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 this year is important. Thompson says, “I think it’s super important for us to show up and be visible.”…