Pride Week begins on Thursday, June 11, with a classic film fundraiser at the Liberty Theater, “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newman,” starring Wesly Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo with a cameo shot of Newman.
Enjoy this funny-with-a-heart-of-gold adventure of the three drag queens on a cross-country road trip of a lifetime. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the film showing at 6 p.m. Tickets are: adults $25, teens (14-17) $15, 13 and under $5.
On Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Town Park will be awash in brightly colored flags, banners and costumes as it hosts our annual Pride Celebration. The LGBTQ+ community, with friends and family, will gather to mark the third year of this event in Pagosa Springs. The event epitomizes the sentiment expressed by Mahatma Gandhi so long ago: “Unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.”
The day will begin with an Opening Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. emceed by drag queen Aria PettyOne (she/her). From our own Liz Baldwin, folks will learn of state legislative progress on matters relevant to the LGBTQ+ community as well as listen to the reading of the Town of Pagosa Springs Proclamation establishing “that the month of June 2026 is recognized as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month and encourages all residents to respect and honor our diverse population and celebrate and build a culture of acceptance and affirmation.”
Two speakers will highlight topics of interest to our community, the first, a member of the Pagosa Springs High School Equality Club at 12:15 p.m., followed by Shane Nelson, a Durango-based school psychologist, wilderness therapist and addiction recovery expert at 1:30 p.m.
Following the first speaker there will be a time for folks— kids and adults— to enjoy the park and the music, visit the many different community tables offering information and goodies, as well as the welcome table, where they can participate in several drawings.
At 12:45 p.m. and again at 3 p.m., Aria PettyOne will perform on stage.
In between performances the party continues with everyone gathering for a parade. Here’s where costumes will be on display and judges will be making their selection for first prize. Folks will gather back at Town Park following the parade to hear about the first-prize costume award announcement as well as the winners of the several gift certificates from local stores.
Our community has come together in this moment of divisiveness to celebrate diversity — an uncommon event and one to ponder as Pagosa Pride presents its mission: “to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, to advocate for equity and social justice, and to provide space for people for all colors, gender identities and sexual orientations to feel safe, welcome & loved.”
Hear these relevant thoughts expressed by John F. Kennedy in his 1963 commencement address at the American University: “If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.”
Local businesses and individuals have come together to support this event celebrating both diversity and our shared humanity and sponsored by many local individuals, business and the interfaith community — the Community United Methodist Church, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church and the Pagosa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Note: The road closure due to construction makes getting to Town Park a bit circuitous, but it can be done. Coming from the east? Turn left on 2nd. Coming from the west? Turn right at 2nd Street. Or, take 8th Street to Apache Street to Hot Springs Boulevard. Parking? For early arrivers, the two small lots at the park; otherwise, there is the large parking lot at U.S. 160 and 5th Street, the lot at Mary Fisher Park and street parking. It will be a lovely day for a walk.
For more information, see the Pagosa Pride Facebook page or email pagosapride@gmail.com.
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