Charleston Pride

Charleston Pride is the Lowcountry's main Pride celebration, run by the nonprofit Charleston Pride Festival, Inc. A Pride Week of socials, talks and fundraisers leads to the annual parade and festival. The organization marked its 16th anniversary in 2026.

Charleston Pride Festival, Inc. says its mission is to raise the visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community by educating the public, honoring its heritage, advocating for its culture and celebrating its diversity. It holds events throughout the year that highlight LGBTQIA+ history and culture, with the parade and festival as the centerpiece.

The nonprofit is funded only by sponsors and money raised at events, so fundraising runs all year, with a stated goal of $100,000. Its Friends of Pride program asks supporters for $15 a month, which helps pay for events, partnerships and monthly socials and includes free entry to major events.

Pride Week programming mixes parties with learning. The 2026 schedule included an Orange Party with drag performances at Share House, a Pitch Your Friend matchmaking night, and Pride University, a talk series whose first 2026 session was a free town hall with Nico Lang, author of American Teenager, at Circular Congregational Church. Volunteers staff the fundraisers and events across the year.

Pride events celebrate LGBTQ+ people and mark the Stonewall uprising of June 1969. Most combine a parade or march with a festival of performers, community groups, vendors and food.

Charleston Pride has included parade, festival, pride week and pride university talks.

The next edition is October 17, 2026. It usually falls october, after a Pride Week.