Chelsie Holmes still remembers the first Yampa Valley Pride Festival, which took place in a downpour on the lawn outside the Routt County Courthouse four years ago.

“It was just like a picnic in the park put together by a group of friends,” Holmes recalled. “I was surprised by the turnout that year. I remember how it rained, but everyone kind of stuck around anyway. It really showed how much people wanted this community to grow, and every year it has just gotten bigger and bigger with more and more events.”

The festival will be a part of LGBTQ Pride Month, which runs throughout June.

A proclamation from Routt County on May 21 got things rolling, and the Pride Month events will continue this week with Ohana hosting the live printing of the official 2024 Yampa Valley Pride T-shirt from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday.

From 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Yampa Valley Pride and members of Steamboat Rugby will release a new beer at Storm Peak Brewing. A portion of the sales from that beer — at the event and throughout June — will benefit Yampa Valley Pride.

Holmes said June will be a big month for the LGBTQ community, with more than 18 events to celebrate an important part of the Steamboat Springs community.

“Yampa Valley Pride, from the beginning, has really been about connecting people and creating visibility for the LGBTQ community in the Yampa Valley,” Holmes said. “This is about letting the entire community in on the fact that LGBTQ people are a part of Steamboat Springs, Craig and the Yampa Valley as a whole and always have been. They are business owners, they’re nonprofit leaders and they’re medical providers. They’re people who are very much a part of this community, and I think before this, were kind of living under the radar.”

The month will be highlighted by the Yampa Valley Pride Festival, which is scheduled to go from noon-4 p.m. Saturday. At the festival, there will be booths with LGBTQ friendly resources, vendors and organizations, as well as plenty of games and fun activities for those who attend. There will also be live entertainment, including drag performers, dancers and speakers. Around 2 p.m., awards will be given out to recognize those who have supported and made a difference in the LGBTQ community.

“I think it is important for them to be celebrated and to know that they are safe here, they are wanted here and seen here,” Holmes said. “I think it’s an opportunity for people who aren’t LGBTQ to show people, their neighbors, that (members of the LGBTQ community) are welcome here and celebrated here. It’s also for LGBTQ people to come together and experience queer joy and to be celebrated.”

Other events will include Pride on the Divide hosted by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, proclamations by Routt County and the city of Steamboat Springs and a Queer Futures booth at the Main Street Steamboat Springs Farmer’s Market throughout the month of June.

There will also be a Zine Workshop at Off the Beaten Path, Pints for Pride at the Barley Tap and Tavern, and hot dog sales at Ace Hardware benefiting Queer Futures. In Craig, Pride in the Barn will be hosted by the Craig Pride Alliance and there will be a Craig Pride afterparty on June 15. Both events will be at 411 Emerson St.

Holmes also encourages people to come out from 5-6:30 p.m. June 18 at the Steamboat Springs Community Center for an event titled, “Say my Name: Becoming an Ally to Transgender Youth.”

“Queer futures is working with STAND, Steamboat Team Against Antisemitism and Discrimination, on a public convening that centers transgender youth,” Holmes said. “Most of the speakers are transgender youth 18 and under, and it’s a great way for the community to learn about their lived experiences and how they can be allies to them and have questions answered that maybe they’re afraid to ask and become a part of the dialogue. That’s going to be a really special event.”