Out! Raleigh 2024
While the 2024 Out! Raleigh Pride was ushered in with a historic heat wave, we still had an incredible time celebrating the local LGBTQ+ community with you all. This year, we welcomed Raleigh’s very own Dawn from RuPaul’s Drag Race to the stage; she emotionally shared that 2019 Out! Raleigh Pride was actually her first Pride! Jorgeous from RuPaul’s Drag Race graced the stage, as well as Saint Ahmad, Maya, Kimora Brooks, Marsha Mellows, DJ Wicked, Triangle Pride Band, Tina & Her Pony, and Tulliz. We were able to have such talented performers thanks to the support of our sponsors, including first time sponsors City of Raleigh Human Relations Commission, Deco Raleigh, Fidelity Investments, Fresh Market, Hitachi Energy, John Deere, Novo Norodisk, RTP DEI Collective, UBS, Verizon Wireless, and ViiV Healthcare.
This year, we extended the footprint to Martin Marietta due to the expected increase in attendees; unfortunately, due to the map being posted later than we planned, this meant that many attendees were unaware of the vendors past the stage. We encourage you to check them out on our social media. With this increase in attendance, we needed extra support from volunteers this year. Volunteers went above and beyond in ensuring attendees and vendors had what they needed for a successful event. We’re especially grateful to our volunteer volunteer coordinator, Morgan, for dedicating her time to organizing volunteers.
We had several questions and suggestions in this year’s feedback survey; see below for more information!
Why is ORP hosted downtown on Fayetteville Street instead of Dix Park?
Fayetteville Street has a larger footprint for us and is more accessible - for folks with wheelchairs, people using the bus, and is also better in case of rain or inclement weather. Additionally, with many local businesses in the area, the event brings a larger economic impact and provides many opportunities for respite from the heat. Additionally, Dix Park has upcoming renovations that will prevent larger events from occurring there for the foreseeable future. In general, Fayetteville Street gives us more flexibility and options to do what we need in the most cost effective and impactful ways.
ORP was too hot this year. Can you move ORP to a different month? How will the LGBT Center of Raleigh accommodate the heat in 2025?
Unfortunately, Pride month is one of the hottest months of the year; with climate change worsening, there will continue to be adverse climate events such as the unprecedented heat wave this year. For now, we plan to keep Out! Raleigh Pride in June to honor the Stonewall Uprising that founded Pride events over 55 years ago. Additionally, outdoor events are safer for airborne illness and disease such as COVID-19. However, we hear you and will continue to offer free water at ORP, the low sensory zone in the YMCA, and will implement more water misting stations and tents with shade in 2025. We are exploring options for partnerships with businesses in the area to host some indoor Pride activities as well. Attendees are encouraged to check out local businesses in the area during ORP for respite inside with AC. For those unable to attend ORP due to the heat, we have many other events and programs during Pride month that may be more accessible to you - please come see us at one of our many weekly programs!
Why are some vendors on side streets versus Fayetteville Street? How do you make those decisions?
As part of their sponsorship package, all sponsors receive vendor space. Platinum ($10,000), Diamond ($15,000), and Rainbow ($30,000) receive a choice spot on Fayetteville Street because of their higher level of contribution. We appreciate our sponsors for supporting and making it possible to host this incredible event and keep our 20+ programs sustained year round. Outside of sponsors, we prioritize LGBTQ+ and BIPOC organizations and local small businesses as well as agencies that provide services to our community. This event offers substantial visibility for small businesses that make our community vibrant! We try to rotate vendors that have attended multiple years and spread out similar types of vendors throughout the footprint. We also do our best to accommodate requests that vendors make. This is an extremely long and thoughtful process that we decide as a planning team!
Why are corporate businesses included as vendors? Do they pay the same rate as small business vendors?
We welcome all nonpartisan organizations and businesses to apply to be a vendor at Out! Raleigh Pride. Our event showcases the diversity of businesses and organizations in Wake County and surrounding areas. To be more equitable, vendors have different rates depending on their size and status:
Artist/Small Business - $125
Non profit (budget under half million) - $150
Non profit (budget over half million) - $250
For-profit (under 50 employees) - $350
For-profit (over 50 employees) - $550
Fortune 1000 Company - $1,000
Food Truck Vendor - $400
*Price per booth space includes $50 application fee*
Why doesn’t Out! Raleigh Pride incorporate a parade?
As the second largest Pride festival in North Carolina, and with an influx in anti-LGBTQ+ attacks, we have thoughtfully and carefully decided as an ORP planning committee to not host a parade for the past several years. A parade requires more specific permits from the city, and increased safety measures, logistical measures, and regulations that our team cannot currently take on nor does our budget allow for the extra expense. With that said, we have noted the many of you who have requested that we host a parade alongside the existing pride festivities, and we are currently exploring our options and determining if and how ORP could incorporate it into the schedule in the future.
