Kick Off Pride Month with North Jersey Pride Run June 3 in South Orange

Pride Month kicks off this Sunday with the North Jersey Pride Run at 9AM in Grove Park in South Orange. Participants will run or walk the certified 5K course, which begins and ends in the park and winds through the shady streets of Montrose. Kids’ Races start at 10am. Following the race, a celebratory brunch will take place at South Mountain Tavern. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased at the Pride Run. The Run is additionally sponsored by the Township of South Orange, South Orange Village Center, the Kate Elliott Team, Triumph Coaching, and Pet Wants.

“The North Jersey Pride Run is truly an event for everyone. Our main priority has been inclusivity,” said organizer Melissa Comerchero. “Beginning last year, we worked with our scoring company, Compuscore, to remove gender as a registration category. I feel strongly that stating or defining one’s gender should not be a requirement to participate and be counted in this event. We have children as young as six years old running the 5K, 5-minute milers, walkers, and every speed in between. We’ve also prioritized bringing together the larger North Jersey community and have participants from all parts of Essex, Union, Sussex, and Bergen counties represented. A new feature that has helped build community this year has been our coaching option, with Coach Alison Headley of Triumph Coaching, LLC. Our training group has been working with Coach Ali since March.”

The 5K will kick off with a performance by choir members of Unity Fellowship Church of NewArk. The 5K begins at 9:00 a.m. and Kids Race to follow at 10:00 a.m.

For those who missed online registration, which is currently closed, on-site registration will open at 8am on Sunday morning, along with bib pickup for early registrants and back check for all runners. Children, stroller and furry friends are all welcome. Proceeds from the race will benefit RAD Kids, NJP’s program for gender-fluid youth.

Following the race, a celebratory Pride Brunch will be hosted by South Mountain Tavern at 19 Valley Street, which is walkable from Grove Park. A limited number of brunch tickets ($12 per person) will be available for sale at the Pride Run.

For those arriving in South Orange by train, Grove Park is just a short 5-minute walk from South Orange Train Station.