DENVER, CO – June 18: A woman sports a rainbow painted hand at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Ellie Ozbayrak, 4, sports rainbow wings at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Thomas Conley, left, and Alvaro Estrada enjoys a beer after the PrideFest 5K at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Brian Morgans proudly displays rainbow colors at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Visitors sign messages on an 8-by-8-by-10 foot black box serving as a memorial for the 49 killed early Sunday at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Nick Gizzardo displays his hula hoop skills to the beat of the music at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Members of law enforcement use binoculars to view the main stage area at the park from the roof of the McNichols Civic Center Building. Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Denver student Obi Oberdier, left, holds a prop for Christy Lane, original founder of Denver's PrideFest before Lane took the stage for Denver's got Talent at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 17, 2016. Lane was the first to get a permit for PrideFest forty years ago. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Natalee Accornero of Colorado Springs joins in with other dancers on the lawn at the park. Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Souvenir vendor Jim Maser wipes sweat from the back of his head during the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post
Iris Sanchez, second from left, Holly Janson, center, and Nikki Smith, right, hold up signs advertising free hugs for all. Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Dancing to the DJ's beat at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Morgan Lewis joins in with the dance crowd at the Dance World stage. Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Members of law enforcement use binoculars to view the main stage area at the park from the roof of the McNichols Civic Center Building. Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A woman sports a rainbow painted hand at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
PrideFest goers sign a tribute wall to the Orlando shooting victims at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016 (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Christy Lane, original founder of Denver's PrideFest awaits her entrance for Denver's got Talent at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 17, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A woman signs a tribute wall to the Orlando shooting victims at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Christy Lane, center, original founder of Denver's PrideFest, takes the stage for Denver's got Talent at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 17, 2016. Lane was the first to get a permit for PrideFest forty years ago. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Micheal Ross waits backstage with his dog ÒLolaÓ a french bull dog dressed up for the Dogs in Drag contest at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A dancer entertains a crowd at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Larry Kraft, right, dances to the music at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Dancing to the DJ's beat at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Dancing to the DJ's beats at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Festival goers enjoy the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A man uses a spray bottle to cool off at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Folks enjoy the entertainment at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Folks sign a tribute wall honoring the Orlando shooting victims at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
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Ellie Ozbayrak, 4, sports rainbow wings at the annual PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park June 18, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Denver PrideFest kicks off Saturday in Civic Center park and is expecting to attract hundreds of thousands of people over two days.
This year’s theme is “Building Community Through Pride.”
After last weekend’s massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., festival organizers have upped security measures, but decided to with the event.
Last year, PrideFest had 365,000 visitors, and it’s expecting to see even more this year.
There are a number of special events to look out for, one of which is local artist Lonnie Hanzon‘s art piece; he created a large black box and painted it with chalkboard paint as an open memorial space to the victims of the shooting.
Last year, Hanzon created a 25-foot replica wedding cake that served as a centerpiece for the festival as the community waited in joyful anticipation of .
Other events worth checking out include the Dogs in Drag Parade on Saturday, The Big Gay 5K and the seemingly endless number of vendors and booths around the park. There will be plenty of family friendly booths where you can get your face painted or enjoy a snow cone during .
On Sunday, the PrideFest parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at Cheesman Park and heads west directly to Civic Center. Gov. John Hickenlooper will hold a rally at noon on Sunday to honor the victims of the Orlando shooting and “to ensure a tragedy like this does not happen again.”
There are several street closures and Civic Center will be completely surrounded by fences. To navigate this year’s PrideFest check out .