After last year's PrideFest festivities were pushed online, organizers are opting to make this year's 46th annual celebration a hybrid event. Presented this weekend by the Center on Colfax, "Unite with Pride" will offer a range of in-person and virtual options so it's as inclusive as possible, organizers said.
"We believe it's crucial to provide the community with a range of options to safely connect and celebrate PrideFest this year," said the Center's CEO Rex Fuller in a press release. "While some people might feel comfortable interacting in small gatherings, others may feel safer staying at home. We hope our hybrid approach offers something for everyone."
We rounded up dozens of events to help you celebrate. Happy Pride!
Friday
The Triangle Bar will be hosting parties all weekend with DJs, dancing, drag performances and more. Buy passes to individual events online, or buy a Pride Weekend Pass that gets you access to all Triangle Pride offerings.
Bruz Off Fax will likewise be offering Pride deals all weekend. Anyone wearing Pride swag can pay happy hour prices for drinks, and if you show up in drag you get a free beer! On Saturday from 6-8 p.m., catch a performance by Chocolatina Pie Queen, who'll also be selling pies, and on Sunday, anyone who shows up in a swimsuit gets $2.50 TBA cans.
Denver Pride Virtual Marketplace: Rather than planning an in-person market, PrideFest is offering an online marketplace showcasing the event's sponsors, exhibitors and vendors. Open all weekend.
Bitfactory Gallery "Us" Exhibit: The gallery in the Art District on Santa Fe is once again showcasing LGBTQ+ artists as part of its second-annual "Us" exhibit, designed to demonstrate the universality of art. This year's showing features work from LGBTQIA+ artists Jeremy Patlen, Clint Ramstetter, Louis Trujillo, Autumn T. Thomas and Jason Van Tatenhove. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spectra Art Space, Into the Rainbow: This South Broadway exhibition opened last week with artwork from more than 85 queer artists and allies, as well as a giant collaborative rainbow piece covering Spectra's walls. 12-8 p.m.
JCC Pride Shabbat: The Jewish Community Center, a 2021 Pride hub, is offering an inclusive Shabbat service from 5-6, as well as a 6 p.m. Shabbat dinner. While tickets to the dinner and in-person service are now sold out, you can still tune into the service virtually via Zoom. 5-6 p.m.
Dinner with a side of drag: Hamburger Mary's, another 2021 Pride hub, will be offering drink specials throughout the entire weekend, including at this Friday night dinner and drag performance. 8 p.m.
Your Mom's House Pride Concert Benefit: Your Mom's House is hosting a benefit concert with performances from DJ Waggles, Burban and Genghis. All profits from the show will go to the ACLU. Doors: 6:30. Show: 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Official Women's Pride Party "Awakening": All are welcome to this show featuring aerial performers, burlesque, drag and more! $15. 7 p.m. - close.
DRAG NATION - AWAKENING: Part of a series of events offered by EXDO during Pride, this event offers performances by special guests including RPDR alums Heidi N Closet and Adore DeLano, local drag artists and International Dance Crew. 9 p.m.
Saturday
Denver Pride 5k: Every year, the Pride 5k race raises money for The Center off Colfax. This year's race will take place both in person and remotely. In-person participants will meet at the Cheeseman Park Pavilion fountains, where they'll be divided into two groups with staggered start times to promote social distancing. The in-person race is already sold out, but you can also register as a virtual participant and run the 5k in your own neighborhood. 9:30 a.m.
Denver Pride Virtual Marketplace: Rather than planning an in-person market, PrideFest is offering an online marketplace showcasing the event's sponsors, exhibitors and vendors. Open all weekend.
Cattivella Official Pride Brunch: Cattivella Primi Colazione will hold a special brunch with a popup performance from local drag performers. Make reservations online. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science: The DMNS, another Pride hub, is PrideFest's official family area. Families can register online to enjoy live storytelling, music, magic and more at the museum's outdoor plaza, as well as discounted museum admission. 10-11 a.m., 12-1:30 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m.
Hamburger Mary's drag brunch: Start your day with brunch and performances by Felony Misdemeanor and Jessica L'Whor. Three seatings at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Latinx Pride Dance Party: Or, if you wake up ready to party, head over to LUCID lounge for a morning Latinx dance party. D j Buddy Bravo will spin reggaeton, cumbia and salsa. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Virtual Dyke March and Rally: The Dyke March says it provides an alternative to Pride, which some view as being more male-centric. Join the "march" via the Center on Colfax's YouTube channel or on the DenverPride's website. 10 a.m.
Bitfactory Gallery "Us" Exhibit: The gallery in the Art District on Santa Fe is once again showcasing LGBTQIA+ artists as part of its second-annual "Us" exhibit, designed to demonstrate the universality of art. This year's showing features work from LGBTQIA+ artists Jeremy Patlen, Clint Ramstetter, Louis Trujillo, Autumn T. Thomas and Jason Van Tatenhove. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Spectra Art Space, Into the Rainbow: This South Broadway exhibition opened last week with artwork from more than 85 queer artists and allies, as well as a giant collaborative rainbow piece covering Spectra's walls. 12-8 p.m.
The Center on Colfax: The Center is PrideFest's main Pride hub. This year, its parking lot will transform into a small festival with food trucks, entertainment and the Coors Light Beer Garden. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
JCC's outdoor Pride Festival: While the JCC pool party is now sold out, you can still check out the food trucks, live music, entertainment and mobile vaccination clinic at the community center's outdoor festival. 1 - 5 p.m.
Dinner with a side of drag: Enjoy drink specials and drag performances at this special Pride dinner at Hamburger Mary's. 8 p.m.
EXDO Montucky Pool Party: This "pool party" includes a daytime soaking pool in the EXDO field, music, inflatables, $3 Montucky cans and "unicorns." 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
EXDO Pride Awakening: Stick around after the pool party to catch performances by DJ Suri and The Bolt Boys. 9 p.m.
Coors Light Virtual Denver Pride Parade: For the second consecutive year, Denver's annual Pride parade will be held online only. The parade will premiere Saturday night on Denver7, but you can also stream the parade later via the Denver7+ app, DenverPride.org, the Denver Pride Facebook Page and the Center on Colfax YouTube Channel. 10:35 p.m. or streamed online the next day.
Sunday
Denver Pride Virtual Marketplace: Rather than planning an in-person market, PrideFest is offering an online marketplace showcasing the event's sponsors, exhibitors and vendors. Open all weekend.
Denver PRIDE Parade Viewing Party: If you want to experience the virtual parade with others, check out this viewing party at the ART Hotel. Visitors can watch the parade together in the hotel ballroom while enjoying pride-themed cocktails, music, a costume contest, a live community chalk mural with local artists Jason Graves and Remington, vendors, merchants and a "rainbow bagel wall." Tickets start at $25, and a portion of all ticket sales will be donated to The Dru Project. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Cattivella Official Pride Brunch: Cattivella Primi Colazione will hold a special brunch with a popup performance from local drag performers. Make reservations online. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science: The DMNS, another Pride hub, is PrideFest's official family area. Families can register online to enjoy live storytelling, music, magic and more at the museum's outdoor plaza, as well as discounted museum admission. 10 - 11 a.m., 12 - 1:30 p.m. and 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Hamburger Mary's drag brunch: Start your day with brunch and drag performances. Three seatings at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
PRIDE Drag Bingo Brunch: On Sunday, Milk Market on Denver's Dairy Block will be celebrating pride with food, bingo, prizes, bottomless mimosas and drag performances. 11 a.m.
The Center on Colfax: The Center is PrideFest's main Pride hub. This year, its parking lot will transform into a small festival with food trucks, entertainment and the Coors Light Beer Garden. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sie FilmCenter: Another official pride hub, Sie FilmCenter is hosting a free pride celebration featuring an outdoor bar, entertainment, a stage with pop-up performances and a beer tasting with Ratio Brewery. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Denver Pride McGregor Square: The new entertainment complex in the Ballpark area will celebrate Pride with food and entertainment. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
JCC's outdoor Pride Festival: While the JCC pool party is sold out, you can still check out the food trucks, live music, entertainment and mobile vaccination clinic at the community center's outdoor festival. 1 - 5 p.m.
Spectra Art Space, Into the Rainbow: This exhibition opened last week to display artwork from more than 85 queer artists and allies, as well as a giant collaborative rainbow piece covering Spectra's walls. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Big Queer Beerfest: Goldspot Brewing and Lady Justice Brewing collaborated this year to produce this inaugural Pride event, hosted on Goldspot's patio. More than 15 breweries across Denver will serve up pride-themed beverages, and one dollar per drink will benefit charities of each brewery's choice, each of which supports LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC communities. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Khloe Katz presents YASS QUEEN! This show at Hamburger Mary's features performances by Khloe Katz and guests Miss Zarah and Daphne DeCoteau. 7 p.m.
Official PrideFest Closing Party: End the weekend at The Triangle, where you can drink, dance and enjoy DJ and drag performances, plus a special performance from multi-platinum music artist Vassy. Remaining tickets start at $50. 1:00 p.m. - 2 a.m.
