(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The annual Pueblo Pride Festival returned to Mineral Palace Park on Sunday, Aug. 19, where all things color and love filled the park. Hundreds of people filled the park to celebrate who they are and who they love.

This year’s theme is Community and Unity, and Sunday’s festival was just that. Everything from drag performances, resources, more than one hundred vendors, food trucks, and music were in attendance.

“It was so joyous. I mean, the energy, the love, and people you’ll never go to a parade that isn’t as friendly as a pride parade,” said Kristin Louis-Benedetti who attended Sunday’s festival.

Even though pride month is in Jun, the City of Pueblo had their event take place on Sunday to encourage celebrating love year-round.

“If we’re back on the topic of why this month and not, you know, back in June when other ones are celebrating. If you go through every month in the year, there is a pride celebration specifically in America and across the world that each city is having,” said Belzin Whistlez, a drag performer at the event.

Community and Unity are the theme for this year, and that’s exactly how it was celebrated.

“I’m really proud of the city, I’m really proud of that. The diversity in this city, and that fact that people can be, you know, free to be themselves and it’s so important and inspiring,” said Louis-Benedetti.

People went all out wearing their best looks to represent their authentic selves. The day kicked off with a parade around the park and festivities and followed the parade with entertainment all day. This year fourteen food trucks attended the event, including more than one hundred vendors and businesses. Last year’s celebration hosted more than one hundred and sixty vendors.

“I love seeing parents bring out their kids and celebrate inclusive acceptance of all people,” said Louis-Benedetti.

This year’s event was hosted by the Southern Colorado Equality Alliance group and added ‘Storytime’ into the entertainment. They say they planned it to encourage and inspire young kids to love and accept themselves.

“I think visibility and being out in in the world so that people can see us, especially for younger children, gives them an opportunity to have a jump start on access to community, and access to a pride in themselves and an understanding of who they are and where they come from and where they sit in this world and their value as a human being feeling,” says Bellzin Whistlez.

They also added saying it’s more important than ever to continue celebrating pride as political tensions rise in 2024.

“When your vote matters, your voice matters, and for our community, we matter. Especially for our community, we need our allies, part of LGBTQIA+ is all. And so, for those who are there for us and are there to support us, we need you, especially this year,” added Bellin Whistlez.

Throughout the day organizers and performers encouraged the audience to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

“Other than that, we are gay, we’re here, we’re queer, and we are not going anywhere. So, most importantly, it is a year specifically in the United States in which your vote is incredibly important, incredibly important,” they added.

The Southern Colorado Equality Alliance advocates for the rights of Southern Colorado’s LGBTQIA+ community offering support and recourses for those who may feel invisible or rejected.

Anyone in need of resources or support can go to https://www.socoequality.org/ or click on the link above for more information.