Durham Always Has Pride

Each fall, visitors from far and wide gather in Durham for the state’s official Pride Parade and Festival. Pride brings the community together for a weekend of celebration with events, conferences and parties in addition to the state’s official Pride parade. For a taste of the weekend’s events, check out the following video from the 2011 NC Pride Parade.

As America’s Most Tolerant City, according to The Daily Beast, it’s no surprise that North Carolina’s Pride celebration has a long history in Durham. The state’s first Pride parade was held in Durham in 1981 and followed by NC’s first public demonstration for gay rights, held at the Durham Court House in 1982. Four years later, that demonstration was followed with a second demonstration for gay and lesbian rights on the campus of Duke University. The gathering turned into the NC Pride March which traveled to major cities around the state for the next 14 years. In 2000, the traveling march faltered and a group of passionate Durhamites brought Pride home to Durham where it has resided ever since.

Now in its 28^th year, NC Pride is a community wide event with participation from many of Durham’s bars, restaurants, venues and lodging properties. From Joan Rivers at DPAC to parties at Motorco, The Bar and Pinhook to happy hours at West End Wine Bar and Straw Valley Café, there is much to be done in Durham for Pride celebrants. Join the more than 12,000 LGBT supporters who come out each year to celebrate –for dining, shopping and lodging recommendations visit outindurham.com.

NC PrideFest officially begins on Saturday, September 29^th with the NC Pride Parade. However, Pride events begin on Wednesday, September 26^th and will be ongoing through Sunday, September 27^th.  Check out the full schedule of Pride events in Durham listed below or visit the Durham Community Events Calendar for more happenings in the place where great things happen.

PRIDE: A Weekend of Events

Wednesday, September 26th

8 pm - 11pm   Pride Cocktail Hour w/ Randy Jones of the Village People, Straw Valley Cafe

10pm - 2am    Pre Pride Hip Hop Dance Party, The Bar

Thursday, September 27th

 9pm – 2am     Karaoke Grammy Awards Party, The Bar 

10pm – 2am   Pre pride Celebration, The Pinhook

Friday, September 28th

5pm - 10 pm  Wonderland Pride Awareness, Garage Bar at Motorco 

6pm               Pride Crawl on Ninth Street with Coffee and Desserts, Madhatter's

6pm               Pride Dinner Specials for Pride Crawl, Blue Corn Cafe

7pm               Official Pre Pride Outdoor Dinner, Alivia's

7pm               Pride Happy Hour, West End Wine Bar

8pm               JOAN RIVERS, DPAC-Durham Performing Arts Center

10pm - 2am    Official Pride White Glow Pride Party, The Bar

10pm - 2am    DurtyQueer Dance Party, The Pinhook

10pm - 2am    Big Freedia & Cuntry Kings,  Motorco Music Hall

Saturday, September 29^th

8:30am           NC Pride 5k Phantom Run and Walk

11:00am         Ecumenical Church Service at the Gazebo, Duke University East Campus

11: 55am        NC PRIDE OPENING CEREMONIES, Duke University East Campus

1pm               NC PRIDE PARADE  

2:30pm          Keynote: Randy Jones of the Village People, Festival Stage, Duke East Campus

6pm               Official Pride Outdoor Dinner, Alivia's

2pm - 3am     Official Pride Party, The Bar 

7pm - 4am     Pride Outdoors at Night w/ The Butchies and Team Dresch, The Pinhook 

7pm               Pride Happy Hour, West End Wine Bar

8pm - 4am      Official Garage Pride Dance Party w/None One and Beat Report, The Garage at Motorco

8pm - 4am      DUB Destruction:Anteserum Dance Party, Motorco

Sunday, September 30^th

1:15pm           Pride Lunch and Hang Out, Madhatter Cafe

2pm               Post Pride Coffee, Straw Valley Cafe

3pm               Outdoor Beachside Concert & Cookout, The Bar