History of Northport Pridefest
All Are Welcome Here... the tagline that started it all
From the Very Beginning... of 2023
Northport Pridefest was born from a simple yet powerful idea — that everyone deserves to feel welcome, supported, and celebrated right here in our village.
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In 2023, the Village of Northport raised the Pride flag for the very first time at Village Hall and hosted its inaugural Pride in the Park celebration. That milestone marked a turning point for our community — the first official, village-sponsored Pride event in Northport’s history. Local residents, business owners, artists, and allies came together to create an afternoon of music, joy, and connection in Northport Village Park.
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Growing Stronger Together
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The event’s success in 2023 inspired the creation of an annual tradition. Each year since, Northport Pridefest has returned with more vendors, performances, and community partnerships. The Pride flag now flies proudly over Village Hall and the Police Headquarters throughout June, symbolizing the strength and unity of our village.
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By 2025, Northport Pridefest had grown into a multi-week celebration featuring the Pride Flag-Raising Ceremony, the main Pridefest in the Park event, art exhibits by local youth, faith-based inclusion services, and “Pints for Pride” fundraisers — all amplifying our message that #AllAreWelcomeHere.
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Where We Come From
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Northport’s Pride history stretches further back than the festival itself. Decades ago, local students and community members advocated for acceptance and equality through early Gay–Straight Alliances, anti-bullying workshops, and outreach efforts across Long Island. The Northport Historical Society reminds us that as far back as 1991, Long Island students approached Northport as a potential host for one of the region’s first Pride parades — a vision that has now, over thirty years later, become a joyful reality.
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Today and Beyond
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From its roots in 2023 to today’s village-wide celebration, Northport Pridefest continues to honor the courage, creativity, and compassion that make our community strong.
Our mission remains clear: to celebrate diversity, promote visibility, and foster love and respect for all.
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Every June, Northport comes alive with color, music, and connection — a living testament to how far we’ve come, and a promise of how much further we can go when we stand together.
The Core Four - Faces Behind The Story
The festival was founded by Joe Schramm, President of Schramm Marketing Group, and Meghan Dolan Saporita, a Northport Village Trustee. Their shared vision was to create an inclusive, family-friendly event that celebrates identity, love, and community unity in the Village of Northport, where they call home.
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After ensuring Northport Pridefest is able to live on, Joe has since passed the baton on to the next generation in Northport,
