Two local Pride organizations are preparing to bring LGBTQ+ joy to their towns on the same day, creating a weekend of visibility and celebration in North Carolina. On Saturday, September 27, Mount Holly NC Pride and the Statesville Pride Alliance will each host their own festivals, offering distinct experiences while sharing a common message of inclusion.
Mount Holly Pride is organizing its first Pride event, an all-day celebration from noon to 8 p.m. that will fill Main Street with a business crawl, vendor market, kids’ activities, and live performances. Attendees will be invited to pick up passports and collect stamps from local shops and cafés offering Pride-themed specials. Black Sheep Coffee and other participating businesses will be decorated in rainbow colors, welcoming visitors with festive displays and limited-edition menu items designed to highlight the spirit of Pride. Alongside the crawl, a vendor market will showcase handmade jewelry, candles, thrifted goods, baked treats, and booths from LGBTQ+-affirming organizations.
Families can head to the kids’ zone, where children will find crafts, games, and storytelling activities that ensure they feel part of the day’s celebrations. Organizers say the goal is to make the festival not only fun but affirming, offering a safe place for young people to learn, play, and participate. Musicians, drag performers and local artists will provide entertainment that brings the community together, creating a high-energy close to the town’s first-ever Pride. Months of preparation have gone into building this moment, with volunteers and business owners collaborating at meetings hosted by The Summit Beer Shop to finalize details and build enthusiasm. Fundraising has focused on signage, decor, and fair pay for performers, with additional proceeds pledged to Time Out Youth, a Charlotte-based nonprofit that provides counseling, leadership programs, and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth.
The same afternoon, the Statesville Pride Alliance will host its Pride Parade and Festival downtown from noon to 4 p.m. The event begins with a parade circling Broad Street between North Meeting and Mulberry Streets, filling the corridor with floats, decorated cars, and community groups marching in solidarity.
After the parade, the celebration will flow directly into an outdoor festival with food trucks, vendors, and live entertainment. A performance lineup featuring drag entertainers, live music, and community speakers will keep the energy high throughout the afternoon.
The Alliance has built momentum for this year’s festival through events like the Pride Pet Pageant and Parade at the Historic Sharpe House earlier this summer. Pets competed in categories such as Cutest Pet and Most Creative Costume, giving families and children a playful entry point into the Pride spirit. Organizers emphasize that the September festival is free and open to all, reflecting their mission to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming community in Statesville.
Although the two events are independent, they share a common spirit of grassroots organizing. Both are powered by volunteers, small businesses and nonprofits committed to LGBTQ+ visibility and joy. Mount Holly Pride offers a day-long downtown crawl culminating in evening performances, while the Statesville Pride Alliance hosts a parade and afternoon festival. Each reflects the voices of local residents and the unique character of its town.
The significance of these festivals extends well beyond a single day. For Mount Holly, it represents the creation of a new tradition and a first step toward greater visibility in a town that has never before hosted Pride. For Statesville, it continues the growth of a community-led festival that connects families, vendors, and organizations while making LGBTQ+ life more visible downtown. Together, they illustrate how Pride is spreading beyond North Carolina’s major metropolitan centers and into smaller towns where LGBTQ+ people and allies are determined to create affirming spaces.
As September 27 approaches, anticipation is building. Organizers from both Mount Holly Pride and the Statesville Pride Alliance have been active on social media, recruiting volunteers, highlighting sponsors, and promoting vendors.
On the day itself, attendees can expect color, energy, and connection. In Mount Holly, visitors will spend the day exploring shops, browsing vendors, and ending the evening with performances that turn Main Street into a stage. In Statesville, parade-goers will cheer floats and marching groups before gathering downtown for food, games, and entertainment. Both festivals will provide opportunities to celebrate, connect with neighbors, and support local businesses and nonprofits working to affirm LGBTQ+ visibility.
With parades, vendors, music, and programming for all ages, both Mount Holly Pride and the Statesville Pride Alliance are preparing to make history on September 27. Their efforts highlight the strength of grassroots organizing and the ability of local communities to claim space for making memories, affirmation and belonging. As rainbow banners rise over two downtowns, the day will stand as another milestone for LGBTQ+ visibility in North Carolina.For more details on Mount Holly Pride go . Additional info on Statesville Pride can be found .