Denver Virtual PrideFest Attracts more than 365k Participants
Denver PrideFest, an event that typically draws over 450,000 people to Civic Center Park, had more than 365,000 people show up to the virtual edition of this year’s annual event on June 20-21. The celebration moved online due to COVID-19, but this didn’t stop the festivities for many members of Denver’s queer community.
“We didn’t know what to expect when we started planning a virtual festival, but we were overwhelmed by the strong response. The viewership shows how meaningful this celebration is to so many and reinforces our decision to continue the event in a different form,” said The Center’s CEO Rex Fuller.
Denver Pride looked a little different this year but carried on many of the same traditions. In this year’s virtual format, Denver Pride was still able to host a virtual auction, political rally, parade, family activities, a 5K race, and three stages of entertainment. The online PrideFest offered the LGBTQ community in Denver a safe way to unite in celebration and strength in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The annual Coors Light Parade, or, this year, The Coors Light Virtual Parade, still held onto the compilation of fun, family-friendly events by showing videos that were streamed live on Denver7’s Facebook Page, app, and website as well as on Denver Prides’s website. The parade attracted more than 178,000 people.
If you happened to miss the festivities or want to relive them once again, events from the two-day festival will continue to be available for viewing on the website, including the virtual marketplace, queer author interviews, and main stage entertainment. Traditionally, Denver PrideFest is The Center on Colfax’s largest fundraiser event, providing over $1 million in support to help organizations serve more than 57,000 people annually with programs for LGBTQ youth, seniors, Colorado’s transgender community, training, and legal programs.
This year, the Center, which had hoped to raise $100,000 through the virtual celebration, generated more than half of its goal from participation in the virtual 5K. The organization is still aiming to hit its fundraising target by the end of the month.
Although closed to the public, The Center continues to provide support to the community online and by phone. For more information, call 303-733-7743 or visit here.
