Charlotte Pride festival weekend: What to know

MERCEDES MEHLING | UNSPLASH

Charlotte Pride weekend will showcase a full slate of entertainment, vendors and parade Aug. 17-18 in Center City.

Charlotte Pride’s annual street festival is back for a weekend of performers, vendors and parade.

The festival will be open from 12-11 p.m. Aug. 17 and 12-6 p.m. on Aug. 18. The Charlotte Pride Parade will run from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday as an anticipated 200 contingents and 11,000 marchers make the procession along Tryon Street. The Festival Zone will include an extended Youth & Family Zone on The Green in which the 1.5-acre private park is turned into a family-friendly space.

The Neighborhood Market at Levine Avenue of the Arts will include 15 local artisans and craftspeople. Flourish also returns at the Mint Museum Atrium from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday. The arts festival will be held indoors and will feature LGBTQ+ spoken word artists, fine arts and performance groups and short films.

The Arts & Science Council Community Stage will include local performers and drag artists on Saturday, including a talent showcase by Time Out Youth and the annual Charlotte Pride Drag Pageant.

The Charlotte Gaymers Network Stage is back for a second year as a hub for LGBTQ+ gamers and esports players. The stage will be located on Levine Avenue of the Arts and includes live gaming and DJ sets.

Charlotte Black Pride BOP: Black on Purpose Stage, located on West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is new to the festival. It will showcase Black LGBTQ+ artists and performers and celebrate the creativity and resilience of the Black LGBTQ+ community.

Tickets for the VIP Experience are on sale which includes access to the VIP lounge at the Mint Museum Uptown. The tickets include complimentary drinks, catering, entertainment, and gift bags in addition to access to VIP parade stands and VIP main stage viewing area.

Among the national and regional artists scheduled to perform at the Main Stage are Baby Tate, Bob the Drag Queen, Slayyyter, and Paula Cole. Main stage entertainment will run throughout festival hours Saturday and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

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