CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolinas region exploded with Pride this weekend as thousands turned out for the NC Pride Festival and Parade in Durham, N.C., and SC Pride in Columbia, S.C.
Raleigh’s News & Observer reported that 10,000 or more attended Durham’s events, including a day festival and parade. In Columbia, dozens of protesters lined along the SC Pride Parade route didn’t stop thousands of revelers from having their fun. This year marked the second the Columbia event was held as a downtown street festival. In years prior, the festival had been held in Finlay Park.
A third Pride event, Catawba Valley Pride held in Hickory, provided celebration in the foothills.
The three fall festivals followed this year’s successful Charlotte Pride. Organizers in the Queen City said as many as 80,000 people attended their two-day festival and parade, making it the largest Pride event in the region.
Other fall Pride festivals will follow in October. Asheville will host its Blue Ridge Pride on Oct. 5. Pride Winston-Salem will be held on Oct. 19.
Want photos? See our round-up of the best of Twitter and Instagram from NC Pride and SC Pride.