PrideFest is an all-day family-friendly event that will feature music, vendors, drag shows and other entertainment. The festival is being hosted by Fayetteville PRIDE, a local LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization.

Fayetteville PRIDE holds monthly support meetings for the community, a book club, a Youth Empowerment Group, and works with local charities. Their mission is to instill pride, celebrate unity, and embrace diversity and inclusiveness in the LGBTQ+ community and allies. It provides a support network and educational advocacy group dedicated to increasing awareness and acceptance.

Earlier this month, the Human Rights Campaign issued its first-ever national state of emergency for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The announcement came after “an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2023,” according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Fayetteville scored a 41 on the HRC’s 2022 Municipal Equality Index. The index is an evaluation of the city’s laws and policies, and an examination of how inclusive city services are of LGBTQ+ people.
According to the HRC, some high-scoring cities may not feel truly welcoming for all LGBTQ+ people, and some low-scoring cities may feel more welcoming than their policies might reflect.

"We want our community to know that even in an environment of increased anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, Fayetteville PRIDE is working hard to instill pride, celebrate unity, and embrace diversity and inclusiveness in our LGBTQ+ community. We are dedicated to increasing awareness and acceptance and providing a safe space for the community to come together, be themselves and feel loved,” Katrinna Marsden, president of Fayetteville PRIDE, told Up & Coming Weekly.

PrideFest is their biggest fundraising and community event for Fayetteville PRIDE. Last year’s festival brought over 6,000 festival attendees, 100 vendors and 100 volunteers, according to Fayetteville PRIDE.

This year’s PrideFest will feature three hour-long drag performances, including a special hour of empowerment performances. However, the Raeford Flowers’ PrideFest Stage will also be used for contests, giveaways and music for dancing.

Approximately 100 different vendors will also be at the event, representing nonprofits, community organizations, businesses and hand-made crafters. There will also be 10 food trucks on site.

The community art project this year are take-home keychains that you can make yourself. There will be other crafts available that visitors can make to show your PRIDE year-round. There will also be a giant magnetic poetry wall to express yourself.

Additions to this year’s PrideFest include a teen’s area and an expanded kid’s area. The teen’s area will be sponsored by Xscape Factor. The kid’s area will have games, water features, entertainment and crafts sponsored by Array Magazine.

The festival is free to attend. It is suggested you bring your own water bottles, sunblock and folding chairs. Pets, backpacks, coolers and weapons will not be allowed in Festival Park.
The event will start at 12 p.m. and end at Festival Park at 6 p.m. If you still want to continue to celebrate Pride into the night, there will be a free movie showing of “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” at the Cameo Art House Theatre at 8 p.m. Best costume or drag is encouraged. The movie is rated R.

For more information, or to volunteer or donate, visit www.fayettevillepride.org/