Update: The date for Montclair Pride Fest has changes once again. It’s now October 11.
Montclair Pride Fest is not happening on June 13, as originally announced. It’s not happening on August 1, either, as previously rescheduled by Out Montclair.
Now, the organizers say the plan is to move it to October 11. The fifth anniversary celebration is aiming to be at Lackawanna Plaza.
Why the initial Postponement?
Out Montclair, the grassroots, volunteer-led nonprofit that organizes and funds the festival, announced the postponement last week. Three things converged at once, they said.
Event production costs are up, a trend hitting Pride organizations across the country this year. Corporate sponsorship is down, also a national pattern. And then there is the World Cup: opening day at MetLife Stadium fell on June 13, the day of the original festival date.
Out Montclair is responsible for funding all municipal services required to safely run a large outdoor event, including police coverage, emergency medical services, fire safety personnel, sanitation and traffic management. According to Out Montclair, this year, the public safety demands of the World Cup in the region meant those commitments had to be secured much earlier than in prior years, compressing an already difficult timeline.
The organization could not close the funding gap in time.
In a statement, Out Montclair president and co-founder Reubena Spence said the decision came down to keeping the event accessible. “We made the conscious decision to keep Montclair Pride free rather than shifting these costs onto attendees through admission fees,” Spence said in the organization’s press release. “While postponing the festival was a difficult decision, we believe it is the responsible one.”
To reduce costs, the organization moved the festival to Lackawanna Station, lowering anticipated public safety and operational expenses. It also brought on new sponsors: MM by Morimoto, the restaurant from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, signed on as a presenting sponsor, while Valley Bank and The MC Hotel increased their existing support. Longtime sponsors including Montclair State University, Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center and Porta Montclair remain on board.
What the Postponement Means for Vendors
For vendors who had already committed to June 13 or August 1, the news came with real costs attached.
In an email, Lauren Pennington from Out Montclair stated the following in an email to vendors:
Dear Vendors,
As I’m sure some of you may have seen in the media, we’ve had a few changes to Montclair Pride 2026. The Festival is under new Direction (now being Co-Directed by myself and Jen Sickles), and a new date has been officially chosen and signed off on by the town/town officials – October 11, 2026. This date aligns with National Coming Out Day – so we’ll be leaning into the theme “Come Out for Montclair Pride!“
I know there have been several changes the last month, and truly want to apologize for all of the back and forth. We know many of you have already invested significant time and resources preparing for Montclair Pride. We understand that participating in an event of this size requires substantial planning. We do not take that commitment lightly, and we are truly sorry for the disruption this change may create.We sincerely hope you can still join us on October 11th to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Montclair Pride. Your participation helps create the vibrant marketplace and community experience that makes this event so special each year.
Additional Info & Deadlines
- Confirmation of the new date. If we don’t hear back from you confirming your participation by JULY 10th, we are assuming you will be joining us. If we do not hear from you by this date, and you are unable to participate there will be no refunds. Your vendor fee will be considered an in-kind donation and we’ll place your business logo on the rotating screens inside Lackawanna Station.
- Permits – All permits are due to us no later than August 11th (60 days prior to the event). Please submit your permits to @Jen Sickles. (jen@outmontclair.org)
- Tents, Tables & Chairs – If you need rentals, please use THIS link to submit your requests. Please note: rental requests placed in the Notes section of your Vendor Submission will not be honored. The only way to request tents, tables, or chairs is via the link above.
- Vendor Town Hall – We will send you more information regarding the date, time, and a Vendor Info Packet as we get closer to the event.
- If you previously told us that you weren’t available on Aug 1, but are available on Oct 11, please re-submit via the Eventeny Page.
The Montclair Pod was among the vendors who had committed, paying $584 for a table, buying supplies and planning to record live segments at the festival. The new date presents a scheduling conflict for them, and they’re likely not the only ones. “These things happen,” Farnoosh said. But while The Montclair Pod won’t be there in person, we will keep following the story and share updates as the new date takes shape.
What to Expect at Montclair Pride Fest on October 11
The event runs from noon to 8 p.m. at Lackawanna Station. Out Montclair is planning two stages, a main stage on Grove Street and a spotlight stage on Bloomfield Avenue, a family zone, 150-plus vendors, food trucks, and beer and beverage gardens. Admission is free.
To make this happen, Out Montclair needs community support. The organization has an active GoFundMe campaign to help cover remaining costs. Every dollar goes directly toward required safety expenses. Donate or share the campaign at gofundme.com/f/save-montclair-pride-2026.
For updates, follow Out Montclair at instagram.com/outmontclair or visit outmontclair.org
Image credit: Out Monclair
