Lindsay Pietroluongo

For the Poughkeepsie Journal

Rarely a month goes by when there isn’t another fantastic event from one of our area’s LGBTQ communities. From themed pop-up shops and concerts to pride celebrations at the start of the summer, I’m always excited to hear about what’s in the works.

Here are a handful of upcoming events throughout the Hudson Valley, plus an extra thrown in that I can’t help but mention:

The Loft: LGBT Community Services Center (252 Bryant Ave., White Plains) holds Gaymes Night on the first, third and fifth Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. They also show classic and contemporary films every second and fourth Saturday of the month at 8 p.m. Visit loftgaycenter.org

GAY PRIDE: Summer events celebrate LGBT community

The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center’s annual Gala will be at The Grandview (176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie) March 4 at 6 p.m. Enjoy dinner, cocktails, dancing and both silent and live auctions. Tickets are $150 per person. Visit lgbtqcenter.org

During Big Gay Hudson Valley’s next pop-up Meet Market on March 18 from 8 p.m. to midnight, Cunio will sing covers of pop hits at Canvas (305 Main St., Poughkeepsie); $10 cover. Then in April, drag superstar Varla Jean Merman, whom you might have seen on "Project Runway" and performing in Provincetown, will have a three-city tour, stopping at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center (9 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie) on April 7 at 8:30 p.m., the Rosendale Theater (408 Main St., Rosendale) on April 8 at 9:30 p.m. and Helsinki Hudson (405 Columbia St., Hudson) on April 9 at 7 p.m. Visit biggayhudsonvalley.com

Keep an eye out for more pride events at the beginning of June, when Hudson Valley LGBTQ and Big Gay Hudson Valley will team up to offer happenings in New Paltz and Poughkeepsie.

Honorable mention

The adults-only Bindlestiff Cirkus Cabin Fever Cabaret returns to Helsinki Hudson Saturday, Feb. 18, from 9 p.m. to midnight. Don’t be fooled by the intimate setting — the Cirkus is enormous in entertainment and imagination. Acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, aerialists, comedians, clowns and sideshow acts will pull off fun and suspenseful feats. Watch closely and you’ll catch nods to the NYC underground club scene and street theater. Advance tickets are $25 and day-of tickets are $30. Visit helsinkihudson.com for more information.

Lindsay Pietroluongo writes about nightlife in the Hudson Valley for the Poughkeepsie Journal. Email her at lindsaypietro@gmail.com