Denver Pride
2023 Annual Report

In June 2023 the Mile High City was dressed up in cheer and rainbows as The Center on Colfax produced the Rocky Mountain region’s largest annual celebration of LGBTQ+ pride. Our 2023 celebration was a year of shattered records, with the largest PrideFest, Coors Light Denver Pride Parade, and PRIDE 5K in Denver Pride history!

Upwards of 550,000 people attended the festival at Denver’s Civic Center Park, 125,000 parade-goers joined the celebration for the Coors Light Denver Pride Parade, with 15,000 marchers in more than 270 contingents proudly strutting down Colfax Avenue on Sunday morning, and more than 3,000 runners kicked off Denver Pride weekend in support of The Center on Colfax at the PRIDE 5K on Saturday morning.

Saturday began bright and early on the steps of the State Capitol with the PRIDE 5K presented by Smartwool. The event raised nearly $150,000 to support the programs and services offered year-round at the Center on Colfax. Denver PrideFest was headlined by Big Freedia (presented by Nissan), with performances by a myriad of local performers on four stages. Sunday morning saw the return of the Coors Light Denver Pride Parade down Colfax Avenue. The event was emceed by Debbie Scheer and Jon Jon Lennon with special guest Governor Jared Polis.

As the weekend closed, The Center on Colfax staff already began their planning efforts for 2024 - the 50th Anniversary of Denver Pride. Our 50th anniversary celebration promises crowds bigger and more engaged than previous years as Denver Pride has become a regional draw, bringing hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ+ community members and their supporters to Denver each year.

We thank you for your support of this important annual community event that makes The Center’s work possible.