As the Pride Winston-Salem parade moved down Fourth Street on June 13, the strongest display wasn’t on the floats. It was happening along the sidewalks, where strangers made room for children to see, shared candy and cooling towels and cheered as friends and loved ones marched past.
Those small acts of kindness created an atmosphere that felt distinctly different from many large Pride events. Despite the size of the crowd, Fourth Street often felt more like a neighborhood block party than a downtown festival, with people looking out for one another and celebrating connections old and new.
In a year when LGBTQ+ people continue to face political attacks and growing uncertainty, Pride Winston-Salem offered something many attendees seemed eager to find: connection.
According to the Winston-Salem Journal, Pride organizers estimated that between 65,000 and 70,000 people attended the parade and festival, making it one of the largest Pride celebrations in North Carolina.
Parade participants were frequently recognized by spectators, prompting shouted greetings, enthusiastic waves and spontaneous hugs. Signs and T-shirts throughout the crowd carried messages such as “God Made Me Fabulous” and “Diversity Equals Strength.”
The parade reflected the broad coalition that now makes up modern Pride. Churches marched alongside drag performers. Firefighters shared the route with politicians, local organizations and members of the Tar Heel Leather Club. Highland Presbyterian Church, Knollwood Baptist Church and numerous other faith communities were represented.
The many ways people engage with Pride was also highlighted during the parade. Alongside corporate sponsors such as American Airlines, Atrium Health and Inmar Intelligence were organizations deeply rooted in the local LGBTQ+ community, including Stonewall Sports Greensboro, LGBTQ+ Democrats of Forsyth County and the Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance.
Conversations along the parade route reflected some of the complexities facing Pride events in 2026. Several attendees joked about “rainbow capitalism” and questioned the sincerity of corporate Pride campaigns. Yet many also expressed appreciation for the businesses that chose to participate at a time when many companies have retreated from public support of LGBTQ+ communities.
A similar tension emerged around the presence of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Along the route, law enforcement representatives were greeted by spectators standing near people wearing patches that read “Defund the Police.” Rather than creating conflict, the moment illustrated how Pride often brings together people with different perspectives who nonetheless share a commitment to LGBTQ+ lives and communities.
Not everyone came to celebrate. A small group of protesters held signs reading “Pride goeth before destruction” and “Repent or Perish.” Yet if they were speaking, it was difficult to hear them. Attendees drowned out the protesters’ hate by blowing whistles and clacking fans.
The parade celebrated LGBTQ+ visibility, but it also offered a reminder that community does not begin and end with a single day each June: it is built through everyday acts of care, mutual support and the willingness to make space for one another long after the last float has passed.
This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and Dudley’s Place.
