H.E. Edgman, Emily Victoria, and Dahlia Adler.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required. The event will be hosted on Crowdcast.

Virtual Drag Queen Story Hour
WHEN: June 25, 12pm
WHERE: Queens Library, Online
WHAT: Join Queens Public Library for a Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH). The program features a drag queen reading picture books, singing songs, and leading children in a craft activity.
WANT TO GO? Free. Watch live on Instagram.

Pride on the Farm
WHEN: July 31, 11am-4pm
WHERE: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park
WHAT: Celebrate Pride and Community with the LGBT Network for the first Pride event at Queens Farm. Enjoy live music, hayrides and a bushel of fun!
WANT TO GO? $12; $8 ages 3-12. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance.

Pride Events for Families in Westchester

Outdoor Rainbow Book Celebration: 'Pink is for Boys'
WHEN: June 9, 10:30am
WHERE: Lewisboro Library, 15 Main Street, South Salem
WHAT: Join Miss Marie outdoors for a diversity storytime, as she reads the book Pink is for Boys.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required. Please bring a blanket.

Triangle Community Center Pride Film Series: Love, Simon
WHEN: June 9, 7:30pm
WHERE: Bow Tie Cinemas Majestic 6, 118 Summer St., Stamford, CT
AGES: 13 and older
WHAT: Love, Simon follows a closeted gay high school boy who struggles to balance his friends, his family, and the blackmailer threatening to out him to the entire school, while simultaneously attempting to discover the identity of the anonymous classmate with whom he has fallen in love online.
WANT TO GO? Free with advanced registration.

Pride Celebration for Children
WHEN: June 15, 4-5pm
WHERE: The Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park, 87 Ogden Park, Dobbs Ferry
AGES: 3-12
WHAT: Enjoy Pride Month with your friends in a socially distanced way and contribute to a community craft that celebrates love and identity in all its forms! The artwork created will be permanently displayed in the children’s room afterwards.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required. Register by emailing [email protected] to get the meeting location -- please indicate the title and date of the program you are registering for.

Swing Into Reading Summer Book Giveaway & Boogie Down Storytime
WHEN: June 19, 10am-3pm
WHERE: María Sola Community Greenspace, Lincoln Avenue, Bronx
WHAT: Join Boogie Down Books in celebrating Juneteenth and Pride Month with Drag Queen Story Hour and a summer book giveaway for kids and teens! This event features a story time, yoga, music, art, food, and more!
WANT TO GO? Free with advanced registration. Attendees are advised to bring their own chairs, mats, towels, or blankets if desired.

Drag Queen Story Hour
WHEN: June 23, 1-2pm
WHERE: Town of Pelham Public Library, 530 Colonial Avenue, Pelham
AGES: 3-8
WHAT: This event includes stories read by drag queens trained by librarians, interspersed with children’s songs and movement activities. The program will feature books about universal themes children (and adults) experience such as feeling different and not being included in popular groups. It promotes kindness, compassion and empathy.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

Family PRIDE in the Park!
WHEN: June 26, 1-5pm
WHERE: Pugsley Park, 1036 Main Street, Peekskill
WHAT: This year Peekskill Pride is focusing on families! The goal this year is to encourage the community to come OUT to enjoy in-person events again, especially as the COVID numbers continue to decline. There will be Drag Queen Story Time, Spoken Word Performances, Drag Performances, Pet Photo Contest, Live Music, Crafts for the Kids, and Health and Wellness Information by Sun River Health.
WANT TO GO? Free. The Pet Photo Contest and the Children's Crafts require signing up in advance.

Pride Events for Families in Rockland

Pride Family Sunday
WHEN: June 13, 10:30am-12pm
WHERE: Creative Arts Workshop, 48 Burd St., Suite 101, Nyack
AGES: 5-10
WHAT: The Rockland County Pride Center and the Creative Art Workshop welcomes you to this family fun event of crafting, honoring family pride and cheer, refreshments, and treats too!
WANT TO GO? Free. Contact [email protected] to register.

Teen PRIDE Community Project
WHEN: June 12, 12:30-1:30pm
WHERE: Livingston Public Library, 10 Robert H Harp Drive, Livingston, NJ
AGES: 10-17
WHAT: Teens and tweens will plant a container garden at the Livingston Public Library to celebrate Pride Month! This event will take place in person. You will be planting flowers outdoors: dress accordingly!
WANT TO GO? Free. Rain date: Saturday, June 19th.

Paw Pride Extravaganza @ PawPaws
WHEN: June 19, 2-5pm
WHERE: Pavion Apartments (private dog park) 77 S Franklin St., Nyack
WHAT: Join PawPaw’s for their first annual Pride Month Extravaganza Eleganza with dogs on parade, treats and refreshments for you and your best friends and a competition for the best Paw Pride costume. Prizes will include free stays at Papaw’s Dog House Dog Camp, toys, treats and snacks for your best friend.
WANT TO GO? $20 entry fee for contestants.

Pride Events for Families on Long Island

Pride Weekend
WHEN: June 12, 1-4pm; June 13, 12-4pm
WHERE: Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, West End 2 — Jones Beach State Park 150 Bay Parkway, Wantagh
WHAT: Learn about rainbows, prisms, and light refraction, different species that break gender norms, create chalk art, win prizes, and hang out with some special princesses.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

Get the Best Family Activities

How to Celebrate Pride Month with Kids in NYC, Long Island, Westchester, and Rockland

8 Pride Month Activities for Kids

1. Read about Pride and queer activists with one of these books.

2. Watch a movie featuring queer protagonists.

3. Attend the Pride parade, or watch it on TV.