What to do this weekend in Denver: PrideFest; Highland Street Fair; Kolsch beer service

Over the rainbow

Saturday and Sunday. More than 500,000 people from all over Colorado are expected to turn out for the two-day Denver PrideFest, which has grown into one of the largest Pride events in the nation over the past 50 years. Things kick off on Saturday with a 5K run (registration at 8 a.m.) from the Colorado State Capitol Building, the proceeds of which will benefit the Center on Colfax. That will be followed by the festival itself at Civic Center Park, 101 W. 14th Ave., from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; it includes 250 exhibitors, 30 food and beverage vendors, dancing and performances by drag queens Marcia Marcia Marcia, Big Freedia, Salina EsTitties and more.

The Sunday parade, sponsored by Coors Light, begins at 9:30 a.m. at Cheesman Park, travels up Franklin Street to Colfax Avenue and then west to Civic Center Park. Packed with plenty of showy floats, performers, music and more, it kicks off a second day of the festival, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Find more information at denverpride.org/fest.

Drawn together

Saturday. Join your fellow art lovers at the River North Art District’s first Summer Art Market, taking place from noon to 4 p.m. at the RiNo ArtPark, at 1900 35th St. Celebrate Pride weekend and enjoy live music from DJ Paul Andre + DJ Markie while you peruse and shop the work (including ceramics, prints, leather goods and more) of more than 30 queer artists.

Two food trucks, Crêpes de Soissons and Scoops Ice Cream, will be on hand, along with the Denver Public Library, which will host storytime for families from noon to 1 p.m. In addition, a structure in the park called Truss House will be opening its doors to the public with tours and special performances from Odd Knock.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

Saturday. Summer kicks into high gear with Highlands Street Fair, which will shine a light on West 32nd Avenue between Perry and Irving streets from noon to 9 p.m. Guests will find at least a dozen food vendors, from barbecue and ice cream to Kenyan cuisine and bubble tea, along with live music from a variety of bands and more than a hundred local vendors and businesses.

The farmer’s market-style event is free to attend and family-friendly. Team Player Productions, which hosts the event, urges guests to walk or ride their bikes. highlandsstreetfair.com

Looking for more festival fun? The annual Arvada on Tap craft beer and barbecue festival returns Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Ralston Park Addition, 11200 W. 64th Ave, in Arvada. Tickets, $45 in advance and $55 the day of, include unlimited craft beer sampling, live music, barbecue tasting and food trucks. Proceeds benefit the Arvada-Jefferson Kiwanis Club, Arvada Sunrise Rotary and Arvada Vitality Alliance. More info about this 21+ event at arvadaontap.com.

Prosit!

Sunday. Have you ever wanted to try a traditional Kolsch service in Cologne, Germany? Burns Family Artisan Ales, 2505 W. 2nd Ave. #13, is joining a few other local breweries in Colorado by offering the next best thing, a German-style Kolsch service close to home.

In Cologne, the light German beer is served in a thin, 7-ounce tall glass called a stange; multiple stangen are carried to tables in circular trays that can hold a dozen or more. As soon as a customer finishes one, a new stange is delivered automatically. “This guarantees the beer never warms up too much and is always fresh from the tap,” Burns explained. “Each time a stange is replaced, a tally mark is written on the drinker’s coaster. Finished drinking? Place the coaster on top. When you are ready to close out, bring your coaster up to the bar and we’ll close you out for the ticks on the coaster.” Stange fills are $2.75; service runs from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

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