CHARLOTTE, N.C. – New this year, the 25th annual Charlotte Pride Festival will take place in a new location: First Ward Park. Organizers say they needed more room. “We now bring in a quarter million people over the course of the weekend, and we wanted to have more vendors,” explains managing director Meredith Thompson.

The event brings an estimated $16 million economic impact to the city. It’ll include shopping, music, art, food, a youth and family area and more. CMPD Lt. Kevin Triola says, “We will have a lot of officers on hand to make sure that this is a safe event for everyone.”

With anti-LGBTQ legislation being considered in 49 states, DEI programs being rolled back across the country, and some corporations stepping back their support of events like Pride, supporters say showing up

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