Putnam Pride 2026
On Saturday, June 13, the sounds of love and inclusivity will once again ring off the beautiful hills of Putnam County at the 7th annual Putnam Pride Celebration. This rain-or-shine event will kick off at 1:00pm at the Putnam County Courthouse in downtown Carmel with a rally and March. Beloved hosts Angel Elektra and Shay D’Pines – in conjunction with Kingston’s own Unicorn Brass Band – will lead marchers from the Putnam County Courthouse down Gleneida Avenue to the rainbow sign at Gilead Presbyterian Church (a welcoming congregation). After returning to the courthouse, attendees will hear from local clergy and speakers before heading to Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park in Kent for a celebration. Guests can also go straight to the park, where there will be vendors and music beginning at 1:00pm.
Festivities at the park will kick off at 2pm with a flag raising. Angel Elektra and Shay D’Pines, along with crowd favorite DJ Brittany, will welcome Stephanie “Starr” Bermudez, Sasha Renee, I.Den.t.T and others to the stage this year. The always-popular 4:00pm Open Mic will provide a chance for attendees to share their talents with a loving and welcoming crowd.
Trans and immigrant speakers and entertainers will be spotlighted to reflect on a year that has targeted both groups with violence and civil rights violations. A full list of speakers and entertainers will be available soon at PutnamPride.com.
Don’t forget to stop by the “House of Pride” pavilion to see the new limited-edition batch of handmade upcycled shirts – available for a $10 suggested donation – and to grab a 2026 “Pride Guide.” A2Z Designs will be selling official 2026 Putnam Pride t-shirts and other Putnam Pride merchandise.
Putnam Pride is made possible this year by the following generous sponsors: Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic; The Gruntal Family Fund; Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock; Northwell Health; Hudson Valley Shakespeare; Putnam County Tourism; Split Rock Books; Thai Golden; Impact Psychological Services; Forward Motion Counseling; Teal Door Counseling Services; Max Ellendale Publishing; Freedom Road Laundromat; Jonathan Monsen, Realtor; Black Cat Boutique; and A2Z Designs.
More information and photos from past events can be found at PutnamPride.com. If you would like to volunteer for this or future Putnam Pride gatherings, please email putnamnypride@gmail.com.
