Pride month is upon us, and Colorado is buzzing with celebrations all month long!
Steamboat Springs
Yampa Valley Pride is hosting a plethora of events in Steamboat Springs all month long. Pints for Pride will be organized on June 8 with specifics to come. Yampa Valley’s 4th annual pride festival will be held on the Routt County Courthouse lawn (from 12-4 p.m.), followed by Pride on the Divide on June 2 (from 2-5 p.m.). The June 2 event will be held at Mountain Tap Brewery and will offer food, drinks, and giveaways. Pride on the Divide is also hosting two free community hikes, one to Harvard Lake (June 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) and the other to Berthoud Pass (June 29, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). For all my fellow outdoorsy queers, make a reservation online to reserve a spot for the hikes.
Longmont
Longmont Pride will be celebrated on June 7 from 3:30 – 8 p.m. at Roosevelt Park. The celebration promises a day filled with live music, community partnerships, and a parade in the evening which will wind through the heart of the city. There will be an abundance of booths and stalls providing useful resources and information for LGBTQ+ folks. And of course, there will be plenty of mouthwatering food vendors to satisfy all appetites.
Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak Pride kicks off at Alamo Square on June 8-9. The festival will be running both days from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.. The mainstage entertainment is jam-packed with exciting performances, including special headliners Belzin Whistlez, Yan Yez, Amy Martin, Marti Cummings, Laurie Dameron, Spur, and many more. In addition, there will be a parade on that Sunday, June 9, beginning at 11 a.m.
A Packed June 15
June 15th is loaded with festivities. Check out Lafayette Youth Pride at Courtney Way (12-4 p.m.). This will be a resource fair for youth and families, and, of course, will be filled with vendors, activities, and entertainment.
The same night, the Colorado Rockies are hosting a Pride Night as they play the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7 p.m. Upon purchasing a ticket, you will receive a limited-edition Rockies-themed Vizzy Pride fanny pack. A portion of the ticket proceeds will be given to The Center on Colfax, Colorado’s largest LGBTQ+ resource and community center, as well as One Colorado, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ rights.
It doesn’t stop there! If that wasn’t enough, Ouray Country Pride will be hosted the same day at Ridgeway’s Hartwell Park from 2-10 p.m. You can expect a family-friendly celebration of diversity and community.
Craig Pride sets off June 15 in Craig, from 12-3 p.m.
Leadville is alive and merry, too. From 12-2 p.m., Lake Country Public Health is having a Health Carnival, followed by a Pride Parade from 5-6 p.m.
Denver’s Big Pride Party
Denver’s highly anticipated PrideFest will be held June 22 (11 a.m. – 7 p.m.) and June 23 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.). Last year, an estimated 550,000 people were in attendance, and this year, commencing Denver Pride’s 50th anniversary, the numbers are expected to rise.
The weekend begins with a 5k on Saturday. The next two days, Denver’s iconic PrideFest will boast over 250 exhibitors, 30 food vendors, and a diverse selection of live performances. Sunday will initiate the infamous Coors Light PrideFest parade–stretching the course of 14 blocks that starts at Colfax Avenue and reaches Civic Center Park. This will be quite the memorable event, so be sure to come celebrate inclusivity in the Mile High City.
June 29 Gaytivites
June 29 is also a lively day. NoCo Pride will be held in Loveland at The Ranch Events Complex (11 a.m.-5 p.m.).
In addition, Palisade’s Paddle With Pride returns for its fourth year. A Pride Parade on the Colorado River, the event starts at Palisade Rim Launch where participants will float for a few hours to Corn Lake in Clifton. The event is a collaboration with Paddleboard Adventure Company, so RSVP your floats from them or bring your own to the launch area by 10:30 a.m. to fill out forms and put on sunscreen. There will be an after-party at The Sneak Line as well. Check out Paddle With Pride’s Facebook page for more information.
Boulder
Boulder Pride is to commence on June 30 at Boulder Central Park from 11:30 a.m. until 5 pm. Out Boulder County is packing a day full of fun—from a diverse array of performers, vendors, activities, giveaways, and even a motorcade. Keep an eye on their Pride Page for more events, parties, mixers, parades, and everything in between as the dates near!
Pride After June
Just because June ends doesn’t mean Pride does!
Aurora will host an awesome Pride August 3 on the Aurora Reservoir from 12-7 p.m. Come enjoy a beachfront celebration with vendors, music, activities, and everything in between. The event aims to raise money for local LGBTQ+ students. Get your tickets online for free or at the door for $10.
On August 4, Douglas County kicks off its PrideFest at Salisbury Park from 11 am to 6 pm.
You can also expect Pueblo Pride on August 18. The location and specifics are TBA, so keep an eye out.
San Luis Valley’s Pride will be held August 24-25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cole Park, with additional information coming soon.
Finally, Colorado West Pride: Pride Through The Ages will be hosted in Grand Junction from September 3-8.
Whether you make it to the festivities or not, June (and beyond) is a month to celebrate unity, understanding, and love for the creative and vibrant LGBTQ+ community–and allies are always welcomed. Check out some of these amazing events and celebrate our beautiful, diverse, and resilient LGBTQ+ community all month long!
