People have individual reasons for attending Denver PrideFest – to connect with community, to feel safe, to have fun. For some small business owners, it’s also a way to make some good money.
After a successful first year of the Gayborhood Market, it will be back this year at Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park, west of the state Capitol.
The Gayborhood Market resides on the west side of the Colorado State Capitol, in Lincoln Memorial Park
Erin Marr, director of events for The Center, said the space is dedicated to and supporting local LGBTQ+ businesses. It was created in response to feedback from some that PrideFest was too corporate and inaccessible to small businesses.
Forty-eight vendors joined the market in its inaugural year, with 90 businesses signed up for 2025. The cost is $75 per day, and Marr said she was able to help people who reached out and said cost was a barrier.
“The Center doesn’t make money on this area at all since we’re paying for their tents and things. It was more about giving the opportunity for small queer businesses to share their art on a large scale and to show our support,” Marr said.
Erin Mullane, owner of Velvet Void Creations, said the cost is worth the investment. She made $2,500 and sold out her entire table last year. “I spent all night in between days (of PrideFest) making stuff, because I basically ran out of everything the first day. This year I am planning on bringing more stuff,” she said.
That stuff is her textile work, which she learned the PrideFest crowd really liked, especially the butts – crocheted pillows featuring the “one body part everyone has,” she said.
“People love the butts. I've honestly niched down to only butts, because people love them so much,” she said. Children, she added, “think it's super funny, and giggle when they walk by.”
The 2025 Gayborhood Market will feature 90 small businesses and artists across the two days of Denver PrideFest
Meeting people and connecting with other vendors is what makes the market fun for the business owners, Mullane said. “It was nice to see people that I know from the queer community that I haven't seen in a long time. This is an opportunity to bring so many people from all walks of life together.”
The Rainbow Market Denver partnered with Denver Pride to create the Gayborhood. Natalie Espino, owner-designer-creator at Alma de Arte, has been a part of the queer art community and helped organize the market this year.
“It puts you in front of folks that maybe wouldn't attend something smaller, or wouldn't know about something smaller, like a pop-up market. … It’s truly in support of community, our queer community. I love that,” Espino said.
“Several of the people that came by my booth specifically mentioned that the reason that they even came to PrideFest was to support small artists where their purchases make a difference in the lives of local queer artists in Denver,” Espino said.
She agreed that the weekend festival is also a great way to meet people from the community who you might see later at Tracks, a coffee shop, a restaurant, or on a dating app.
She said she understands that PrideFest can be overwhelming for people who aren’t comfortable in big crowds. The Gayborhood Market, she added, is a good place to have one-on-one conversations with “artists that you follow on Instagram or that you see around. It's just a really great way to connect with people on a little bit deeper level.”
Pink Pearl vended at the Gayborhood Market in its inaugural year in 2024
Annie Marshall, founder of Pink Pearl, did so well at the market last year that she’s moving to a bigger space at PrideFest this year. She said being at the Gayborhood Market showed her the potential for her permanent jewelry business, which now has a brick-and-mortar location that she’ll close for that weekend to be at Pride. That’s how much it matters to her.
“Showing up for community” is important, Marshall said, “and not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.”
She knows some people are opposed to what they consider an overly corporate Pride environment, but she wants to remind everyone that “small businesses are still here and showing up, and I hope our community shows up for us, too. If you really want to support local, show up to the Gayborhood Market, and put your money where your mouth is.”
Marshall’s business is an example of what happens when people invest in the community and the artists. “Pride is so widespread and there are so many different events, it's really important to come together in this one big, organized, city wide event, at this agreed upon spot. I hope that everyone shows up for each other.”
The other business owners agreed. “I think it's something that you should experience once, especially if you've never gone. The colors, the lights, the vibe, meeting so many people, having that feeling of togetherness. It's one of those moments that you'll never forget,” Mullane said.
And she added this is a good year to show up, with so much discord and division in the country. “I think it's important for people to get out there and be with other people right now. We need a sense of unity to move forward in this crazy political climate, and I feel like it's a positive thing. There are a lot of protests going on right now, and we need a positive expression of unity.”
About the Author: Linda Kotsaftis
With over 25 years of experience in the broadcast media industry, Linda is an innovative content leader who works to create impactful, engaging, and diverse stories for various audiences and platforms. Linda is the current editor of Front Porch Newspaper and the winner of multiple awards for her work in journalism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and innovation.
Linda has joined The Center as a contract journalist to uplift the stories of Denver Pride through the eyes of our community. Click here to discover more Stories of Pride.