August is busy with events for LGBTQ+ communities across the Carolinas. Charlotte Pride returns with its annual festival and parade, while organizations throughout North and South Carolina continue celebrating the season with theater, concerts, drag performances, community fundraisers, networking events, sporting events and opportunities to give back.
Whether you’re looking for a Pride celebration, a community fundraiser, live entertainment or an opportunity to connect, here are some of the highlights happening across the Carolinas this month.
Happening All Summer
Summer arts and cultural programming continues throughout August across the Carolinas. Blumenthal Arts continues Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors through Aug. 9, bringing a fast-paced, gender-bending comedy inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic vampire tale to Charlotte audiences. In Flat Rock, Flat Rock Playhouse celebrates the 30th anniversary of RENT through Aug. 15 with a new production of Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about love, resilience and chosen family.
Recurring throughout August
Recurring events throughout the month include weekly karaoke nights at Chasers and Bar Argon, Southern Country Charlotte dance nights and Gaming Lounge Charlotte community gaming events. The Hideaway in Rock Hill also continues its Sashay Saturdays drag showcases throughout the month, featuring rotating casts of performers and DJs.
August 1
Legacy Caribbean Bar & Grill hosts its monthly drag lunch featuring Dorae Saunders, Paris Lefaris and special guests CJ Grant and Alexia Bonet.
Charlotte Black Pride hosts Let’s Be Social at Divine Barrel Brewing, bringing the community together for an afternoon of conversation, music and connection with DJs Jarzu and Kapri Su.
The Harriet Hancock Center hosts Queer Game Night in Columbia, bringing LGBTQ+ adults together for an evening of board games, card games and community.
Vanna Vanity hosts a fairy tale-inspired dance party at Bar Argon featuring performances by Phina 5000, Leonasia Chanel and Vicki Vanity, with music by DJ Diesel and drag entertainment throughout the night.
August 2
Lenny Boy Brewing Co. hosts Drag for a Cause, a fundraiser featuring Charlotte drag entertainers and benefiting the Carolina Migrant Network.
August 3
Snug Harbor’s What’s Good returns with a special Pride Month edition featuring guest DJs, an aerial performance and a fundraiser benefiting Time Out Youth.
Carolina Vogue Nights: Back to School Drive Box
Club Love hosts a Back to School Drive Box, collecting school supplies for K-8 students through The Drop.
August 4
Pride Is a Protest: Then & Now
The Levine Museum of the New South explores the history of Pride as protest and its continued relevance through an evening of conversation and reflection.
August 6
The second annual Queen City Lip Sync brings American Airlines flight attendants to the Stage Door Theater for a night of drag performances benefiting the Wings Foundation.
The LGBT Center of Raleigh hosts Rollin’ With Pride, a family-friendly roller skating fundraiser supporting the center’s programs and services.
Dishing with the Divas: Vanna’s Tupperware Party Birthday Edition
Vanna Vanity celebrates another trip around the sun with an interactive drag show blending camp, games and plenty of nostalgic fun.
August 7-8
The Lotus Project presents RENT, the Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical set during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Carolina RAIN will host a post-show talkback following the Aug. 8 matinee and offer HIV testing on site.
August 7
Menagerie: An Audiovisual Drag Experience
Petra’s celebrates the one-year anniversary of Menagerie with an immersive drag show hosted by Fellini featuring music, visuals and high-energy performances.
August 8
The Drop partner with the ballroom community for a free cookout, backpack giveaway and community resource fair supporting local students ahead of the new school year.
The Vanity House kicks off Charlotte Pride Week with its annual drag brunch at Catalú, featuring performances from members of the Charlotte Pride Court.
Life’s a Beach Charity Drag Brunch
DRAGO Charity Drag Brunch presents Life’s a Beach, celebrating Valarie Rockwell’s birthday while raising funds for Hearts United for Good.
Thrift Pony hosts its annual Pride celebration featuring drag performances, local vendors and shopping.
Petras welcomes back UltraViolet, a sapphic dance party featuring DJs, tarot readings and fundraising for Time Out Youth.
Sofar Sounds Queen City presents The Art of Charlotte Drag, an intimate showcase celebrating Charlotte’s drag community with performances by Lolita Chanel, Dahlia Dialup and other local artists, plus a special guest from King of Drag.
August 9
North Star LGBTQ+ Community Center hosts a drag brunch featuring performances, coffee, donuts and community.
Charlotte Pride Interfaith Service
Faith leaders and community members gather for Charlotte Pride’s annual Interfaith Service celebrating inclusion, reflection and community.
August 11
The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce hosts its nonpartisan candidate fair, giving voters an opportunity to meet candidates and learn more about local races ahead of Election Day.
Blumenthal Arts brings “& Juliet” to the Belk Theater, reimagining Shakespeare’s classic heroine with a fresh story and a soundtrack of hit pop songs. Performances run through Aug. 16.
August 13
Charlotte Pride’s annual Drag Pageant crowns the next Mx., Miss and Mr. Charlotte Pride during an evening celebrating the artistry of drag.
August 13-14
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte celebrates the music of video games with Game On!, a two-night concert featuring live performances of themes from Halo, Pokémon, Final Fantasy, Skyrim and more, presented in partnership with Charlotte Pride.
August 15
Charlotte Pride’s two-day festival begins in Uptown Charlotte with live entertainment, exhibitors, vendors, food, community organizations and thousands of attendees celebrating LGBTQ+ pride and community.
The Vanity House celebrates Pride Weekend with its annual drag brunch at Ink N Ivy.
Pride Fest Drag Brunch with Nicole Paige Brooks
RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Nicole Paige Brooks headlines a special Pride Weekend brunch presented by The Vanity House at Ink N Ivy.
Charlotte FC and Charlotte Pride team up for Pride at the Pitch, featuring a pre-match social before the club takes on the Columbus Crew at Bank of America Stadium.
RIOT! A Punk CLT Pride Afterparty
Haus of Terror caps off Charlotte Pride with RIOT!, a late-night punk-inspired afterparty at Snug Harbor featuring drag, burlesque, live performances and dancing.
August 16
Carolina Legends Pre-Parade Drag Brunch
The Vanity House honors the legendary performers who helped shape the Carolinas’ drag community with a special Pride Weekend brunch just steps from the Charlotte Pride Parade route.
Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade
Charlotte Pride Weekend concludes with the annual Uptown parade and the final day of the festival, featuring floats, performers, community organizations and one of the Southeast’s largest Pride celebrations.
August 18
Charlotte Pride in Aging Professionals
Charlotte Pride in Aging Professionals hosts its monthly networking gathering, bringing together those who support and advocate for older LGBTQ+ adults.
August 20
The Harriet Hancock Center’s Pages of Pride Book Club discusses Kristen Arnett’s novel Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One in Columbia.
August 22
The Drop partners with Mimosa Way for The Playback Party, an LGBTQ+ dance party celebrating early 2000s and 2010s R&B and hip-hop while raising funds for LGBTQ+ youth services.
August 26
After the Credits: Practical Magic
Project Enough presents an evening inspired by Practical Magic, featuring a film discussion, an intention bag workshop and an interactive exhibit exploring witchcraft, sisterhood and women’s history.
August 28
Charlotte artist LAMÄR brings his soulful sound to Asheville’s Earth River Records, blending ambient soundscapes, R&B and melodic pop in his set.
August 28-29
Queen City Concerts brings The Cher Show to Charlotte’s Booth Playhouse for a one-weekend-only production celebrating six decades of the music icon’s career with three performers portraying Cher throughout her life.
This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and Dudley’s Place.
