Aurora Pride will bring rainbows of color to the city’s cultural arts district on Saturday, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community of Aurora with a block party-style celebration. 

The festival is free and takes place  from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Fletcher Plaza, 9899 E. Colfax Ave. Free shuttles will run from the Stanley Marketplace to the festival. 

Throughout the day, performances “that are sure to dazzle” will happen at the plaza’s main stage and on an indoor stage at Manos Sagrados, according to the Aurora Pride website.

There will also be a designated sober space at The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., with mocktails, a silent disco and “sensory-friendly” entertainment, the website says.

Aurora Councilmember Alison Coombs, who helps organize the event, said this year’s festival is a “really exciting opportunity” to spend some time in the Colfax Arts District, connect with businesses in the area and show support for the LGBTQ+ community “at a really crucial time.”

“It’s a huge contribution to our city and an opportunity for people to gather,” Coombs said, adding that the event puts funds toward Community College of Aurora scholarships.

This year’s Aurora Pride will look different than in past years, celebrating in the style of a block party rather than at the Aurora Reservoir, where is was held previously. 

The switch in location came after an Aurora City Council meeting in September during which some councilmembers complained about the reservoir closing to the public for the festival.

Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky brought forward an ordinance, which passed, to prevent the reservoir from being closed to the public for any special events or private organization rentals.

Councilmember Stephanie Hancock, who supported the ordinance, said it’s “unfair” to have one group rent out the entire park when people pay taxes to have access to it. 

With the location shift, Coombs said they expect more local visitors to the event, since it will be more accessible than it was at the Aurora Reservoir. 

More information about the 2025 Aurora Pride can be found on the event website.