This Saturday, a Pride Month celebration aims to offer what many in the LGBTQIA+ community may have missed out in high school — a prom experience that reflects who they truly are.

Queer Prom, hosted at the Garage Bar between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, invites adults and allies to dress how they want, dance how they want and celebrate in a space designed to be inclusive and affirming.

“We thought it’d be fun to host a dance event for people who want to go to prom but don’t conform to societal norms,” said Patrice Fuller, owner of Carbondale Beerworks. “We still need to worry about these things, but we’re trying to make it a safe space for people.”

Fuller emphasized that the event is open to everyone — including straight allies — because many people feel they don’t fit into traditional expectations.

“We’re kicking it off in June because it’s a great time for an event like this, a launch pad if you will,” Fuller said. “We’re also hoping to do something later in the year, like a queer homecoming.”

While June is often seen as the month for Pride celebrations, Fuller said allyship shouldn’t be seasonal. 

“We’re hoping to use our platforms to celebrate a community in our community,” Fuller said. “I donate a lot to PFLAG and other resources, but sometimes you got to have a party to celebrate everyone.”

Sophia Higbe, one of the employees at Carbondale Beerworks, said the party is being thrown by the community. 

“Patrice tries to support our community all year round and we want everyone to know that both our spaces are safe,” Higbe said. “You’re allowed to wear whatever you want, dress how you would’ve liked to at prom or how you’re most comfortable.”

“Dress as the you that you love”, Higbe said. “Our community is already strong and we want people from the LGBTQIA+ community to show up, to feel safe and like someone is in their corner. That they have a place to go when it feels like they don’t.”

The event will feature a photo booth, drinks, snacks, a taco truck that people are welcome to purchase from outside and bring inside, and music from DJ Basick VVitch, musician Mugsy Faye and the Roaring Divas. 

The drag queen troupe will have a performance, but the queens are there to keep the energy going and encourage dancing. 

“There will also be a display of resources for the queer community and other marginalized communities, like Cook Inclusive and Voces Unidas,” said Travis Wilson, member of the Roaring Divas. “This isn’t an event where you need to be a Roaring Fork resident to celebrate with us, you can come from anywhere to attend this event. We really want people who aren’t from here with us too.”

This event will have security just in case, and Wilson said they’ve worked with the company before many times and that they want the event to be a safe and fun event for everyone.

“Joy is resistance,” he said. “During the AIDs epidemic, they used to say they buried their friends during the day and partied at night. It’s not like that anymore, we can celebrate and be free.”

The Queer Prom will be held this Saturday at the Garage Bar in between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. The building is ramp accessible. 

The event is 18 for those ages 18 and above from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and 21 and above from 7:30-11:30 p.m., or whenever the party dies out. There won’t be a prom monarch contest and no dogs are allowed. 

Tickets are $15 for guests 18 and up and $25 for those 21 and older, and include a drink. All forms of payment are accepted. Drink options include beers, cider, nonalcoholic drinks, lavender lemonade and a special strawberry drink in honor of Strawberry Days.