CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Downtown Charlotte is expected to host thousands for a gay pride festival a week before the country's Democrats come to town.
Charlotte's annual Pride Charlotte Festival wraps up this weekend with organizers saying they expect big crowds for activities which include a concert, a poker tournament and a basketball competition.
Thousands of people annually attend the festival, which also draws dozens of protesters.
This year's festival comes after voters decided to add a prohibition against gay marriage to the state constitution, effectively slamming the door shut on same-sex marriages.
The Democratic National Convention opens in Charlotte next week to officially nominate President Barack Obama as the party's presidential candidate this year.
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