Update: Denver PrideFest officials said Tuesday that an estimated 450,000 people attended the festival.
“We had huge crowds all weekend,” said Center CEO Debra Pollock, who continued that she was particularly pleased by large amounts of corporate support on Sunday morning. “It was amazing to see all these corporations making an important statement of support for the LGBT community.”
A little more than 40 percent of the Center's $2.2 million budget comes from funds raised during PrideFest.
On Sunday, traffic was cleared from Colfax Avenue, glitter and bubbles appeared and music echoed over the wickedest street as the annual PrideFest parade marched to Civic Center Park.
The parade featured 211 registered floats, more than any other year, and thousands of marchers. There were still tons of people waiting to begin the parade in Cheesman Park by the time the front of the line made it to Civic Center.
Here's a look at some of the people we met today.
Cheer Colorado performs aerials in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Joanne Fabrics rides dressed as a Stephen King character on the Stanley Hotel's float in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
An enormous flag leads the Denver PrideFest parade down Colfax Avenue, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Eve, 4, skips beneath an enormous flag that leads the Denver PrideFest parade down Colfax Avenue, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Kiara Williams and Rachel Okrey take a selfie during the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Ron Rickshaw and Gay Onyx Steele ride a pedicab down Colfax during the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.comKevin J. Beaty/Denverite
City Council Member At-large Robin Kniech marches in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
A float for the Rose Medical Center in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Dancers from the El Potrero Night Club ride a float in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Janet Waidley smiles during the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Mookie, the Denver GOP party dog, rides a float in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Spectators watch the Denver PrideFest parade from apartments above Colfax, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Spectators watch as the Denver PrideFest parade processes out of Cheesman Park, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Kent McFadden blows bubbles along the Denver PrideFest parade route, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
The Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Colorado's lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidate Donna Lynne marches in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
U.S. Representative and gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis marches in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
The Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Very tall women march in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Micaela Cruce dances in a flowing dress in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Ulises Medrano dances with a flag in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
A band plays on a float cruising the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Students from the Logan School for Creative Learning hang out of a bus in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Jaelyn, 10, (left to right) and Bree King hurl glitter bombs onto the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Mile High Comics owner Chuck Rozanski marches in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Thousands of people march in the Denver PrideFest parade, June 17, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) Denverite.com
Kevin is a multimedia artist who flung himself into the world of journalism. He likes using a camera and microphone to tell stories about workers, the environment, social justice and fascinating humans.
