Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather downtown this weekend for the Pikes Peak Pride festival and a nationwide No Kings protest.

Both events kick off Saturday, happening in close proximity to each other.

Last year, the two-day Pride festival alone drew around 40,000, according to Justin Burns, the vice president for Pikes Peak Pride.

Colorado Springs police has been working closely with the organizers of the Pride festival to ensure it remains safe, Caitlin Ford Blanco, a spokesperson for the department, said in an email.

“We are closely monitoring any trends or conversations to ensure we are aware and ready to respond to any potential threats … we are also prepared to respond should any unlawful activity take place,” Ford Blanco said.

Ford Blanco said anyone who sees any suspicious activity should report it and make sure to allow for extra time getting around, and to be patient with others on the roadway.

Parking will be limited and roads in the downtown area will likely be closed for a chunk of the weekend, especially during Sunday’s parade, according to the Pikes Peak Pride website.

Pikes Peak Pride is free and will be at Alamo Square Park, on the grounds of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, running from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. all weekend. There will be numerous events, including education and story sessions, leading up to and after the Pride Parade on Sunday.

On Saturday, there will be more than 140 vendors offering handmade art, tasty treats and local services. Live music is scheduled all day, and there will be a Rainbow Youth Square with children’s activities.

For Sunday, the parade will start at 11 a.m. and have a new route for this year, starting at America the Beautiful Park then walking to Alamo Square Park.

No Kings protest

Organized by Indivisible Colorado Springs and the El Paso County Progressive Veterans, the No Kings protest on Saturday is part of a nationwide movement in response to “increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption” from President Donald Trump and his administration, according to the Colorado Springs march organizers.

Protesters will gather in front of Colorado Springs City Hall at noon, then march down North Nevada Avenue. Many more rallies Saturday have been organized across the state, including in Manitou Springs, Cañon City and Pueblo.

Thousands of rallies nationwide are planned for the day in opposition to the current administration’s mass deportation efforts. A national parade is planned for the same day in Washington, D.C., to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday.

Saturday’s planned march follows a rally Monday, when dozens gathered at the Colorado Springs Administrative Building to rally in support of the protesters in Los Angeles.

Officials in the town of Parker attempted to reschedule its No Kings protest planned for Saturday, arguing the protest could negatively impact authoritative resources during the popular Parker Days festival.

Protest organizers apparently aren’t going to budge on the town’s offer to reschedule the protest, according to town officials, despite its attempts to thwart it.