Patchogue’s third annual Pride Parade will take place on Sunday, June 8 at noon. The parade will run down Main Street from Route 112 west towards Blue Point.

“Imagine a Patchogue where everyone feels seen, valued, and celebrated,” said event organizers. “Our streets will come alive with color, energy, and a shared commitment to inclusion. This isn’t just a parade—it’s a powerful statement that Patchogue is a welcoming community for all.”

Attendees can enjoy free parking in all Patchogue Village lots, as well as Pride specials and entertainment being offered by local retailers, bars, and restaurants. This is a fun, family-friendly event for everyone to enjoy!

Last year, even the rain couldn’t stop the estimated 15,000 spectators.

“We are hoping for a larger crowd to come out and join us this year,” said co-founder James Diele-Stein. Last year’s parade also had about 50 marching units, which included churches, nonprofits, health care organizations, small businesses and corporate businesses, which included Walmart and Stony Brook Medicine.

Organizers are currently requesting anyone interested in sponsoring or marching in the upcoming parade to please contact them through their website at Patchoguepride.com or email them at pride11772@gmail.com.

The committee consists of the co-founders James Diele-Stein and Ronald Diele-Stein, along with a diverse range of individuals. Follow the parade on social media @patchoguepride on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

The Patchogue Pride Committee will also hold its inaugural Passing of the Sash ceremony in May, where the 2024 Pride parade grand marshals, Al Milite and Jose Pagan, will pass it to the new, to-be-announced grand marshal.

Following the parade, join us for a special event—Fierce and Fabulous: Patchogue Pride Spectacular—at the Patchogue Theatre, beginning at 4 p.m. This family-friendly celebration will feature exciting entertainment for all ages. Tickets will be available for purchase soon.

“Everyone should come dressed in their Pride best—we’re inviting people from all the local towns, from the North and South Forks all the way to Manhattan, to join us and bring their family and friends,” said James. “This is a fun, family-friendly event with plenty of entertainment. It’s really a day dedicated to giving back to the community and showing your support.”

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES & UPCOMING EVENTS

Sponsorship opportunities are available in several packages from $300 to $20,000 as well as a la carte options like adopting a drag queen or becoming a supporter as well as choosing your own perks and building your own package.

“The Patchogue Pride Parade is more than just a celebration—it’s a commitment to inclusivity,” according to event organizers. “Your sponsorship will not only help make this event a success, but also send a powerful message of support for diversity.”

According to James, the decision to grow into a larger, independent nonprofit—separate from the Greater Patchogue Foundation, the charitable arm of the Patchogue Chamber—was driven by a desire to expand their efforts year-round and extend their impact to neighboring communities. Long Island Equality Inc. is proud to remain a member of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s not just about the parade, it’s also about showing there are many safe spaces on Long Island for the LGBTQIA+ community,” he said. “It’s not just about pride month, pride month is amazing, but it’s something we need to keep going all year.”

Now, functioning as their own non-profit, Long Island Equality Inc. also now has a board of 17 individuals, starting from the ground up.

“We truly rely on the support of our community—the parade does take significant funding to organize, and we know how much people enjoy attending. Without the incredible backing we’ve received, we wouldn’t be the nonprofit we are today. Continued support is essential to help us keep growing and thriving.”

In addition to sponsorship opportunities, they will be hosting fundraising events including a Bay Watch themed event at Whiskey Neat, this Tuesday, April 22, and a “Somewhere over Patchogue” launch party for the non-profit at the Blue Point Brewery on May 30.

“It’s a play on ‘somewhere over the rainbow,’” James explained of the pride month kickoff party, which attendees will be granted general admission at the door.

For more information or to become a sponsor email: pride11772@gmail.com.

INSPIRING STOREFRONT DECORATING WITH A COMPETITION

In an effort to inspire the Patchogue storefronts to decorate for the Pride Parade and the entire month of June, Ron said, the organization is looking to start a competition similar to Patchogue Chamber’s holiday decoration contest in which the winner is presented with the leg lamp and holds on to it until the following year when it’s passed to the next winner.

But, in pride fashion, Ron has decorated the pride leg lamp with a Dorothy theme. He also decorated a wicked witch leg lamp to be raffled off at the non-profit launch party in May.

The idea is not only to promote pride decorating during the month of June, but also to allow the lamp to be displayed all year long.

FACTS ABOUT PATCHOGUE PRIDE

Since its debut in 2023, the Patchogue Pride Parade has seen a remarkable rise in popularity, with attendance growing from 7,500 to over 15,000 supporters!

HISTORY OF PATCHOGUE PRIDE

Ron and James Diele-Stein founded Patchogue Pride in 2023 after being inspired by the love and joy of the 2022 Babylon Pride Parade. They wanted to bring a similar celebration to Patchogue, and with support from the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, local business owners, and a 20-person committee, Patchogue Pride was born.

Initially supported by The Greater Patchogue Foundation and the Chamber, the event grew quickly. In January 2025, Patchogue Pride became Long Island Equality, Inc., a New York State-recognized nonprofit.

THE MISSION

The mission of Patchogue Pride and Long Island Equality, Inc. goes beyond the parade in an effort to celebrate love, identity, and community through visibility and awareness.

The non-profit is dedicated to making a positive impact on the LGBTQIA+ community by giving back. To date, they have made donations to Thursday’s Child, which supports individuals living with HIV/AIDS, hosted Pridesgiving, collected gifts for local nonprofits including the Patchogue-Medford Youth Center and the Bellport Boys and Girls Club, and expanded local initiatives that directly benefit the community.

“As far as our future goes, it’s not just about the parade for us,” Ron said. “This is all year round.”