Families, groups and individuals of all ages are invited to lace up your sneakers for field day games at Union County’s Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic, celebrating marriage equality in the State of New Jersey on Saturday, September 16 at Rahway River Park in Rahway from Noon until 5:00 p.m. with the family-friendly field day competition starting at 3:30 p.m.
“Family field day games are a great way to share tons of laughs with the whole family and make new friends, too,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “All families are invited to sign up for field day games now and join LGBTQ equality advocates and allies for a day of fun to celebrate the strength of our diversity as a community.”
During Union County’s Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic, right in the middle of all the music, arts and crafts, and bounce house fun, field day favorites will take over the outfield at Rahway River Park, with family teams of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
Register online to participate as a family, as a group, or as an individual today at ucnj.org/pride.
Registration is requested to participate in field day games so that teams may be formed. All other activities at the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic are open on a walk-in basis.
Teams will be announced on the day of the event. Participants will be grouped by color (red team, orange team, yellow team, green team, blue team, purple team). Each team will participate in each activity, such as the three-legged race and the egg relay. Ranked first through sixth, the team with the lowest score at the end of the day will bring home the rainbow.
A celebration of all families, the free Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will include music, arts and crafts (featuring a “LOVE Makes a Family” poster making station), inflatable bounce houses for all ages, face painting, music, and much more.
A Family Equality Rally will kick off at 1:00 P.M. with special guest speakers and performances. Parents and children are encouraged to show family Pride with a sign or banner. Bring a rally sign or join us at the Rally Poster Making Station between noon and 1:00 p.m. to create one.
Esteemed children’s music band, Michael and the Rockness Monsters will join in the day’s celebration with a live family concert starting at 2:30 P.M.
Families are invited to pack a picnic lunch and head out to the park with blankets and lawn chairs for an afternoon of fun. Food trucks will also be on site for those who wish to purchase lunch.
LGBTQ family and marriage equality advocacy and ally organizations will also set up tables, alongside the Freeholder Board information van, with general information and resource material.
“Pride events matter because inequality is not always obvious. Union County’s pride event demonstrates the support for diversity and full equality,” said Chairman Bergen. “Marriage equality rights are in part the result of years of Pride events. The Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic brings advocates, allies, and families of the LGBTQ community together to celebrate individuality and raise awareness for the need to meet the equality challenges of the LGBTQ community.”
In the event of inclement weather the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will be held at the Warinanco Sports Center, Warinanco Park in Elizabeth/Roselle.
For more information visit ucnj.org/Pride, or find the UC Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic event page at Facebook.com/CountyOfUnion, or call the Union County Office of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900.