Free Pride prom, Youth on Record’s Block Party, Chicano murals and more things to do in Denver this weekend

Pride Month: Free LGBTQ prom, live music, fashion

Friday-Sunday. Denver PrideFest is still a couple of weekends away, June 24-25 at Civic Center park, but the LGBTQ and queer programming is strong in Denver throughout June, a.k.a. Pride Month.

This weekend offers the all-ages Cultural Runway Series at McNichols Civic Center Building, with drag fashions by DCR studios, host DeMarcio Slaughter, and sets from “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” queens Yara Sofia and Mayhem Miller, plus other goodies. It coincides with McNichols’ free, Pride-themed art exhibitions. The runway show is at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at 144 W. Colfax Ave. Tickets: $16-$56 via axs.com

There’s also the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus 40th anniversary-marking performance of Andrew Lippa’s “Unbreakable,” with three shows June 10-11 at the King Center on the Auraria Campus, 855 Lawrence Way. $15-$28 via denverchoruses.org/dgmc.

And if you’re a student or young person looking to celebrate Pride Month, don’t miss The Center on Colfax’s Junior Pride Prom, this year themed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The 3-8 p.m. event at Blush & Blu, 1526 E. Colfax Ave., is free and designed for those 20 and under. denverpride.org

Finally — and for anyone who hasn’t been yet — History Colorado Center’s Rainbows and Revolutions is a must-visit exhibition on the city’s LGBTQ culture, open this month, on triumphant civil-rights advances since the 1950s. historycolorado.org

A block-rockin’ party, live and in-person

Saturday. Denver music nonprofit Youth on Record has had an especially challenging couple of years, given that all of its programing formerly hinged on in-person lessons and events. That includes its annual Block Party, which returns in-person for its eighth year with family-friendly music, food, art-making, yoga and meditation, and more.

The 11 a.m.-5 p.m. festival also features dozens of local vendors, booths from groups like Women in Music, food trucks, free workshops and live screen printing. Free and for all ages. 1301 W. 10th Ave. See the full lineup of Youth on Record performers at youthonrecord.org/event/yor-block-party.

Saving Colorado’s Chicano murals

Thursday. The June 11 RiNo Music and Arts Showcase at the old Denver Post printing plant on Fox Street will showcase a wide range of artists and crafters who focus on public and street art. But when it comes to preserving murals — which RiNo uses as one of its main marketing tools — no one’s got the El Pueblo History Museum beat.

On Thursday, June 16, the museum is inviting people to Pueblo’s Plaza Verde Park to celebrate the rich history of Chicano muralism, and identify more murals in need of protection. The free, public gathering is hosted by the Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado Project and History Colorado, which are encouraging attendees to bring their own photos of Colorado Chicano murals. Learn more at bit.ly/3zIwCXN.