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Leadville and Twin Lakes are set to host their first hopefully-annual, Pride celebration this year from Thursday, June 15 through Saturday, June 17.

According to Lake County Pride’s website, “these events are dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities, and aim to promote acceptance, equality, and raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.”

For a full list of events this month, in both English and Spanish, head to LakeCountyPride.com. Volunteer sign-up and Pride Parade Float RSVP forms are also available on this site.

Downtown Leadville boasts dozens of unique small shops, including City on a Hill Coffee & Espresso block. Image  by Diana Lange

Leadville Pride Events

Pride Health & Resource Carnival
12:00 Noon – 6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 15 at Zaitz Park – 602 Harrison Ave. and 6th St Gym, 124 6th St. in Leadville. The carnival will feature resources, such as free STI and rapid HIV testing, free safe-sex giveaways, PrEP information and appointments, pregnancy prevention information and resources, free yoga class, information and resources on gender-affirming care, an Itty Bitty Queer Library, and more.

Health Carnival Panel Discussions and Events:
1:00 p.m to 2:00 p.m.: Transparent, a discussion with local parents of transgender kids in Leadville about what it’s like to raise a transgender child.
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Free Yoga Class lead by Julie Prill from Blue Earth Yoga.
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Youth Experience, a discussion with Leadville LGBTQIA+ youth about their experiences of growing up.
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PrEP Yourself!, a discussion with PA Taryn Barrette about when/how/why to use PrEP and how to access it for free in Leadville.

A full list of resources and panel discussion topics for the health carnival is available here in English and Spanish.

Pride Parade
4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 17. The parade will start at the free parking lot on 3rd and Harrison and end at FREIGHT – 320 East 9th Street, Leadville. A dance party and drag show will occur after the parade.

Drag Show at the Red Shed Bandstand
6:00 p.m. Saturday, June 17  at FREIGHT, followed by a dance party until 11:00 p.m.

All events are free.

Aria PettyOne hosted both drag shows for Ark-Valley Pride. She will be returning for the Lake County Pride drag show at FREIGHT on June 17. Photo by Carly Winchell.

Other Pride Events

Trivia Night
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday, June 16 at FREIGHT, 320 East 9th St.

Pride on the Divide (Wildflower timberline lake hike)
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday June 25. Meet at the Get Outdoors Leadville! Gear library on the Colorado Mountain College campus at 901 US- 24, Leadville. Participants will carpool from the gear library to the trailhead. The hike should begin around 11:00 a.m.

The event is free for hikers of all experience levels. The hike is uphill and 4.3 miles roundtrip. Snacks will be provided. Pack for a warm day and bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Featured image: People walking arm-in-arm in the 2023 Salida Pride parade. Photo by Carly Winchell.