LGBTQ+ Pride month is here. Here’s how to celebrate in the Charlotte area.
The LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride month every June. In Charlotte, the official Pride parade and festival is mid-August, but there are still plenty of celebrations this month, as well.
You can also support many of the businesses in the area that support the LGBTQ+ community.
Here is a list of events you can join in on to celebrate Pride month in the Charlotte area:
Drag Story Hour
Location: Free Range Brewing, 2320 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
When: June 7 at 6:30 p.m.
What to know: Calling all bookworms! Free Range Brewing will be hosting its first Drag Story Hour.
The story hour will feature Marty McGuy, who will be reading to the attending children and adults. Prepare to get lost in the eccentric storytelling.
Cost: Tickets are free, but sign up is required.
LGBTQIA+ Cast: Alphabet Soup
Location: VAPA Center, 700 N Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28202
When: June 7 at 9:30 p.m.
What to know: Take a load off by enjoying some improv put on by Charlotte’s first and only LGBTQ+ improv team: Alphabet Soup.
The show will start at, and will be in Charlotte’s originating improv theater, the VAPA Center.
Cost: $18 each. Purchase tickets online.
The Safe Space Tour
Location: Watershed Charlotte, 2101 Shenandoah Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
When: June 10
What to know: Trey Pearson, a gay Christian rock artist, will be performing at Watershed Charlotte. Pearson’s coming out announcement made national news, and he was featured on “The View.” He was nominated for a GLADD award for his appearance on the talk show.
There will be merchandise including vinyls, CDs and T-shirts available to concertgoers.
Cost: The concert is free, but contributions are allowed.
Pride Night
Location: Spare Time Huntersville, 16317 Statesville Road Huntersville, NC 28078
When: June 16-17 from 9 p.m.-midnight
What to Know: Bring your friends to Spare Time in Huntersville and try to get a strike during Pride Night.
The event includes bowling, shoe rentals and music. There will also be a DJ and giveaways.
Cost: Admission is free,but an RSVP is necessary, bowling is $49.99 per lane per hour on Fridays and Saturdays. Register on the site or by emailing aburkhart@bowlne.com.
FRESH2DEATH: It’s Giving Ballroom
Location: Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 South Tryon Street Charlotte, NC 28202
When: Saturday, June 17 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
What to know: DUPP&SWAT is highlighting Black creatives — specifically the kiki scene — with the latest event from siblings Davita Galloway and Dion Galloway: FRESH2DEATH: It’s Giving Ballroom. “Ballroom culture, featured in the FX series ‘Pose,’ is an African-American and Latinx underground LGBTQIA+ subculture that originated over the past century in New York City and has a thriving presence in North Carolina — especially in Charlotte,” stated a release about the daylong event. Activities include a rooftop drag brunch, a fashion show and a kiki ball.
Cost: From free-$150
Slay Saturday Drag Brunch
Location: Armored Cow Brewing Co., 8821 JW Clay Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262
When: June 17 at 7 p.m.
What to know: Grab a chair or reserve a table for the Slay Saturday Drag brunch. (And yes, you read that time right, the brunch will start at 7 p.m. Who said brunch had a time frame?)
Lolita Chanel will return to celebrate this year’s Pride at the 18+ event. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: Tickets are $10 for general admission and $50 for a table of six. Purchase tickets online.
6th Charlotte Annual Pride Bar Crawl
Location: Uptown Charlotte
When: June 17 from 3-10 p.m.
What to know: Have a fun night out with friends, or by yourself, and grab drinks and food at some of the best pubs, clubs and bars in Uptown Charlotte during the 6th annual Charlotte Pride Bar Crawl.
Attendees will visit Tattooz N’ Booz Nightclub, Local Bar CLT, Istanbul Hookah Lounge, Prohibition Nightclub, Hive Nightclub, Roxbury Nightclub and Encore Nightclub. There may be more venues added.
The tickets include, but are not limited to, a digital bar list, free entry to top venues and tasty themed drink specials.
Cost: $15-40. Purchase tickets online.
Pride Day Party
Location: The Bevery, 2215 Thrift Road #Suite B Charlotte, NC 28208
When: June 18 from 3-7 p.m.
What to know: Why just have brunch when you can have a party? The Bevery — which recently rebranded from Summit Seltzer — will be hosting a Pride Day Party.
The event will have a drag show at 4 p.m. featuring Nova Stella, Lolita Chanel, Karen Affection, RC Cola and DJ SweeTee.
Guests of all ages are invited, but alcoholic beverages will only be served to guests ages 21 and over.
Cost: $10 each. Purchase tickets online.
Drag Me to Brunch Pride Brunch
Location: Free Will Craft + Vine, 3701 North Davidson Street #201 Charlotte, NC 28205
When: June 24 at noon
What to know: Enjoy a nice brunch and show at noon at the Drag Me to Brunch Drag Event. Seating will begin at 11 a.m.
Enjoy a pizza courtesy of The Sidekick CLT and Free Will Craft + Vine. Additional food and beverages will be an additional cost. Seating is first come, first serve.
The event is open to all ages. Drinks are only served to guests ages 21 and older. Make sure to purchase a ticket in advance, because ticket prices will increase at the door — if they’re still available.
Cost: $20 each. Purchase tickets online.
Born This Way - Charity Drag Brunch
Location: The Artisan’s Palate, 1218 E 36th St A, Charlotte, NC 28205
When: June 24 at 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
What to know: This charity brunch is also a tribute to Lady Gaga.
The show will have seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Make sure to arrive 15 minutes early to get settled in and place food and drink orders.
Enjoy performances from Vae Lee, Shelita Bonet Hoyle, Valarie Rockwell and Jayla Serena Mitchell.
All proceeds from the brunch will go toward Twirl to the World.
Cost: $23 each. Purchase tickets online.
Equality Pride Crawl
Location: Slate Charlotte, 200 East Bland Street Charlotte, NC 28203
When: June 24 from 5-10 p.m.
What to know: Grab a friend or two and enjoy some drinks at the Equality Pride Crawl.
The 21+ event includes check in at Slate Charlotte and an afterparty at Broken Promises. Attendees can hop from the following participating venues: Slate Charlotte, Lost and Found, Hoppin, Resident Culture South End, Sling Shot and Broken Promises.
The event includes, but is not limited to, free admission into all participating venues, exclusive drink specials and free admission into the drag show after party.
Cost: $15-20 each. Purchase tickets online.
Meet and Greet
Location: Common Market Oakwold, 4420-A Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
When: June 26 from 6-8 p.m.
What to know: Meet and connect with people who have traveled a similar journey.
The event is hosted by PFLAG Charlotte and helps those in the LGBTQ+ community, parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies find a safe space.
Registration ends at 5 p.m. on June 25.
Tickets: The event is free, but registration is required.
Stand Up With Pride: Comedy Show & Talkback
Location: Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 South Tryon Street Charlotte, NC 28202
When: June 28 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
What to know: Laugh until you cannot breathe at the Stand Up With Pride: Comedy Show & Talkback.
The event is in partnership with AQRONYM Entertainment and will feature comedians from the company. The comedians will use their set times to discuss the intersection between the Black and LGBTQ+ communities.
Each set will be followed by a community conversation led by the comedian.
Cost: The event is free, but donations are accepted.
[READ MORE: 23+ LGBTQ+ friendly businesses in Charlotte to support during Pride and beyond]
Save the date for more celebrating in August
Charlotte’s Pride festival and parade stands out from other Pride celebrations by being held in August rather than in June like the rest of the county.
The reasoning for the event being fashionably late is to not conflict with other events happening in the city. The parade and festival are the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in Charlotte and the surrounding area.
Charlotte Pride 2023
Location: Wells Fargo Plaza
Neighborhood: Uptown Charlotte
When: Aug. 19-20
What to know: Bring your friends and your flags and head to the biggest Pride event in the Charlotte area. The Charlotte Pride Parade and Festival will feature a newly-expanded Youth and Family Zone that comes complete with new games, activities and opportunities for families.
More details about the event will be coming out at a later time.
Cost: Admission is free.
