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Denver Back Alley Leather
& Fetish Weekend 2026

Rocky Mountain Leather Alliance brings you the biggest leather event in Colorado.

  • Event Dates

    From: Saturday, August 22, 2026
    To: Sunday, August 23, 2026

  • Key Highlights

    • Fetish Gear
    • The Best DJs
    • BDSM and Fetish
    • Hottest Leather Guys

Denver Back Alley Leather & Fetish Weekend 2026

Rocky Mountain Leather Alliance brings you the biggest leather event in Colorado, the Denver Back Alley, Leather, BDSM and fetish weekend.

  • Are you visiting Denver for the Leather Weekend? Stay downtown, close to the city's top attractions and the Capitol Hill gay district at the Hyatt Centric, rated “Fabulous” by guests with stylish rooms, fitness room, highly-rated breakfasts, and stunning rooftop terrace.

The Event

  • Next Edition: Saturday 22nd August, 2026 – Sunday 23rd August, 2026.
  • Denver Back Alley takes over the parking lot of Trade on Santa Fe Drive for two days of fun, where you can hang out with other kinksters in your best fetish gear.
  • The event runs on the weekend before Labor Day each year, from 2.30 pm until 8 pm each night and includes a vendor market, kink demos, tasters, games, and live entertainment.
  • Party with the hottest leather guys from Denver and beyond at one of the USA's most popular Summer fetish events.
  • Enjoy a warm gay-friendly welcome at the hip Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver, featuring designer rooms, a free wine happy hour and luxurious amenities.

The Venue

  • Trade is Denver's premier gay fetish bar featuring nightly events, cocktails, theme parties and a large patio.
  • The outdoor parking lot is converted into a Leather-lover's dream and hosts two days of fun in the Sun, followed by after-parties in the club.
  • Enjoy cheap drinks, friendly staff, and a relaxed atmosphere inside the bar, which is open daily but busiest at weekends.
  • Thursday's underwear night is popular, as is the 3rd Friday for “Rough Play”.
  • Entrance to the party is through the bar for those over 21. A coat check is available for those wishing to change into their gear onsite.

Other Events

Gay Denver & Other Popular Cruise Bars

  • Capitol Hill is considered to be the official Denver gay area. However, Denver has several gay areas spread out in and around the Capitol Hill neighbourhood.
  • North Capitol Hill is the busiest district, but you'll also find local gay bars to the south, along the eastern edge of the Baker neighbourhood.
  • Stay close to the bars and clubs in the Cherry Cheek district, an upscale neighborhood and home to several highly-rated hotels.
  • If you are in town for the Back Alley Weekend, the following bars are also popular:
  • Denver Eagle – The Denver Eagle is a massive club inside an old warehouse space just north of LoDo
  • Denver Sweet – Denver's Bear Inspired LGBTQ-friendly bar featuring music videos, dancing, and a social rooftop bar.

Recommended Denver Hotels

Here are the Hotels we recommend that keep you close to all the action,

Four Seasons,    Westin,    Sheraton,    Grand Hyatt

Gay Map of Denver

Capitol Hill, a vibrant neighborhood located in East Denver, is also the city’s unofficial gayborhood. From Country/Western bars to dance clubs, there is a variety of nightlife options to discover here, with hotels an easy walk to bars
booking.com our hotel partner .

Address: 1111 14th St, Denver, CO 80202, United States

  • Luxury 5-star hotel in downtown Denver’s Theatre District.
  • Located in a modern high-rise with city and Rocky Mountain views.
  • Home to EDGE Restaurant & Bar plus a rooftop pool and spa.
  • Short walk to theatres, the convention centre and Larimer Square.
  • About a 5-10 minute taxi to Denver’s main gay nightlife areas.
  • Upscale base for exploring downtown and the city’s LGBTQ+ scene.
  • Website

Address:

  • Modern downtown Denver hotel near the 16th Street Mall.
  • Large contemporary tower with city-view spacious rooms.
  • Features include an indoor pool and rooftop jogging track.
  • Located in the central business district close to restaurants and bars.
  • About a 5 minute taxi to Denver’s main gay nightlife areas.
  • Convenient base for exploring downtown and the East Colfax scene.
  • Website

Address: 1550 Court Pl, Denver, CO 80202, United States

  • Large 4-star hotel in downtown Denver near the 16th Street Mall.
  • Modern high-rise with renovated rooms and large social lobby spaces.
  • Features include a rooftop pool, fitness centre and cocktail lounge.
  • Located in the central business district close to major attractions.
  • About a 5-10 minute taxi to Denver’s main gay nightlife areas.
  • Convenient downtown base for exploring the city and its bar scene.
  • Website

Address: 1672 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80202, United States

  • Modern 4-star hotel in downtown Denver near the 16th Street Mall.
  • Located in the Tabor Center complex in the city’s business district.
  • Contemporary rooms with city views and Westin wellness features.
  • Walking distance to Larimer Square, and major attractions.
  • About a 7 minute taxi to the East Colfax gay nightlife area.
  • Convenient central base for exploring downtown and evening venues.
  • Website

Address: 1336 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80218, United States

  • Gay bar and drag restaurant in Denver’s City Park West.
  • Set in a converted house with patios on East 17th Ave.
  • Known for drag brunch, bingo, watch parties, and stage shows.
  • Feels more like a camp dinner spot than a nightclub.
  • Popular for group nights out built around the event calendar.
  • Open: Tue-Wed 4pm-10pm, Thu-Fri 4pm-11pm,
  • Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-6pm
  • Facebook

Address: 475 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204, United States

  • Gay fetish bar on Santa Fe Drive in Denver.
  • Known for leather nights, underwear parties, and beer busts.
  • Covered patio gives it more space than many city bars.
  • Crowd skews kink, leather, bear, and alternative gay scene.
  • Feels more underground than polished or mainstream.
  • Open: Mon-Thu 3pm-2am, Fri-Sun 1pm-2am
  • Website

Address: 1501 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218, United States

  • Gay sports bar on East Colfax in Denver.
  • Known for games, karaoke, and two outdoor patios.
  • Feels more like a neighbourhood hangout than a club.
  • Draws a mixed gay crowd built around sport and socialising.
  • A distinctive local niche rather than a generic nightlife spot.
  • Open: Mon-Fri 3pm-2am, Sat 12pm-2am, Sun 11am-2am
  • Website

Address: 5110 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204, United States

  • Gay leather bar on West Colfax in Denver.
  • Focused on fetish, gear, and themed nightlife.
  • Feels destination-led rather than casual walk-in traffic.
  • Crowd is shaped by Denver’s leather and kink scene.
  • Darker, more niche, and less mainstream than other gay bars.
  • Open: Tue-Sun 8pm-2am, Mon closed.
  • Website

Address: 504 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203, United States

  • Gay bar on East Colfax Avenue in Denver.
  • Neighbourhood-style venue built around a central bar.
  • Pool tables, darts and patio seating shape the atmosphere.
  • More relaxed pub vibe than Denver’s nightclub venues.
  • Popular for casual drinks and daytime brunch gatherings.
  • Open: Mon-Fri 2pm-2am, Sat-Sun 11am-2am
  • Website

Address: 4501 E Virginia Ave, Denver, CO 80246, United States

  • Gay club in Glendale with a strong Latin party focus.
  • Known for drag, after-parties, and late-night weekend hours.
  • Music leans reggaeton, banda, cumbia, and high-energy club sets.
  • Feels more destination-led than the East Colfax bar strip.
  • A distinct part of Denver’s Latin gay nightlife scene.
  • Open: Thu 9pm-4am, Fri-Sat 8pm-4am, Sun 9pm-4am
  • Website

Address:1027 N Broadway, Denver, CO 80203, United States

  • Gay bar on North Broadway with a more casual local feel.
  • Known for karaoke, sports nights, patio drinks, and late food.
  • Feels more like a community hangout than a hard-core club.
  • A regular Pride stop with a broad social crowd.
  • Good fit for an easy night out without East Colfax intensity.
  • Open: Mon-Thu 1pm-2am, Fri-Sun 12pm-2am
  • Website

Address: 4958 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220, United States

  • Gay bar on East Colfax with a long-running local following.
  • Known for darts, happy hour, strong drinks, and game nights.
  • Feels like an old Denver dive rather than a polished club.
  • Draws regulars who come for familiarity as much as nightlife.
  • One of the city’s most established gay bar addresses.
  • Open: Mon-Thu 3pm-2am, Fri 1pm-2am, Sat-Sun 11am-2am
  • Facebook

Address: 255 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209, United States

  • Gay-owned LGBTQ+ bar located on South Broadway in Denver.
  • Known for its large back patio that draws a social crowd.
  • More of a neighbourhood lounge than a dance-focused club.
  • Part of the independent South Broadway nightlife strip.
  • Popular for relaxed drinks and conversation with locals.
  • Open: Mon-Wed 3pm-12am, Thu 3pm-1am, Fri 3pm-2am,
  • Sat 12pm-2am, Sun 12pm-12am
  • Website

Address: 629 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203, United States

  • Gay bar and nightclub on East Colfax in Denver.
  • Large patio is a major part of the venue’s appeal.
  • Known for drag, DJs, beer busts, and big weekend energy.
  • Draws a broader crowd than Denver’s niche leather bars.
  • One of the city’s best-known gay nightlife institutions.
  • Open: Mon-Sat 3pm-2am, Sun 12pm-2am
  • Facebook

Address: 1601 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80202, United States

  • Not a gay bar, but it does host regular drag and cabaret shows.
  • Located beneath the Daniels & Fisher Tower in downtown Denver.
  • Known for burlesque, comedy, live music, and stage performances.
  • Feels more like a hidden theatre bar than a nightlife strip venue.
  • One of Denver’s most distinctive rooms for a dressed-up night out.
  • Open: Thu 4:30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 4:30pm-11pm,
  • Sun 4:30pm-11pm, Mon-Wed show schedule varies
  • Website

Address: 900 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218, United States

  • Gay bar and nightclub on East Colfax with deep local history.
  • Known for country-western nights, dancing, drag, and karaoke.
  • One of the few venues where cowboy style still shapes the room.
  • Draws a crowd built around events rather than weekend drinking.
  • A long-running fixture that still feels tied to Denver’s gay nightlife 
  • Open: Sun 12pm-2am Mon-Thu 2pm-2am
  • Fri 2pm-4am Sat 12pm-4am
  • Website

Address: 3500 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205, United States

  • Gay nightclub in RiNo on Walnut Street in Denver.
  • Known for large dance nights, drag events, and themed parties.
  • Bigger and more event-led than Denver’s pub-style gay bars.
  • Warehouse-style setting gives it a destination-club feel.
  • One of the city’s main addresses for big LGBTQ+ nights out.
  • Open: Thu-Sat 9pm-2am, Sun-Wed closed
  • Website

Address: 500 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204, United States

  • LGBTQ+ bar and cabaret venue on Santa Fe Drive in Denver.
  • Known locally for drag shows, karaoke and theatrical themed nights.
  • Small room built around a stage rather than a dance floor.
  • Feels more alternative and performance-driven than club venues.
  • A distinctive stop for Denver’s camp and cabaret nightlife.
  • Open: Mon-Wed 7pm-3am, Thu-Sun 3pm-3am
  • Instagram

Address: 2195 California St, Denver, CO 80205, United States

  • Lesbian bar in Five Points with a broader LGBTQ+ crowd.
  • The former Mercury Cafe, giving it a bigger footprint & character.
  • Known for sapphic nights, karaoke, drag, and community-led events.
  • Feels more destination-led than the usual East Colfax gay-bar circuit.
  • A specific local answer to Denver’s lack of dedicated lesbian spaces.
  • Open: Tue, Thu 5pm-11pm, Wed 5pm-12am,
  • Fri-Sat 5pm-2am, Sun 3pm-11pm
  • Website

Recommended Hotels in Denver By Booking

Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in Denver that keep you close to all the shops, restaurants & bars

Four Seasons
5 Star – Central Location

Four Seasons Hotel Denver
Booking.com
  • 5-Star, Elegant Suites, Mountain Views
  • A short taxi ride to the gay bars
  • iPod docking, flat-screen TV
  • Luxurious suites with stunning views & a full-service spa, ideal for a pampered Denver stay.

Grand Hyatt Denver
4 Star – Luxury

Booking.com
  • 4-Star, Indoor Pool, On-Site Restaurant
  • A short walk to the gay bars
  • Flat-screen TV, free WiFi
  • Comfortable rooms with modern amenities, indoor pool, close to Denver attractions.

Westin Hotel
4 Star – Great Amenities

The Westin Denver Downtown
Booking.com
  • 4-Star, Rooftop Pool, Fully Equipped Fitness Centre
  • A short taxi ride to the gay bars
  • 37-inch TV, gift shop
  • Offers rooftop pool with city views & a state-of-the-art fitness centre, perfect for a Denver visit.

Sheraton Hotel
4 Star – Perfect Location

Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Booking.com
  • 4-Star, Outdoor Pool, Business Center
  • Close to the gay district
  • Cable TV, ergonomic desk chair
  • Features an outdoor pool, modern business amenities, & comfortable rooms in a prime location.

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