Pride Starts Here!
Pride is a Movement. Move Your Way.
The QFW 5K is for runners, walkers, families, allies, and anyone who believes Pride deserves to thrive.
And this year, there’s more than one way to show up.
Choose Your Experience:
- 👟 5K Run
- 🚶 5K Walk
- 🎉 NEW: Zero-K Experience
Be Visible - Sponsor Charlotte Pride!
However your team would like to show your Pride during Charlotte Pride Weekend, we have a package for you.
Learn more about our Sponsorship Opportunities by emailing sponsors@charlottepride.org.
Charlotte Pride is excited to welcome Nanhao Chen as our newest board member!
Nanhao (he/him) is a licensed CPA with expertise in healthcare financial management. He provides strategic, data-driven analysis that helps organizations navigate complex financial environments and achieve long-term goals. Nanhao earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Art History and Accounting from Transylvania University and later completed his Master of Accounting at Wake Forest University. Studying both humanities and finance shaped his understanding of queer identity through social justice and economic perspectives, strengthening his belief that true equity requires not only visibility, but equal access to the systems and institutions that shape modern society.
Nanhao joined Charlotte Pride in 2021 as a volunteer and continues to serve on the VIP Experience team, where he is committed to creating a welcoming and celebratory experience for all. Outside of Charlotte Pride, he is an aviation enthusiast who enjoys reviewing flying experiences and spending time at the CLT Airport Overlook watching the world connect through Charlotte.
Get InvolveD
APPLY HERE!
PARADE PARTICIPATION
MORE THAN
JUST A
FESTIVAL
CHARLOTTE PRIDE SERVES THE COMMUNITY
Charlotte Pride’s year-round programs, projects, events, and activities fulfill our mission to enrich, empower, strengthen, and make visible the unique lives and experiences of LGBTQ people in Charlotte and the Carolinas.
Charlotte pride
is the
Leader
in
LGBTQ visibility
CLT PRIDE FAQS
2026 FESTIVAL & PARADE INFO
2026 FESTIVAL VENDOR FAQS & RESOURCES
PRIDE SEASON
2025 General
The 2025 Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade is Saturday, Aug. 16 – Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. Charlotte Pride Week, which includes a variety of celebratory Pride events all around the city, hosted by local businesses and organizations, runs Friday, Aug. 8 – Friday, Aug. 15.
The Charlotte Pride Festival is moving to First Ward Park and surrounding streets in 2025! The Parade will occur in Uptown Charlotte, along Tryon Street. As we get closer to the event dates, we’ll release more detailed event maps and locations.
The Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade Weekend makes its return to Uptown Charlotte for another year. With the larger location, we’re expecting a significant increase in event attendance, and we’ll need more weekend volunteers than ever before! We will post a LINK here to sign up in early summer.
There are no admission or ticket costs to attend the festival and parade. Some portions of the event, like the VIP Experience, or related events/fundraisers may have ticketed entry. There are costs associated with registering a parade entry or festival exhibit space.
All parade and vendor applications are open for our 2025 event. Application links can be found here on our homepage, above.
We strive to make all of our events accessible to everyone regardless of ability. At the festival and parade, ASL interpreters will be on-site for all events with performers, all areas will be wheelchair/mobility friendly, and we will work to ensure additional accessibilities. We partnered with Friendly Like Me to provide a detailed accessibility guide for the festival and parade.
Click here to learn more about the accessibility guide.
For the 2024 season, we have formed a new Accessibility Committee to better equip us to make our event more inclusive.
The Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade Weekend is hosted in Uptown, which has a variety of parking and transit options throughout. You can click here for more info on Uptown parking and here for information on Charlotte’s public transit options.
We discourage bringing your furry friends to Charlotte Pride events as our events are outdoors in the heat. Service animals are always welcome. Charlotte Pride is not liable for the health and safety of any service animals at the festival.