This Underrated Beach Town Has The Best Pride Celebration On The East Coast

Whereas Fireplace Island could be thought-about the primary homosexual and lesbian city in America, it is from the one wonderful East Coast city for Delight season. In the event you’re on the lookout for an equally walkable city that rivals the famous Fire Island to have a good time LBGTQIA+ heritage and tradition, with a terrific seaside, and a thriving queer neighborhood, there’s an underrated spot you must take a look at. Depart Lengthy Island behind and take a look at this various.

With a pleasant boardwalk, a Delight celebration that is been happening for many years, and loads of issues to do, this New Jersey spot is a perfect getaway. So, the place is that this thriving spot, and how are you going to go to it? Effectively, let’s dive in and discover out extra!

Asbury Park, New Jersey, Has The Greatest Delight Celebrations On The East Coast

Asbury Park is a quintessential coastal city in New Jersey, identified for its queer scene and wonderful music venues which have been going robust for many years. This stunning spot hosts the largest Pride celebration in New Jersey. In truth, 2025 marks the thirty third yr of the parade, with the crowds rising annually.

Whereas Fireplace Island has a outstanding Delight parade and a ton of events, just like the Spartacus Fireplace Island Social gathering, the Bear Weekend, Fireplace Island Invasion, and the well-known Pines get together, Asbury Park Delight has extra of a neighborhood vibe. The parade is the headline occasion, adopted by a rally and competition within the city’s namesake park. It is a family-friendly occasion with loads of leisure, meals distributors, and nice vibes.

General, Fireplace Island has a celebration vibe throughout Delight, which is nice. Nevertheless, if you wish to have a good time in a extra chilled-out method, away from town, Asbury Park is an incredible possibility. Asbury Pride is also super affordable, with entry being as little as $10. Fireplace Island’s unique events and rallies can simply price upwards of $150.

Issues To Do In Asbury Park, New Jersey

In the event you’re spending Delight weekend in Asbury Park and desire a break from the festivities, there’s nonetheless a lot to do. As a seaside city, it is also a preferred trip spot all yr spherical. Listed below are among the finest issues to do.

Hit the Seashore

Asbury Park has been persistently named as one of many best beach towns in the whole of the US. The preferred stretch is Asbury Park Seashore, which stretches a mile alongside the boardwalk. You may as well take a look at the quieter Ocean Grove Seashore, which runs to the south of Asbury Park Seashore.

Discover the Silverball Retro Arcade

Transport your self again in time on the Silverball Retro Arcade. With machines and video games that hark all the best way again to the Thirties, it is a terrific spot for all ages. You’ll be able to try to win prizes, spend your allowance, and have a enjoyable time. It is situated on the boardwalk, and it is the right spot if you must shelter from the solar for just a little bit.

Wander the Boardwalk

This wonderful boardwalk is an icon of Asbury Park. It was constructed within the 1800s and runs the size of the seaside. Alongside it, yow will discover shops, ale homes, seafood shacks, and extra. It is the hub of the realm, and you may spend hours wandering up and down, and exploring the shops alongside it.

Test Out a Live performance at The Stone Pony

In the event you love reside music, it’s a must to take a look at The Stone Pony. This legendary venue launched the careers of New Jersey royalty, Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. They typically have a mixture of large names and native acts, so it is effectively price seeing what’s going on while you’re there.

The Stony Pony additionally has a large Summer time Stage throughout the trip season!

Why Does Asbury Park, New Jersey, Have Such A Nice LGBTQ+ Scene?

Though many individuals take into account Delight parades a comparatively normal calendar occasion for cities and cities world wide, Asbury Park has been a secure haven for queer folks for a century. In truth, within the Twenties and Thirties, Asbury Park had a handful of gay and lesbian bars and tearooms, making it a pioneer of queer communities.

Because the 1870s, Asbury Park has been a thriving resort city. Nevertheless, after the conflict, modifications in suburban communities, transport, and accessibility meant that Asbury Park misplaced plenty of its tourism appeal. Most individuals got here to buy, and with the explosion in suburban malls, this was much less of a consideration. By the Nineteen Seventies, Asbury Park had turn out to be run down, making it reasonably priced for working-class, queer communities who wished to be in between Philly and New York.

As there had at all times been a queer presence in Asbury Park from the Twenties, the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood continued to thrive. In 1970, the primary Delight parade was held. In 1999, Paradise, a homosexual nightclub, opened, and it is since turn out to be one of many oldest repeatedly working homosexual golf equipment in New Jersey.

When To Go to Asbury Park For Delight

Asbury Park Delight is being held on Sunday, June 1, 2025. The parade begins at midday, and the competition grounds open from 11 a.m., working late into the night. It is welcoming of all ages, with kids 5 or underneath being allowed in at no cost. For everybody else, competition entry is simply $10.

So, if you happen to’re on the lookout for an reasonably priced, chilled-out, one-day Delight various to Fireplace Island, head to Asbury Park Delight in New Jersey. With the identical coastal, beachy vibe, and a ton of queer historical past and tradition all through the city, it is the right place to have a good time Delight!