New Hope Pride Events Canceled For 2020

NEW HOPE, PA — New Hope's Pride parade and fair, one of the area's largest celebrations of the LGBT+ community, has been canceled for 2020.

The events, in New Hope and Lambertville, had been scheduled for Oct. 10.

"Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we have held out hope that things would take a positive turn and that we would be able to gather later this year to celebrate Pride in New Hope," said Matt Hanson, president of New Hope Celebrates, which organizes the events. "After a great deal of discussion and thoughtful consideration, it is with heavy hearts that the NHC board has decided not to go forward with the Pride Parade and Fair in 2020.

Traditionally held in May, organizers had rescheduled this year's events in hopes that the coronavirus outbreak would have calmed significantly by October. And, while Bucks County's numbers of COVID-19 cases have improved, the virus is spiking elsewhere in the United States, with new cases hitting their highest numbers ever this week.

Hanson said the board ultimately made its decision with the safety of its communities in mind.

"Even with the decline of the spread of COVID-19, large scale events pose a public health risk that we do not want to bring to our community," he said. "We did not come to this decision lightly and know that this may be disappointing for many, as it is for us as well."

New Hope Celebrates has notified vendors, partners and local businesses that were planning to participate in the events, as well as launching a campaign to provide face masks to local businesses.

The group also is planning virtual events throughout the year to celebrate Pride.

"Our celebrations and events may have changed for 2020, but at a time that is so volatile for the world there is always hope and there is and always will be Pride," Hanson said.