Banner Roulette Begins Next Week
State, U.S. and pride flags will grace Hillsborough streets for holidays and other designated days and months
Through early July, you’ll see the full gamut of the town’s street banners as Hillsborough celebrates multiple days and Pride Month.
The first change in banners will come this week for Memorial Day, when crews will replace the banner featuring its clock tower with banners depicting United States and North Carolina flags. In June, banners displaying pride flags will be installed, and U.S. and state flag banners will make appearances on poles again during June in honor of Juneteenth and in the days leading to Independence Day. Depending on weather, the schedule for the banner changes is:
- May 25-June 1 — U.S. and state flag banners to recognize Memorial Day
- June 1-15 — Pride flag banners to recognize Pride Month
- June 15-21 — U.S. and state flag banners to recognize Juneteenth
- June 21-29 — Pride flag banners resumed for Pride Month
- June 29-July 6 — U.S. and state flag banners to recognize Independence Day
- July 6 — Town banners resumed
Starting in 2018, the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners annually approved a proclamation declaring June as Pride Month in celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning community. The month was designated in perpetuity in 2022. The town board also added Juneteenth as a paid employee holiday in 2020. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of those enslaved in the United States.
In 2021, Hillsborough unveiled its visual recognition of Pride Month by flying 30 brightly colored pride flags from utility poles throughout downtown. Duke Energy later determined that displaying single-pole flags on its poles violates its regulations. The decision meant Hillsborough no longer could fly any flags on the poles, including U.S. and state flags.
A remedy was found, and decorative banners that attach to the poles through two horizontal posts are now used to commemorate special days and months. Throughout much of the year, Town of Hillsborough welcome banners are displayed on poles in town. During key holidays, the town’s banners are replaced with versions that display the U.S. and state flags. See FAQ: Display of Flags for additional information.
