About Lady Celestina

Lady Celestina is a dynamic multi-hyphenate drag artist based in central New Jersey, celebrated for high-energy performances, bold styling, and commanding stage presence. With a touring history spanning multiple states, she has built a reputation as a charismatic top-hatted diva known for uplifting and engaging audiences.

Among her many accomplishments, Lady Celestina is:

• The host of Flip Phone Events’ monthly Drag Brunch at House of Independents.
• The producer of the annual Fresh Face of Drag Pageant in Asbury Park.
• A featured host on the upcoming Don’t Does America tour this September, starring Jane Don’t from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18.

Lady Celestina brings creativity, humor, and an authentic spirit of celebration to every performance, making her a standout addition to this year’s Franklin PRIDE festivities.

The Township is proud to welcome the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus (NJGMC) to this year’s Franklin PRIDE celebration. For more than three decades, NJGMC has uplifted audiences across the region with heartfelt performances that champion pride, empowerment, equality, and acceptance.

As an inclusive, volunteer‑driven chorus, NJGMC brings together voices from throughout New Jersey and beyond. Their performances blend artistry with advocacy, offering a powerful reminder of the strength and beauty found in community. Through extraordinary music and meaningful outreach, the chorus continues its mission of inspiring hope, building understanding, and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community.

To learn more about NJGMC, please visit their website at https://www.njgmc.org/

We are excited to welcome Fogo Azul New Jersey, a women‑led samba reggae drumline, to this year’s Franklin PRIDE celebration. Rooted in Afro‑Brazilian musical traditions and inspired by the groundbreaking work of Fogo Azul NYC and its director Stacy Kovacs, Fogo Azul NJ brings vibrant rhythm, movement, and energy to every performance.

Based in New Jersey and performing across the region, this powerful ensemble delivers unforgettable live entertainment at festivals, parades, community events, and private celebrations. Their sound is shaped by the rich percussion traditions of Salvador, Bahia, where rhythm has long served as a force for cultural expression, community strength, and collective joy.

Fogo Azul New Jersey is committed to amplifying women’s voices through music and building an inclusive space where creativity, connection, and empowerment thrive. Their performances ignite the crowd, transform the atmosphere, and celebrate the spirit of unity that PRIDE represents.

We’re thrilled to have them join us on the Gazebo stage.

The Township is thrilled to welcome Villagers Theatre to this year’s Franklin PRIDE celebration as they present lively selections from the hit musical Legally Blonde. Known for championing creativity, inclusion, and community engagement, Villagers Theatre brings the best of local performing arts to the Gazebo stage.

Rooted in a mission that celebrates exploration, diversity, and accessibility in the arts, Villagers Theatre has long served as a cornerstone of community theatre in Central New Jersey. Their productions span everything from intimate dramas to full‑scale musicals, all designed to inspire audiences and foster a love of performance for all ages.

This year’s PRIDE performance features musical moments from Legally Blonde, the upbeat Broadway favorite based on the beloved film. With humor, heart, and an empowering message of self‑discovery, Legally Blonde follows Elle Woods as she takes Harvard Law by storm and discovers her own strength along the way. The show’s spirited energy and celebration of individuality make it a perfect fit for PRIDE.

We are delighted to have Villagers Theatre share their talent, passion, and artistry with our community as part of the festivities.

 Author, Airlie Anderson

Airlie Anderson is the author and illustrator of several beloved picture books, including Only, The Bird Who Liked Being Alone and Neither (LBYR), as well as Cat’s Seasons, Cat’s Colors, and Momo and Snap Are Not Friends (Child’s Play International). Her artwork from Neither was recently featured in the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art’s exhibition Open + Shut: Celebrating the Art of Endpapers.

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Airlie is the recipient of distinctions such as the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, and the Practical Pre-School Award.

Join us on Saturday, June 13^th to hear this award-winning author, illustrator, and painter read her book Neither at Franklin PRIDE!

Franklin High School P.A.C.E.

Members of Franklin High School's P.A.CE (Protect. Accept. Care. Educate), a student organization for LGBTQ youth and allies, will be doing a spoken-word performance on the gazebo stage. The advisor for P.A.C.E. is long-time faculty member, Dr. Gayle Nelson.

We are honored and thrilled to have all these wonderful entertainers join us on the Gazebo stage for PRIDE.