06/12/2026
When we hosted the first Hastings Pride celebration at The Good Witch Coffee Bar in June 2021, it was an absolutely sweltering day. I was so moved by how many people showed up — and stayed! for hours! — in spite of the blistering heat. We sang. We made art. We embraced and laughed and cheered and teared up, as every community does when holding space for one another.
So many people came, in fact, that then-Mayor Armacost declared the Village would host an official Pride the following year, and Hastings Friday Night Pride was born.
The celebrations have grown every year since, with vendors, performers and activations up and down Warburton from 6-9pm! And your friendly neighborhood witches still like to kick things off with a pre-event in the circle from 345pm-545pm.
The origin of Pride is protest, and we honor that each year by making banners and posters with messages of joyful resistance. (Thank you Scribble Art Workshop for contributing to our art supply budget for 2026! You are such a beloved member of our Rivertowns small business community and a beacon of creativity for local youth!)
With posters in hand, we then march up the hill led by Brass Queens, the Brooklyn-based all-female brass sensation that has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to New Orleans Jazz Fest to sessions with David Byrne … and finish our parade at Hastings’ VFW Plaza!
Please join us, won’t you? We will have icy drinks and frozen treats aplenty to cool you off while you draw. Rainbow cookies, rainbow bagels, and a special balloon installation made by Westchester BalloonArtist & Events. It’s going to be the best year yet. 🌈✨☀️
