Several hundred people attended the Princeton Community Pride Picnic on Saturday night.

The event was held on the field at the Princeton YMCA. Six community organizations, along with the Princeton Civil Rights Commission, planned the event and were joined by an additional 10 community groups from area schools, local churches, and non-profit organizations.

Picnic goers enjoyed dancing to music provided by DJ Linda Leigh, local merchants donated goodies for raffle prizes, and vendors sold food. Some families also brought their own picnic baskets. Artist Marlon Davila led the community in creating a large mural and illustrator Rashad Malik Davis drew caricatures at the event. Princeton Mayor Mark Freda and representatives from the Princeton Police Department and Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad also attended the event.

“It was a great way to celebrate Princeton’s LGBTQIA-plus community,” said Janie Hermann, program manager of Princeton Public Library and lead organizer for the event. “The field was filled with community groups, all sending the message loud and clear that in this town everyone is welcome and all are loved.”

Community groups participating included the Princeton High School GSA, PUMS SAGA, PFLAG Princeton, I Support the Girls of Central and South New Jersey, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton Rainbow Ministry, Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton Mutual Aid, CASA for Children, and Inspired Threads. Vendors included Tico’s Juice Truck, Deputy Dawg Hot Dog Cart, the bent spoon, and Milk and Cookies.

The free event was a community collaboration coordinated by the Princeton Public Library, the Princeton Family YMCA, the Arts Council of Princeton, HiTOPS, the Princeton Civil Rights Commission, Corner House Behavioral Health, and the McCarter Theatre Center.

Photos by Janie Hermann and Priyanka Madia.