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Arts and Entertainment

Party for Pride

Durango Pride Festival kicks off Wednesday
The seventgh annual Durango Pride Festival will kick off Wednesday. A full calendar of events will keep you having fun through June 26.

The seventh annual Durango Pride Festival will be kicking off Wednesday. Formerly called the Four Corners Pride Festival, the event offers five days of fun events for everyone.

And, in the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, last week, festival organizers are expecting a lot of people.

“I am definitely preparing myself for a larger turnout,” said Kristi Dean, chairperson for the Four Corners Alliance for Diversity and coordinator for Durango Pride.

“One of the things I love about Pride is that there’s always been a large number since we moved it into town – it used to be something that was just for the queer community. (The move ) create that space for our allies to show solidarity,” said Jude Harrison with Four Corners Support for Transgender People, Allies and Relatives. “And we’re going to see a lot of people come out.”

So what are some events not to miss?

“I would push for the parade, personally, because it’s going to be the most visible for people,” said Rowan Blaisdell, co-founder of the Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center. “I would love to see us have a couple of hundred people on the street.”

The parade isn’t just for spectators. Participants are encouraged to start lining up at 11 a.m. in the Grass Burger parking lot.

The festival in Buckley Park after the parade is another favorite. There will be entertainment, a children’s venue and food and drinks.

The river float has changed this year, Dean said. Mountain Waters Rafting is offering $20 rides. People can also meet up with their own rafts at the 32nd Street put-in.

Also be sure to check out dueling pianos between Elton John and Liberace impersonators June 24 and June 25 at Derailed Pour House.

And while the week will be filled with fun, it’s the feeling of unity in the community that is important. It’s also sending a positive message to our young people, Dean said.

“I think for the youth ... events and festivals like this that we old people can host and put on so that the young people feel safe and say, ‘See? There is a change,’” Dean said. “And they’re not having to constantly be the ones to fight the battle. ... I am spending all my time and all my effort and all my volunteer hours to make a place where young people – college students, high school students – can come out and play. And they see all these community members, all these allies there, and say, “Wow. So it’s OK.’”

katie@durangoherald.com

If you go

Wednesday

7:30-9 p.m.: “Boy Meets Girl” film screening at Animas City Theatre. $10.

Thursday

7:30 a.m.: Ride the Rainbow Train: The famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will be celebrating pride. Train will leave the station at 8 a.m.

5:30-7:30 p.m.: Cocktail reception at the Rochester with Big Mama Donna. $10.

8 p.m.: Drag Queen Bingo at Lady Falconburgh’s. $10 (includes bingo cards).

Friday

9 a.m.: Mountain biking at Horse Gulch. Free

9 a.m.: Mountain biking: Purgatory Flow Trail. $50 for 5 lifts or $15 each.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Pride@Purg: Purgatory Mountain Resort will be hosting a family-friendly pride event. $50.

8:30 p.m.: Pride Dance at the Animas City Theatre. $12 for pre-registers or $15 at the door.

9 p.m.: Derailed Pour House will be hosting celebrity impersonators Elton John and Liberace in a piano duel. $10

Saturday

Noon-1 p.m.: Pride Procession on Main. Durango Pride is holding its first-ever pride walking parade. Participants can line up at 11 a.m. in front of Grassburger.

1-6 p.m.: Pride Festival at Buckley Park is the main Pride event. Free.

3 p.m.: Memorial tribute at Buckley Park.

6-8 p.m.: AfterGLOW Party at Steamworks. Free.

8 p.m.: Drag show “Prickley Roses” at Moe’s. Free.

9 p.m.: Karaoke at 8th Ave. Tavern. Free.

9 p.m.: Dueling Pianos 2: Elton John and Liberace at Derailed Pour House $10.

10 p.m.: Foam party at Moe’s. Free.

Sunday

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Bloody Mary’s and KINGO at Lady Falconburghs: $10 Bloody Mary Bar and Drag Kings hosting bingo aka KINGO! $1 per bingo card. The perfect food and recovery place.

1:30 p.m.: Animas River Float. Meet at Albertsons parking lot. for Mountain Waters Rafting, or 2 p.m. at 32nd if using your own rafts or kayaks.

Jun 22, 2016
Photo: Flying the flags of Pride


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