By: Joseph Ríos
If you see hundreds of motorcyclists driving around the Denver area this weekend, it’s because one of Denver’s most popular poker runs is making a comeback post COVID.
After taking a hiatus in 2020 and 2021, Chicano Pride Ride is back. The ride involves participants visiting at checkpoints and drawing a playing card at each stop with the goal of having the best poker hand at the conclusion of the ride. The event benefits the Latin American Educational Foundation (LAEF) — a nonprofit organization that works to provide access to higher education for Hispanics in Colorado through scholarships and other services. Chicano Pride Ride starts at 10 a.m. on May 7 at Sun Harley-Davidson at
8858 Pearl St.
Kimberley Villegas, marketing and communications coordinator for LAEF, said the organization is expecting about 2,000 riders to participate in this year’s event. And after having to wait an extended period for another Chicano Pride Ride, LAEF couldn’t be more thrilled that the event is back, Villegas explained.
“The meaning of this event is that we can support more scholarship support and additional services for more (Latino/Hispanic) students in Colorado,” said Villegas.
Fore more than 70 years, LAEF has provided nearly $7 million in scholarships to 7,000 Latino/Hispanic students. Outside of scholarships, LAEF works to eliminate barriers for Hispanic and Latino students in earning a college degree by offering college planning, enrollment and registration assistance, financial aid guidance, scholarship support, mentoring and career planning.
Chicano Pride Ride will include stops at Blake Street Tavern in downtown Denver and La Raza Park for the event’s annual photo. Following the ride, event participants will head to Sun Harley-Davidson where they will be treated to food, beers, vendors, dancing and music from Tierra. Event participants can also look forward to a pig roast after Chicano Pride Ride.
The winner of the poker run will receive $1,000. Sun Harley-Davidson also donated a custom 2016 Softail Deluxe bike painted by Larry Ortiz of Ortiz Custom Cycles. The bike will be given away the day of the ride.
In previous years, Chicano Pride Ride has raised over $25,000 for LAEF. If you wish to participate in the event, you can register to ride at www.laef.org/chicanoprideride. Advance registration cost $50 for a single rider and $55 for a rider and passenger. If you register on the day of the event, it cost $60 for a single rider and $65 for a rider and passenger. Registration includes admission to the Tierra concert after the ride and a ticket for a drawing to win the Softail Deluxe bike.
2022 marks the 10th Chicano Pride Ride. For more information about the event, visit chicanoprideride.com.
