Pride celebrations are filling the Triangle’s fall calendar as Holly Springs and Durham prepare to welcome LGBTQ+ residents, families and allies for two community-centered events. From live music and local vendors to a parade celebrating LGBTQ+ history and visibility, both communities are offering opportunities to gather, connect and celebrate.
The third annual Pride of Holly Springs Festival returns Saturday, Sept. 26, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St. This year’s theme, “Proud To Be Me,” highlights LGBTQIA+ identity, joy and belonging. The family-friendly afternoon includes a march down Main Street, live music, local vendors, photo booths, food and drinks, and entertainment for children.
Organized by Pride of Holly Springs, the festival brings together neighbors, local businesses, artists and community members. The nonprofit also hosts year-round activities and programs intended to create welcoming spaces, including opportunities for LGBTQIA+ teens to connect with their peers.
Meanwhile, Pride: Durham, NC 2026 is expanding its celebration into a full week of activities, Sept. 27–Oct. 3, under the theme “Always Forward, Never Straight: Preserving History, Coming Home.” Organized by the LGBTQ Center of Durham, this year’s festivities emphasize community connections and the preservation of LGBTQ+ history, including the 45th anniversary of North Carolina’s first LGBTQ+ march, held in Durham in June 1981.
Durham Pride Week opens Sunday, Sept. 27, with a vendor and food truck rodeo at Durham Central Park from noon to 4 p.m. The event features more than 40 food vendors, over 60 community vendors and Drag Story Hour. Other activities throughout the week include a sexual health open house, a queer ecology picnic, a group bike ride, craft night and a downtown LGBTQ+ history tour.
The week culminates Saturday, Oct. 3, with Durham’s Pride Community Protest and Parade, scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. at Duke University’s East Campus. Organizers anticipate nearly 100 participating community groups, with thousands gathering to celebrate LGBTQ+ history, visibility and community.
For more information, visit the organization’s websites at https://prideofhollysprings.com/ and https://www.lgbtqcenterofdurham.org/program/pride/.
This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and Dudley’s Place.
