Charlotte Pride is set to celebrate a major milestone this weekend — the organization’s 25th anniversary.
Although the organization is adding one more year to its imprint on the city, the roots of Pride in Charlotte stretch back for more than 40 years. The first Charlotte Pride Day took place in June 1981 and looked very different from the Pride many have come to know today. Back then, it was in University City and garnered a crowd of 100. Now, with more than 200,000 weekend attendees, Charlotte Pride is a marquee event and the largest street festival and annual parade in the city.
In what has been considered a move mirroring the roots of Charlotte Pride, this weekend, Pride returns to a park setting. The annual festival will be held Aug. 16-17 in First Ward Park and surrounding streets, a shift from being held on South Tryon Street. The new location will offer 33% more space…