Montclair community concerned pride festival may be canceled over financial challenges

Thursday, June 18, 2026 6:13PM ET
MONTCLAIR, New Jersey (WABC) -- A New Jersey community's pride celebrations may be in jeopardy after being postponed for a second time as organizers struggle to come up with the money.

Out Montclair's website says the pride festival is due to happen at Lackawanna Station on August 1, but the mayor says that date was never agreed upon with the town.

The mayor says right now, October 11 is being floated as the new date.

This is the second time in a matter of weeks that the annual event has been postponed.

Earlier this month, Out Montclair, the event organizers, postponed the festivities to August from June 13, citing several obstacles, including significant financial challenges involving the loss of a major sponsor, and public safety staffing.



To reduce expenses, Out Montclair relocated the festival to a smaller footprint this year: Lackawanna Station.

Business owners there are concerned that an event they've come to look forward to could be ultimately canceled, but the mayor says she believes the show will go on.

"I feel very confident that it's going to happen," said Montclair Mayor Renee Baskerville via a phone interview with Eyewitness News. "I've known this group and the people that are part of the Out Montclair for quite a while. I have every confidence that they will move forward and that we will have an amazing event."

Out Montclair wouldn't comment.



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