City’s largest annual parade and the largest LGBTQ event in the region slated for August 20-21, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Comer, matt@charlottepride.org

What’s happening:

The Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade will return to Uptown Charlotte, Aug. 20-21, 2022, after two years of virtual and limited in-person events. The city’s largest annual parade and one of its largest festivals brings more than 200,000 visitors to Charlotte. It is one of the largest LGBTQ Pride events in the region, second only to Atlanta’s Pride events. 

Why it matters to the city and local businesses:

• Uptown Charlotte and the city’s hospitality industry have been starved of revenue from in-town spending, business travel, and out-of-town visitors.
• The last in-person festival and parade event in 2019 contributed a total of $8.05 million in economic impact, with $4.79 million in direct visitor spending — meaning big business for the city and Uptown’s restaurants, bars, and hotels.

Why it matters to the local LGBTQ community:

• The Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade is the single-largest opportunity affirming corporate partners, small businesses, and local and regional LGBTQ nonprofits to connect with the LGBTQ community each year.
• LGBTQ community groups use the festival and parade as their largest touchpoint with community members seeking essential social, health, and advocacy services
• LGBTQ people from all walks of life — younger, older, singles, families — use the weekend event as a way to meaningfully connect with others and build community (click here to read more about what Charlotte Pride means to a local queer family)
• COVID-19 and our recent socially-distant ways of living, working, and interacting has exacerbated already high-levels of depression and loneliness among LGBTQ people of all ages, especially in the face of mounting anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric:
  • “Over two-thirds of LGBTQ youth said recent debates over state laws that target transgender people have negatively impacted their mental health, a new poll released Monday by the Trevor Project shows.”
    https://www.axios.com/mental-health-lgbtq-youth-anti-trans-bills-fd67fa3c-0efa-4301-8083-312f1e28d8aa.html
  • LGBTQ youth had 9 percent greater odds of a past-year suicide attempt compared to other populations in the U.S.
    https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/mental-health/587635-lgbtq-youth-in-the-south-report-poor-mental-health
  • More than half of LGBTQ adults over the age of 50 feel lonely
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2022/01/06/lgbtq-elders-lonely-but-sage-stonewall-organizations-help/9102069002/

What’s new:

Organizers say they expect an upswell in attendance from the annual event’s already-record growth over the past decade — from just 10,000 visitors in 2010, to over 200,000 in 2019. They’re planning an expansion to their festival zone area on S. Tryon Street and a slight change to the parade’s route. Having missed their 20^th anniversary in 2021, Charlotte Pride will also be planning a wide variety of special community events in the lead up to the main event and during the iconic weekend itself.

How to get involved:

• Applications for festival exhibit spaces and parade entries are now open.
• Want to volunteer? The Charlotte Pride Programs Team offers year-round community involvement with Charlotte Pride.
• Begin planning your special event to coincide with Charlotte Pride Week, Aug.12-19.
• All involvement opportunities and event are available online at https://charlottepride.org/pride22

What people are saying:

“Charlotte’s annual Pride Week is the principal celebratory event for our LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Each year, the Pride Parade is one of the city’s most attended festivities and it serves as a special moment of acceptance and camaraderie for everyone involved. For two years, I have missed the beautiful, smiling faces, the rainbow-decorated parade floats, and all the joy this event brings to the Queen City. I’m excited for the return of the festival and parade and can’t wait to celebrate with you in August.” 
— Mayor Vi Lyles (she/her)

“Charlotte Pride’s annual events are where LGBTQ people across this region connect with each other and find essential community resources — a single weekend each year where LGBTQ people celebrate who they are and all we’ve accomplished. For two years, we’ve missed gathering together. This year, we’ll return stronger than ever.”
— Clark Simon (he/him), President, Charlotte Pride Board of Directors

“Over the past two years, it’s been heartbreaking to see social media posts from LGBTQ people — both younger and older alike — lamenting the loss of what would have been their very first Pride event. Everyone remembers their first Pride — that very first moment they were surrounded by thousands of people just like them. In 2022, Charlotte Pride will ensure this opportunity exists in the Queen City.”
— Jerry Yelton (they/them), Programs & Development Director, Charlotte Pride

“Missing the Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade for two years has been very hard for our family. Pride is a full, weekend-long family holiday for us. We all get new shirts and our kid gets a new Pride dress every year. We look forward to spending the entire weekend with other people and families just like us. I’m very hopeful and excited for the festival and parade’s return this year.”
— Joshua Jernigan (he/him), queer parent and founder of Gender Education Network