Shrewsbury's First Pride Celebration Coming To Dean Park

SHREWSBURY, MA — The Shrewsbury Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee will host its first Pride month celebration in June, offering activities, ice cream and more.

The DEIBC came together for its first meeting in January 2023 with the mission of embracing diversity and promoting multicultural events and activities in town.

The first Pride event will feature members of the committee, music, rock painting and a visit from Uhlman's Ice Cream Truck. The event will run 4 to 7 p.m. on June 26 at Dean Park.

Pride Month occurs during June in deference to the Stonewall Uprising, a tipping point in the struggle for equality among people who identify as LGBTQ. New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969. Such raids were common, but patrons fought back, resulting in days of violent clashes across Greenwich Village.

The observance started as Gay Pride Day on the last Sunday in June, but soon grew to the point that June calendars around the world are packed with Pride parades, parties, workshops, symposiums and concerts.

Worcester Pride is also planning a series of events beginning in June that will last until the main celebration in September.