Motorcade draws 140 cars to celebrate Longmont Pride on Saturday morning

With restrictions still in place on social gatherings, the events Out Boulder County planned for the annual Longmont Pride Week had to move into digital venues. From virtual storytimes, social mixers, and community training, the organization worked hard to ensure the community could still find connection during the pandemic. 

In lieu of the Pride March and Festival on Main Street this year, Out Boulder opted for a socially distant form of public celebration. Working with the city of Longmont and Longmont police, a motorcade was organized for Saturday morning. 

Directed by Out Boulder staff and volunteers, including Mardi Moore and Juan Moreno, nearly 140 cars gathered at Roosevelt Park starting at 8:30 a.m., circling the block and filling the parking lot. Cars were decorated with rainbows, unicorns, flags and streamers, as well as signs with political messaging and affirmations. There was no grand marshal for the motorcade, instead the lead vehicle was a black pickup truck representing Black Lives Matter, with the names of victims of police brutality written on the body.

The motorcade had an escort from Longmont police, who also assisted in controlling traffic flow. The route began at Roosevelt Park on Longs Peak Avenue before turning down Coffman Street to Ninth Avenue, heading east, and then eventually south down Main Street until First Avenue. Small pockets of bystanders gathered along Main Street to cheer on the motorcade. 

Community sponsors, including Seagate and 1stBank, joined the hour-long motorcade alongside political candidates Marta Loachamin, Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Karen McCormick. Other community organizations joined as well, including Longmont’s United Church of Christ, Rainbow Elders of Boulder County, the Parasol Patrol, and Boulder County Community Outreach.