Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture Dept. is excited to announce the return of the Chapel Hill Pride Promenade. Join us as we march down Franklin Street to enjoy music, art, and more at 140 West Plaza.
- What: Second annual Pride Promenade marking the beginning of Small Town Pride across Chapel Hill and Carrboro
- When: Saturday, June 3 from 2 to 4 p.m.
- 1:15 p.m.: Meet at Peace & Justice Plaza
- 2:00 p.m.: Hear Mayor Pro Tem Karen Stegman’s remarks to signal the official start of the 2023 Pride Promenade
- Where: Meet at Henderson Street at 1:15 p.m.
- The march route: Franklin Street from Peace & Justice Plaza to 140 West Plaza
- Wear festive colors and bring flags that show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community
The Town of Chapel Hill’s LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group (ERG) helped plan the event. Matt DeBellis, an ERG member, says, “While this is only the second year for this event, it has already become something that the community looks forward to. This year, we helped bring several ally organizations to the Promenade, including Equality NC and the UNC LGBTQ Center.”
More than a thousand people attended the inaugural Promenade in 2022. We expect another large crowd this year.
In addition to the march down Franklin Street, this year’s Promenade features many other highlights:
- The Triangle Pride Jazz Band (1:15 to 1:45 p.m.): Join this LGBTQIA+ and ally community band at Peace & Justice Plaza as the crowd gathers for the march.
- Public Art at 140 West Plaza: Durham-based artist Julia Gartrell’s 13-foot-high pyramid highlights Pride Month’s themes of celebration, reflection, and action
- DJ at 140 West Plaza: Enjoy dance music as you join Freddy Bell’s community mural-making project and collect information from LGBTQIA+ and ally organizations
- The Chapel Hill Public Library’s Circulator: Join acclaimed Drag artist Naomi Dix at the Circulator, which will showcase books for all ages that reflect and celebrate LGBTQIA+ lives and stories
We encourage you to bike, cycle, walk, or take Chapel Hill Transit to the event. Information about downtown parking options is available at parkonthehill.com
To learn about other events that the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro have planned, visit:
chapelhillarts.org/festivals-events/smalltownpride
We hope to see you at the Pride Piper Walk and Pride Food Truck Rodeo and Dance Party on June 30 at Carrboro Town Commons!