Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade 2025

If you own or work with a for-profit retail or commercial company, we invite you to submit an application for vendor/exhibition space at this year’s Charlotte Pride Festival, to be held on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17, 2025.  Our retail/commercial/for-profit vendor fee structure is as follows:

Retail/Commercial/For Profit ($695/space) 

NOTE: Corporate partners are invited to join us as sponsors and may not apply using this application. Sponsor packages often include a Festival Zone Vendor Space and/or Parade entry. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.

Vendors will be notified according to the schedule below.

Notification Deadlines and Dates:

Submission by February 5 - Notice by February 19

Submission by February 26 - Notice by March 12
Submission by April 2 – Notice by April 16
Submission by May 7 – Notice by May 21
Submission by June 11 (Final Deadline) – Notice by June 25

Please do not email requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not been contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email vendors@charlottepride.org.  

The annual Charlotte Pride Festival is organized, operated, and produced by Charlotte Pride, Inc. Charlotte Pride and the City of Charlotte have several guidelines, rules, and regulations that all festival participants must follow. If you have any questions, please contact our Vendor Team at vendors@charlottepride.org. https://charlottepride.org/faqs/

If you represent a small, medium, or large nonprofit organization, we invite you to submit an application for vendor/exhibition space at this year’s Charlotte Pride Festival, to be held on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17, 2025. 
 
Our nonprofit vendor fee structure is based on your organization or campaign's budget:
Grassroots Nonprofit/Political Group (Gross Receipts/Campaign Budget Under $100k) — $250
Small Nonprofit/Political Group (Gross Receipts/Campaign Budget Between $100k-$500k) — $350
Medium Nonprofit/Political Group (Gross Receipts/Campaign Budget Between $500k-$1 million) — $450
Large Nonprofit/Political Group (Gross Receipts/Campaign Budget Over $1 million) — $650
 
NOTE: Sponsor packages often include a Festival Zone Vendor Space and/or Parade entry. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our Managing Director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.
 
Vendors will be notified according to the schedule below.
 

Notification Deadlines and Dates:

Submission by February 5 - Notice by February 19

Submission by February 26 - Notice by March 12
Submission by April 2 – Notice by April 16
Submission by May 7 – Notice by May 21
Submission by June 11 (Final Deadline) – Notice by June 25

Please do not email requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not be contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email vendors@charlottepride.org. 
 
The annual Charlotte Pride Festival is organized, operated, and produced by Charlotte Pride, Inc. Charlotte Pride and the City of Charlotte have a number of guidelines, rules, and regulations that all festival participants must follow. If you have any questions, please contact our Vendor Team at vendors@charlottepride.org.https://charlottepride.org/faqs/

Use this application to apply for a spot in our parade lineup for your company or organization's parade walking/marching group or group with a float or vehicle. Groups can include up to 100 people.

Companies or organizations that will consist of walking groups of more than 100 will need to contact Charlotte Pride about becoming a sponsor. To inquire about becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director Meredith Thompson at meredith@charlottepride.org.

NOTE: Spaces for floats are limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Discounts or waived fees are only for organizations that have already become sponsors of the Festival & Parade and whose sponsorship package includes a complimentary space in the parade. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.

Notification Deadlines and Dates: 

Submission by January 31 - Notice by February 17

Submission by February 28 - Notice by March 17

Submission by March 31 - Notice by April 15
Submission by April 30 – Notice by May 15
Submission by May 31 – Notice by June 17
Submission by July 11 (Final Deadline) – Notice by July 18

Please do not email Charlotte Pride requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not been contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email parade@charlottepride.org and a member from the team will get back to you.

For frequently asked questions, please visit our website at https://charlottepride.org/faqs/ 

Use this application to apply for a spot in our parade lineup for your company or organization's parade walking/marching group or group with a float or vehicle. Groups can include up to 100 people.

Corporations, as well as companies or organizations that will consist of walking groups of more than 100, will need to contact Charlotte Pride about becoming a sponsor. To inquire about becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director Meredith Thompson at meredith@charlottepride.org.

NOTE: Spaces for floats are limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Discounts or waived fees are only for organizations that have already become sponsors of the Festival & Parade and whose sponsorship package includes a complimentary space in the parade. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to our managing director at meredith@charlottepride.org for more information.

Notification Deadlines and Dates: 

Submission by January 31 - Notice by February 17

Submission by February 28 - Notice by March 17

Submission by March 31 - Notice by April 15
Submission by April 30 – Notice by May 15
Submission by May 31 – Notice by June 17
Submission by July 11 (Final Deadline) – Notice by July 18

Please do not email Charlotte Pride requesting status updates before your submission notice date. If you have not been contacted by your appropriate notification date, please email parade@charlottepride.org and a member from the team will get back to you.

For frequently asked questions, please visit our website at https://charlottepride.org/faqs/ 

The Charlotte Pride Drag Pageant is a gender-inclusive pageant for contestants who believe in the power and importance of community service. Our pageant winners are more than just title holders. They live and breathe the spirit of Pride. They envision a world in which all LGBTQIA+ people are affirmed, respected, and included — free from any discrimination, rejection, or prejudice. They commit their volunteer work, time, energy, and talent to the Charlotte Pride mission to enrich, empower, strengthen, and make more visible the lives and experiences of LGBTQIA+ people in Charlotte and the Carolinas. 

This year’s Charlotte Pride Pageant continues our more than 20-year-long tradition of pageants that center inclusion and visibility. Each titled contest this year is open to all performers regardless of gender. 

Up to three winners will be selected: Mx. Charlotte Pride, Miss Charlotte Pride, and Mr. Charlotte Pride. Winners will serve as the 2025 Charlotte Pride Court. 

If you are interested in competing to become a part of the 2025 Charlotte Pride Court, please complete this application in its entirety. Before completing this application, we encourage you to think thoughtfully about your answers to the following questions, as well as to prepare your information for upload.

Two high-resolution photos and your song must be submitted via email to the 2024 Charlotte Pride Court at drag@charlottepride.org or this application will not be considered complete.

This year's Charlotte Pride Drag Pageant will be hosted during Charlotte Pride Week on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at a local venue (to be determined). 

The winner of each category will also perform as a component of the Charlotte Pride Festival entertainment on Sunday, August 17, 2025. We kindly request that all qualified contestants plan to be available on Saturday, August 16, and Sunday, August 17, for other duties.

Registration fees for 2025 are $35.

Each winning Title Holder will receive:

• $200 cash prize
• Crown and sash
• $75 at give-up in 2026

Title Holders will be required to:

• Appear at up to four paid bookings chosen by Charlotte Pride
• Serve as a Drag Team Coordinator for the next year’s Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade Planning Committee
• Perform on the Charlotte Pride Festival Main Stage on Sunday, August 17
• Appear in the 2025 Charlotte Pride Parade on Sunday, August 17
• Appear in the 2026 Charlotte Pride Parade

Deadline for pageant entry: Monday, July 7, 2025

For questions, comments, concerns, etc. regarding the pageant, please reach out to the 2024 Charlotte Pride Court at drag@charlottepride.org.