Chapel Hill Review

The third annual Chapel Hill Pride Promenade, organized by Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, is set to commence this year's Small Town Pride celebrations on Saturday, June 1 from 12 to 3 p.m. As per tradition, the community will march down Franklin Street from Peace & Justice Plaza to 140 West Plaza, where the celebration will continue with music, art and more.

The event will feature a Pride Promenade led by the Triangle Pride Band and activated by drag queens Byanka Bangsum and Marisa Kenning. Attendees can pick up streamers, flags, bracelets and more from the event welcome tent to use throughout the Promenade. A street market at 140 West Plaza will showcase local LGBTQIA+ and ally businesses and organizations. Interactive arts activities will include a community chalk mural facilitated by local artist Mayanthi Jayawardena (Serendib Creative) and a crafting table with Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation using materials from The Scrap Exchange. Chapel Hill Public Library’s Circulator will showcase books for all ages that reflect and celebrate LGBTQIA+ lives and stories.

Dance music from DJ Savant at Peace & Justice Plaza will energize the crowd from 12 to 12:30 p.m., followed by DJ Gemynii who will continue the party at 140 West Plaza from 1 to 3 p.m. An eight-foot cube temporary public art piece titled “Think Outside the Box” by artist Adam Cooley will be featured at 140 West Plaza with interactive components like movable parts, internal periscopes, and doors that open to reveal positive messages. An artistic bus wrap designed by local artist Iris Gottlieb as part of the Art + Transit project in collaboration with Chapel Hill Transit is also part of the event.

Community Arts & Culture collaborates closely with the Town of Chapel Hill LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group to plan the Promenade each year. "It’s important to us that we expand and build off previous years and let our LGBTQIA+ community know they have a steadfast partner in the Town of Chapel Hill,” says Matthew DeBellis, Assistant Town Clerk and LGBTQIA+ Liaison to the Town Manager. “It’s especially important in 2024 as hate crimes against LGBTQIA+ folks continue to increase, and state laws are enacted across the county that negatively affect our community. The Pride Promenade will help bring people together and provide a platform to uplift and support Chapel Hill’s LGBTQIA+ community.”

Attendees are encouraged to wear festive colors and bring cash to support vendors at the street market. The community will gather at Peace & Justice Plaza on Henderson Street starting at 12 p.m. Remarks from council member Karen Stegman and additional guest speakers will take place at 12:30 p.m. Chapel Hill Police will manage a rolling street closure beginning at 12:30 p.m. as the crowd progresses down Franklin Street to 140 West Plaza.

The Town expects a large turnout for this event. Biking, walking, and riding Chapel Hill Transit are encouraged. Information about downtown parking options is available at parkonthehill.com.

More events are planned throughout June by the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, including the Pride Piper Walk and Dance Party on June 28. More information about other Small Town Pride events can be found at chapelhillarts.org/smalltownpride.

For more about Community Arts & Culture, visit chapelhillarts.org or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter/X. Community Arts & Culture is a division of the Town of Chapel Hill with a mission to inspire creativity and celebrate community for a better Chapel Hill.