Haywood County Pride on Main

Pride on Main is a weekend Pride celebration in Waynesville serving Haywood County and Western North Carolina. It features vendors, performers and scheduled programming. The 2026 edition ran June 26 to 28.

Pride on Main includes a parade through downtown Waynesville and a festival on Wall Street. Main Street uses a rolling closure during the parade, so accessible parking on Main Street stays available, and accessible spaces are also set aside in front of Town Hall and the County Courthouse. People with mobility issues can still take part in the parade by riding the YMCA bus that organizers hire for that purpose, noting it on their parade application.

Festival parking is available on open streets and in lots including the AMC Furniture lot, the Armory, the Rec Center, Grace Church and the Courthouse and Montgomery Street garages, while parade watchers can also use the Frog Level parking area. Leashed dogs are welcome under town rules.

Organizers have given careful thought to safety. Police handle road closures, but on-site safety is covered by trained community volunteers and a Safety and Security Team in labeled shirts, in recognition that a police presence can be difficult for some LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC attendees. A medic tent at the start of the festival area is staffed by volunteer LGBTQIA+ and allied EMS workers, and the group invited Brass Your Heart, a community marching band, to drown out any protesters. The organization publishes information about its funds and team on a transparency page.

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.

Haywood County Pride on Main has included festival, vendors and performers.

The organizer has not announced dates for 2027 yet. In 2026 it was held June 26-28, 2026. It usually falls last weekend of June.