WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — 

Haywood County is out, loud and proud about its inaugural Haywood Pride on Main Parade in downtown Waynesville this weekend. 

The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 29, at the Haywood County Courthouse, 285 N Main St., Waynesville. Community leaders will give speeches at the courthouse at 10 a.m. 

One of those leaders is Tera McIntosh, founder of the Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity Alliance  of Haywood County, or IDEA, which organized Haywood Pride. 

“I moved here five years ago before the pandemic with my wife,” McIntosh said. “I saw a lack of physical and virtual spaces for people who were talking about diversity online in this area, so I started IDEA of Haywood County.” 

While McIntosh founded IDEA a year and a half ago, its ranks already include about 1,300 members. Thirty of them are on the planning committee for Haywood Pride, supported by 60 to 70 volunteers. More than 35 local donors have sponsored the event. 

“Our biggest sponsor is actually an anonymous donor who used to live in Haywood County who doesn’t live in Haywood County now,” McIntosh said. “[He] thought he would never see a Pride festival in Haywood County and wanted to give back to it.” 

Although this is only the first Haywood Pride festival, McIntosh said the community thought it was a long time coming. 

“They’re super excited that it’s finally happening. We have people that have lived here that have moved away to find an LGBT community coming back and saying they never thought this would actually happen,” McIntosh said. 

While the parade is the main event, Haywood Pride has a jampacked Saturday schedule. The festival will be hosted at the Frog Level Historic District. 

  • 11 a.m. – Waynesville Bellydance leads an hour-long Rhythm and Flow Community Drum Circle 
  • Noon – Queer wrestling and rap group Urban Combat Wrestling has a matchup 

– Local artist Bobbi Silverwood leads a live canvas art session until 4 p.m. 

  • 12:30 p.m. – Live music featuring Asheville artist Kim Smith 
  • 2 p.m. – Live music featuring the alternative rock band Arnold Hill 
  • 7 p.m. – Drag event Glam & Glitz: A Drag Affair will be performed at Frog Level Brewing 
  • 10 pm. – Post-drag show drinks and appetizers will be sold at Amici’s Italian Eatery 

McIntosh anticipates queer folks from all over coming out for Haywood Pride. 

“You know, you have people who are an hour away in a rural county that are looking to find people that love like them, dress like them, et cetera,” McIntosh said. “It’s super important.” 

The festival has a kick-off event at 8 p.m., Friday, June 28 at The Water’n Hole Bar and Grill. The Friday festivities begin with live music and conclude with a Pride dance party until 12:30 a.m. 

The festival will close at noon on Sunday, June 30, at Misfit Mountain Animal Rescue with a Bring Your Own Garlic Bread community picnic. 

More information about IDEA of Haywood County, Haywood Pride or the event schedule can be found on the event website, www.haywoodncprideonmain.org.