Denver Pride is one of the top 10 Pride festivals in the country, and it’s no surprise. This festival consists of a whole weekend celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
It always starts with the Pride 5K, and it’s then followed by a two-day celebration at Civic Center Park. There’s so much to do, with over two hundred exhibitors and many foods and drink vendors.
But you might be wondering, is there an age restriction? Then I have some excellent news for you because everyone is welcome at Denver Pride.
There have even been areas such as the Youth Alley where youths aged 11 to 21 can hang out in alcohol and substance-free environments. However, you may find that some areas may be age-restricted depending on the events taking place.
When Is Denver Pride?
Denver Pride always occurs in June, with the most recent festival taking place on the 25th and 26th of June, 2022.
While it doesn’t always happen on the same date each year, you can always expect it to occur on the weekend. It always starts with the Pride 5K, and the march happens on Sunday.
Each year, the date of Denver Pride is usually announced a few months in advance, so there is plenty of time for the exhibitors, vendors, and sponsors to be ready for the Parade and 5K.
Where Is Denver Pride?
Denver PrideFest takes place at the Civic Center Park, in the heart of Denver’s downtown area.
You’ll easily be able to find it at the intersection of Colfax and Broadway. When attending Denver Pride, you should always park nearby and reserve your spot as soon as possible if you’re heading over by car.
Is There An Age Restriction?
Pride Fest is entirely open to the public, with visitors attending from all over Colorado.
There are a variety of different areas that are specifically for younger visitors, such as the Youth Alley and the Family Area.
Children are also eligible to participate in the Pride 5K so long as they register on time, and all are welcome at Sunday’s Pride Parade.
There are many more events available for everyone, and in the past, there have been events catering to teens.
In 2022, there was even an event where teens could hang around with others like them and explore their queer side. They even had opportunities to try out drag.
Due to the events in Civic Center Park, it’s accessible to all members of the public, including children and teenagers. However, no one under 18 is allowed to volunteer at PrideFest.
Events For The Younger Attendees
While I’ve previously discussed the Youth Alley, let’s talk a little bit more about what you can expect from this and the Family Area.
The Family Area is a great place to take your kids and enjoy some family-friendly activities if you have young children.
You can enjoy various events, from Musical Chairs and Simon Says to Drag Queen Story Time, and Magic Shows with the Amazing Vince.
These are only a few activities in the past few years, and there’s always more to look forward to as the schedule changes each year.
It’s a great way to gather with other LGBTQ families, all in the hands of The Center on Colfax’s LGBTQ Family Program.
For the older teens, we have the Youth Alley. Hosted by The Center on Colfax’s Rainbow Alley program, the Youth Alley is for everyone between the ages of 11 and 21.
Over at Youth Alley, there’s also an array of entertainment, and plenty of resources are available for the kids there.
As part of this program, they have Youth Drag Shows for the kids to take part in and many resources alongside Rainbow Alley.
This is a place for teens to feel relaxed about their environment, ask health questions, and get advice.
What About Events Outside Of PrideFest?
PrideFest is only one of many parts of Denver Pride. Overall, many events during Pride Month don’t only occur during the festival weekend.
Many businesses and organizations arrange for different events that are unrelated to PrideFest, which The Center on Colfax organizes.
Depending on where you go and where you search online, you may find various events that cater to different audiences.
While some are targeted to a younger audience, it’s important to note that there are also events for an adult-only crowd.
You’ll be able to tell which of these events are only for adults because they will sign-post it when you need to purchase tickets.
Various events, such as the Queer Cookout, are available for all the family to enjoy. There is also Camp Tracks, a four-day summer camp with events for all ages and those for their 21+ attendees.
If you want to attend any of these events, you’ll need to consider what you’re aiming for. Depending on your kids’ interests and age, there’s something for everyone.
Events For Older Attendees
For anyone over the age of 21, a variety of shows are exclusive to them. It comes as a no-brainer that no one under the age of 21 is allowed to drink, so some events are in place to prevent that from happening.
The organizers will mark each of these events as being for an adult-only crowd, so you won’t have to worry about younger guests here.
There are even some events, such as the Tea Dance, where they cater to the over 50 crowd. While they don’t reject those in their 20s, this event isn’t for a younger audience.
Older members of the community can dress how they wish and enjoy drinks, dancing, and drag.
Is Denver Pride Safe?
One of the main concerns about going to any event is whether it’s safe to go there. Several rules are in place when someone attends Denver Pride, especially PrideFest.
If you go to Civic Center Park, you’ll know that volunteers must search every bag, and no one can bring in alcoholic beverages or even glass containers.
Bags are searched not only for alcohol but for marijuana (which is illegal to be smoked publically in Denver) and any weapons.
So you don’t have to worry about any safety issues while you’re there. Safety is a crucial part of Denver Pride, and it’s something that all organizers take up seriously.
There’s plenty of security at the parade, with the organizers always working on contingencies and ensuring volunteers are fully prepared.
They work with organizations outside, including Hate Free Colorado and Colorado Courage, to ensure that every attendee is protected from hate crimes.
One of the best ways to be safe at Denver Pride is to ensure you follow the rules at PrideFest. If you feel unwell, there are always first aid stations, ambulances, and first responders on site to help the volunteers.
Over at Denver Pride, there’s no reason to worry about your or your family’s safety, as they’ve done everything they can to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Final Thoughts
Pride is for all ages, so you can rest assured that there’s something for everyone available all throughout Pride Month. You can look online to learn more about the events occurring each year!
Hello, my name is Gay Worlley - no, really - and I love learning about all things queer. I am also a qualified gardener and enjoy traveling in my spare time.
I love sharing my travel stories with anyone who will listen, and now I want to share them with the world through my new website! Not only that, but I want to inspire others and teach you about LGBTQ+ travel, queer media, pride, and much more.
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