Thousands packed in between Route 66 and storefronts Saturday as rainbow-adorned trucks and floats carried drag performers, dancers and DJs as they tossed candy and sprayed water on the crowd.

Couples with their dogs, some clad in festive rainbow collars or booties, children, or just friends and families showed support for the LGBTQ+ community with cheers and dancing.

The temperatures in Albuquerque rose into the 90s as the city’s 49th Pride Parade kicked off down Central Avenue with a colorful line of floats and marchers — culminating in a celebration at Civic Plaza.

“Being prideful goes back to the Stonewall Riots... and this is just a peace end to what those riots came to,” said Juan Enrique, who has attended every parade since they were 14. “We’re about loving one another and accepting no matter what you are.”

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The Dow Jones News Fund Audience engagement 2025 cohort gathered a group of exceptional, young, social-savvy journalists at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These are a few of those moments.