Your guide to Fayetteville PrideFest and more LGBTQ+ events this weekend
The last weekend of Pride Month in Fayetteville brings several ways to celebrate, including PrideFest, the city’s largest LGBTQ+ event.
Thousands are expected to gather at Festival Park on Saturday for entertainment, food trucks, local vendors and kids’ activities, hosted by the nonprofit Fayetteville PRIDE.
The festivities, which are free and open to the public, kick off at noon and wrap up at 6 p.m. Here’s a look at the schedule:
• A storytime in the kids area is at 12:30 p.m. with local film and theater director Brian Adam Kline; at 2:15 p.m. with drag artist Lady Mae; and at 4:15 p.m. with drag artist Jean-Belle Bleu. Throughout the event, kids can create their own rainbow or bracelet crafts.
• Giveaways will be held onstage at 12:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
• A dozen drag artists will take to the stage at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Performers include Morgan Richards, Sonja Simone, Sara Dazie, Jessica Blair Lords, Tatianna Matthews and Hannah Rae Rinse.
• A runway walk-off challenge is onstage at 1:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. Following the final drag show, PrideFest will conclude with music and closing remarks at 5:45 p.m.
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A few other events around Fayetteville will bring LGBTQ+ and their allies together this weekend:
4th Friday in Downtown Fayetteville
The city’s monthly festival, held from 6-9 p.m. on the fourth Friday from March through October, celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride this week. In addition to vendors, artisans, musicians and other performers, a karaoke trolley where attendees can hitch a ride and sing their favorite hits will be on hand.
PrideFest Drag Night Out at Huske
Huske Hardware Restaurant & Brewery hosts PrideFest Drag Night Out on Friday from 8-10 p.m. Drag artists Tatianna Matthews, Chloe Cassidy and Ravion St. James are slated to perform. Attendees 21 and up can purchase tickets for $10 online, search “PrideFest Drag Night” on Eventbrite. Fifty percent of the sales will be donated to Fayetteville PRIDE, according to the Facebook event.
Address: 411 Hay St.
The "Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" screening at Cameo Art House Theatre
Cameo Art House Theatre downtown is showing "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert," Saturday at 8 p.m. The 1994 comedy film, which follows two drag queens and a transgender woman’s travels across the Australian Outback, and its soundtrack, have a cult following in the LGBTQ+ community. The free event includes popcorn.
Address: 225 Hay St.
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PrideFest Paint Party at Black Canvas Studio
PrideFest Paint Party, a 21 and up event at Black Canvas Studio, is Sunday from 7-9 p.m. DJ Wolf will play hip hop, R&B and afrobeat tunes as attendees sip on complimentary cocktails and paint their own canvas. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online, search “PrideFest Paint Party” on Eventbrite.
Address: 805 Elm St.
Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Your 2023 guide to PrideFest weekend in Fayetteville, NC
