Thousands celebrate love, inclusion at Out! Raleigh Pride festival downtown

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- It was a day filled with love, acceptance, and community in downtown Raleigh as thousands came out for the second day of the Out! Raleigh Pride festival.

The annual celebration highlights and supports the LGBTQ+ community across the Triangle. After kicking off with an adults-only event Friday night, Saturday's festivities were family-friendly and open to the public along Fayetteville Street.

Crowds gathered to enjoy vendors, community partners, and live entertainment. Festivalgoers told ABC11 why events like Pride remain important each year.

"There's still obviously work to do, especially with everything that's going politically," said Claire Siebert of Carrboro. "But regardless, you know that we will show up and they will be there."

Organizers say the event is meant to foster visibility, support, and connection within the LGBTQ+ community and allies across the region.

The celebration continued into the evening with performances, including an appearance by "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 17 winner Onya Nurve.

The Out! Raleigh Pride festival runs along Fayetteville Street through 7 p.m. Saturday.

ABC11 is a proud sponsor of Out! Raleigh Pride.