CHARLOTTE — Celebrating three years of Pride Charlotte in the Queen City, organizers more than exceeded their goal of attracting more than 8,000 attendees to the annual event on Saturday, July 26.
According to police estimates, 10,000 people filled the festival at Gateway Village and Cedar St. This year’s event was also expanded to include a portion of W. Trade St.
Few protestors were present at the event and no major disruptions were reported. For about 20 minutes mid-afternoon protestors preached from the property of the Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church on Trade St.
Organizers said they were excited the event went so well. Event participation fit with the two prior years, as attendance again increased by 2,000 people. Over 120 vendors participated in the event.
Sponsors included presenting sponsor Bank of America, as well as Q-Notes, Wachovia, Food Lion, Caribou Coffee, the Blake Hotel, Best Buy, Camden, LOGO/MTV, Hewitt and Associates, Fluent, Ameriprise Financial, Velocity/Crave, Coors Light and others.
Organizers said the event was also well-received and reported in area media. News organizations covering the event included WBTV 3, FOX Charlotte, News 14 Carolina, The Charlotte Observer and Creative Loafing.
info: www.pridecharlotte.com
I want to personally thank all the organizers, sponsors and volunteers who made Pride Charlotte 2008 possible. As far as I’m concerned, it was the best one yet. I’m already looking forward to next year.