As we enter yet another pride month, Denver’s two-day festival looms nearer. We had the chance to speak with Rex Fuller, CEO of the Center on Colfax, about the history of the festival and what to expect from this year.
PrideFest is coming on its 47th year, the first one being held in 1976, the same year as what would eventually evolve into the Center on Colfax was founded.
“There was a lot of activism in the early ‘70s that was in response to Stonewall and was spreading across the country. We were one of those cities that it spread to, and out of that activism, the first pride events emerged and also the activists at the time, decided that a community center was something that was really needed,” Fuller tells OFM.
The Center took over the production of PrideFest in the 1990s, which is when it went from a parade and one-day festival to a two-day festival which now attracts over 525,000 guests annually. During the pandemic, PrideFest went completely virtual, livestreaming performances and even a parade to folx from the safety of their homes.
The festival has since returned to an in-person format, with some changes. Last year saw the festival’s first-ever “sober area” which will be returning again in 2023. The festival holds three stages with constant entertainment throughout the two days.
The Latinx Stage, located on the great lawn of the Civic Center Park, features Denver’s best Latinx performers including R&B artist LaLa Cerros. The Absolute Dance World DJ Booth will also host two full days of entertainment and dancing with DJs such as Deanne and T-Beatz. Finally, the Center Stage located as always in the Civic Center Park’s Greek Amphitheater will be graced by two full days of the most talented local artists.
Perhaps the most difficult for us at OFM to keep quiet about are this year’s headliners. PrideFest goers will be excited to hear that RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 contestants Marcia Marcia Marcia and Salina EsTitties will be performing on the Center Stage. Additionally, Big Freedia will also be headlining this year’s PrideFest.
Returning again will be the work of artist Lonnie Hanzon, known for his large and immersive art installations. His piece this year is promised to be just as big and colorful as previous years, tying in the theme for PrideFest 2023; Be Proud Out Loud.
“I think that anything that can be counted as a success in the LGBTQ community has come from people speaking up and making their voices heard,” Fuller says of this year’s theme.
“Right now, there are so many attacks, especially on the transgender community, that it’s important that all of us speak up and say that these attacks are not right. This has been one of the biggest years for anti-LGBTQ and specifically anti-trans legislation across the country, and it’s being done for such cynical reasons because it’s just to score political points so that political parties can advance. It’s not because anybody actually cares whether a drag queen reads a story book to a kid. They get all whipped up into a frenzy saying this is wrong, and we need to speak out about that.”
Calling on its roots in protest and political activism, this year’s Pridefest will focus on the importance of standing up to hate against the community. As always, remember to be safe during the weekend’s various events. Festival rules prohibit the bringing of weapons and firearms into the festival, as well as non-factory sealed water bottles. The Center recommends leaving your furry babies at home, as June weather in Denver is expected to be quite hot.
Look for OFM’s booth to snag some free swag bags and other goodies! 
Photos courtesy of The Center on Colfax
