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
Friday,
September 28th
6pm Pride Crawl on Ninth Street with Coffee and
Desserts,
Madhatter's
7pm Official Pre Pride Outdoor Dinner,
Alivia's
10pm - 2am Official Pride White Glow Pride Party,
The Bar
Saturday,
September 29th
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
8pm - 4am DUB Destruction:Anteserum Dance Party,
Motorco
Sunday, September
30th
3pm Outdoor Beachside Concert & Cookout,
The Bar
This is the 29th year the NC Pride Parade is being held in Durham, and it is the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender event in a five-state area, attracting over 12,000 participants. Since Durham is a place where all who want to be are welcomed, the parade is a great community event and demonstration of support. NC Pride events last all weekend long in Durham and in neighboring communities. The full schedule is online.
