The Complete Guide to South Carolina LGBTQ+ Pride

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South Carolina Pride, and its many events throughout the state, are celebrations of LGBTQ+ identity and a symbol of solidarity, bringing people together to honor the achievements in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, while also advocating for continued progress. Whether in the form of a parade, festival, workshop, or other activity, each event promotes LGBTQ+ visibility and the uniqueness of each individual. Here are our choices for the biggest and best annual Pride events in the Palmetto State, in our Complete Guide to South Carolina Pride.

Beaufort Pride Events

Lowcountry Pride Festival – A family-friendly event with food trucks, booths from nonprofits, local vendors, and a bounce house for the kids, is a day of activities for everyone. The Lowcountry Pride Festival in November highlights the LGBTQ+ friendliness of Port Royal and Beaufort County.

Charleston Pride Events

Charleston Pride Week – Charleston Pride Week happens every September and is organized by Charleston Pride. It’s a week of fun events including “Dragaoke,” the LGBTQ+ take on karaoke, trivia contests, a comedy show, and dance parties.

Charleston Pride Festival – The best part of Charleston’s Pride Week is the Pride Festival at The Refinery. It’s a family-friendly, free event with local food trucks, special drinks, vendors, and a stage of non-stop live performances.

Charleston Pride Parade – Unlike the pride events during September’s Pride Week, the Charleston Pride Parade is held on the first Saturday of June in historic Downtown Charleston, It invites people and groups to actively participate by walking, riding in vehicles, or creating original floats as it makes its way along King Street. Or, if you’d rather, you can just come and be a spectator.

Charleston Black Pride: Walk in Your Truth Pride – Black Pride Weekend in late October, early November, is about celebrating, supporting, and honoring the Black LGBTQ+ community. There are workshops, talks, and performances that highlight its culture. It’s a way to connect, learn, and feel a sense of belonging in the Black LGBTQ+ community.

Park Circle Pride & Festival – Park Circle Pride is a week-long LGBTQ+ series of events in North Charleston, featuring events at bars, restaurants, and breweries. Its Pride Festival is one of the South’s biggest, with drag brunches, trivia, workshops, an art walk, a poetry stage, restaurant specials, panels, karaoke, a vendor market, a youth fest, a cabaret show, bingo, dance parties, and drag storytime.

Columbia Pride Events

Famously Hot South Carolina Pride Parade & Festival – When the sun goes down on Friday, kick off your October weekend with a display of lights, laughter, and unity at the night-time Pride Parade. Whether you’re marching alongside colorfully lit-up floats, cars, and groups, or simply taking it all in as a spectator, you don’t want to miss this. Get there early as it all starts with a street party on Main Street and continues after the parade with the Get Lit concert and dance party.

Columbia Pride Festival – Get ready for a day of fun and entertainment at the largest LGBTQ+ event in the state, drawing more than 80,000 people in October. The Columbia Pride Festival is a free family-friendly, all-day event of live performances across multiple stages, food trucks, and vendors. For the kids, the Library Bus is where Drag Story Time brings children’s books to life, as kids to connect and make new friends.

Outfest Columbia – Celebrate coming out, being out, or planning to come out at Columbia’s June Outfest. Join the fun and experience the spirit of the Soda City, where local talent, vendors, and businesses unite for a celebration of diversity and community.

South Carolina Black Pride in the Park – Black Pride in the Park is an annual June event celebrating the Black LGBTQ+ community. It features live performances, workshops, panel discussions, and cultural presentations, and provides a safe space for networking, learning, and connecting within the Black LGBTQ+ community.

Greenville Pride Events

Upstate Pride Black Pride Parade & Festival – This week-long celebration in June, includes numerous events, including a kickoff pool party, a cooking demonstration, speed friending, and a VIP cocktail party, and an afterparty. The highlight, of course, is the parade and festival, showcasing the unity, visibility, and celebration within the Black LGBTQ+ community

Myrtle Beach Pride Events

Pride in the Park Festival – It’s an unforgettable day in September filled with fun, entertainment, and a strong sense of community. The Pride in the Park Festival includes food trucks, a bar, vendors, artisans, local organizations, live music, drag and street performers, a Kids Zone with inflatables and games, an Amateur Drag Contest, and festival merchandise for purchase.

Rock Hill Pride Events

Rock Hill Pride Festival – The Rock Hill Pride Festival is eight days of fun events and activities in June including LGBTQ+ Speed Dating, a Father’s Day Brunch, the Pride March for Equality, an open mic night, Pride Pajama Party Bingo, a Disco White Party, and the always entertaining, Mx, Mr. & Miss Rock Hill Pride Pageant. On the last day of the festival, there is a Kids Zone for fun, family-friendly activities.

Spartanburg Pride Events

Upstate SC Pride March and Festival – Taking place in downtown Spartanburg in October, The Upstate SC Pride March and Festival includes vendors, food trucks, live music, and performers, with a march that typically begins around noon. Plan on getting your pride started early at the Pride Kickoff Party.

South Carolina Pride Events Provide Safe Spaces for Diversity

Pride events in South Carolina are a vital platform for the LGBTQ+ community, providing a safe space for visibility, where individuals can openly express their identities and celebrate differences. They also function as rallying points, highlighting the ongoing struggle for acceptance. For the LGBTQ+ community, pride events aren’t just celebrations, they are essential in feeling a sense of belonging. By participating in, or supporting them, members of the community engage in a meaningful act of solidarity, acknowledging the importance of equality and the beauty that diversity brings to the state.

**Disclaimer: There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate or sponsor links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (for which we are extremely grateful).

Also, while we do our best to highlight LGBTQ-friendly destinations and businesses, info provided is based solely on personal experience and recommendations by community partners. We hope that nobody experiences discrimination or homophobia while visiting Florida and beyond, but we make no guarantees. Please inform us if you experience discrimination or homophobia while visiting any destination so we can make updates to our recommendations.

Events are subject to change. Please check the events webpage for updates and schedules.

ChatGPT or another AI writing platform may have contributed to the writing of this article.

Fay Stevenson

Originally from Baltimore, Fay started her career as an elementary school Language Arts teacher. Five years later, Fay joined Johnson & Johnson where she enjoyed a 31-year career in pharmaceutical sales. After a move to Florida following her retirement, Fay joined the OutCoast team to bring the first Florida OutCoast Convention (FLOCC) to the Tampa Bay Area. Fay is living her best life in St Petersburg. In her spare time, Fay is an amateur singer/songwriter and avid sports fan.

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