Charlotte Pride, one of the region’s largest LGBTQ+ events, returns with a packed lineup in the Queen City on Saturday, Aug. 15 and Sunday, Aug. 16. The annual festival and parade drew a record-breaking 260,000+ visitors to Uptown in 2023 — a number the organization hopes to match every year.

City Editor Maria here. This weekend-long celebration has a lot of moving parts during Charlotte Pride Week. This guide will provide everything you need to know before attending.

A large group of people walking through vendor booths. — The Charlotte Pride Festival moved to First Ward Park in 2025. | Photo by Grant Baldwin Photography via Charlotte Pride

Festival details

The street festival kicks off at First Ward Park on Saturday from 12 to 10 p.m. and 12-6 p.m. on Sunday.

In addition to live performances, there will be a market filled with vendors, a youth zone, and a health fair + art exhibitions at The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte.

Headliners

Charlotte Pride announced four headliners for the weekend: Flyana Boss, Isabella Lovestory, Lauren Sanderson, and Bryan Ruby.

Entertainment will run throughout festival hours Saturday and Sunday.

There were more than 10,000 marchers and 200+ contingents in the Charlotte Pride Parade in 2023. | Photo by Grant Baldwin Photography via Charlotte Pride

Parade information

The parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, along N. Tryon Street. Roughly 200 contingents and 11,000 marchers will strut, dance, and roll down the rainbow-filled street, starting near 9th Street and ending near 4th Street.

If you'd like to do more than attend, volunteers are still needed.

Fun fact: Charlotte Pride has a longstanding history in the Queen City, drawing thousands of marchers to the parade since 1981.

Admission

While Charlotte Pride is free to attend, the organization also offers a VIP experience, featuring an air-conditioned lounge with beer, wine, and special stage + parade viewing areas.

VIP tickets start at $122 and are still on sale.

Parking and street closures

Portions of Brevard, 7th, and 8th streets will be closed for the festival and parade starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16. All closures are expected to reopen by 12 a.m. Monday.

If you're heading to the festivities, there are garages surrounding the parade route.

The Blue Line light rail also has several stops in Uptown, providing an easy park-and-ride option.