DENVER — One of the biggest Pride festivals in the country is ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary in Denver.
Denver PrideFest will be held Saturday and Sunday in downtown Denver.
Organizers planned for a parade, 5K race and live performances on three Civic Center stages.
The event's organizer, The Center on Colfax, a nonprofit organization that provides year-round programs and services for the LGBTQ+ community, said more than 550,000 people attended the celebration last year, making it the largest Pride event in the Rocky Mountain Region.
The Denver Pride Parade will step off at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, traveling 14 blocks from Cheesman Park to near Civic Center.
"We have a stellar lineup of entertainers to help us honor this significant 50 year anniversary milestone and an amazing two days of festivities planned," said Rex Fuller, The Center’s CEO. "In spite of recent attempts to marginalize our community, we look forward to joining together with many of the Denver Pride founders and hundreds of thousands of our close personal friends in a celebration of our heritage and culture."
Here's what to know for the 50th anniversary of Denver PrideFest:
Denver PrideFest 2024
The Denver PrideFest festival celebration will be at Civic Center in downtown Denver on Saturday and Sunday. The event is free to attend.
The festival kicks off from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
There will be vendors throughout the event for guests who want to purchase food and drink.
No outside food, coolers, weapons of any kind, marijuana, bikes and open beverage container (including water bottles) will be allowed inside the event. Organizers said guests should leave pets at home for their comfort and safety.
More than 550,000 people are estimated to have attended the festival in 2023.
Denver PrideFest entertainment lineup
At the Denver PrideFest, there will be a diverse lineup of entertainment throughout the two-day event.
Center Stage performers include:
Complete entertainment festival information is available at DenverPride.org.
Denver Pride 5K
The Denver Pride 5K is open to runners, walkers and rollers. The event is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Colorado State Capitol.
Online registration is available. Proceeds from the race support The Center on Colfax's programs and services for Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community.
Denver Pride Parade
More than 100,000 people are expected to line up along Colfax Avenue on Sunday for the Coors Light Denver Pride Parade. The parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. at Cheesman Park.
The parade will span 14 blocks of Colfax Avenue from Cheesman Park to Civic Center. The parade will feature colorful floats, marchers, music and more.
Where to park
Denver PrideFest takes place at Civic Center at the intersection of Colfax and Broadway in the heart of downtown Denver.
Both Saturday and Sunday are expected to draw a large crowd into downtown Denver. Festivalgoers who plan to drive to the festival are encouraged to reserve a spot using Laz Parking and SpotHero.
No bicycles or unicycles will be allowed in the park. Festival goers who plan on biking to the festival can park their bikes at the following locations:
- 14th Street between Bannock & Broadway (Denver Art Museum)
- Broadway between 14th and 13th streets (Denver Public Library)
- 14th Street between Cherokee and Bannock (City & County Building)
- 11th and Broadway
- 12th and Broadway
- 13th and Broadway
- 16th and Broadway
- 12th and Lincoln
- 13th and Lincoln
- 13th and Acoma
- 14th and Cherokee
- 14th and Court
- 15th and Court
- Court and Colfax
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