This year, Pride events will be held in downtown Palm Springs. Palm Canyon Drive will be closed to traffic and transformed into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly Pride Festival unique to Southern California with a diverse array of artists, entertainers, multiple beverage gardens and purveyors of all sorts, including jewelry, snacks and sweets. Add all that to great shopping, restaurants, clubs and entertainment venues located along world-famous Palm Canyon Drive and the result is like no place else – Greater Palm Springs Pride.
Category Archives: Events and Holidays
Holiday Lights and Music in Palm Springs
You take a million lights, sprinkle in holiday music and you have party. Wild Lights at the Living Desert in Palm Desert is the perfect place to get in the holiday spirit.
The minute you walk through the official entry, you find yourself in a wonderland. White lights strung through the trees with gigantic snowflakes provide the perfect photo opt. Then a turn in the pathway brings you to an area with blue lights stretching out on the ground before you.
If you want a real holiday jolt of fun and laughter, this is the place to come. For adults, there is much to see and experience, including being able to see the latest in holiday lights—one display kept us all guessing about how in the world they created the look.
WILD LIGHTS AT THE LIVING DESERT
47900 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA
(760) 346-5694
www.LivingDesert.org
Admission: Adults $10 Members/Children/Military (with ID) $8
Hours: 6 to 9 p.m. December 4-6, 11-13, 18-31 (Closed Christmas Day) Free Parking
Palm Springs Gay Pride
.Palm Springs Pride 2014, Nov. 7-9, is offering free festival admission as it moves to a new location in downtown Palm Springs.
PS Pride will also introduce a new parade route and is offering an unprecedented number of performers and attractions with a diverse lineup of performers gathered to celebrate equality, freedom and diversity in the desert’s LGBT community.
Parties Parties Parties! Beach Party, 5k Walk, Pool Parties, ladies parties – it’s all here this year!
Music, celebrities and more!
GET THE WHOLE SCHEDULE HERE
Palm Springs Gay Pride Events
Greater Palm Springs Pride is Southern California’s popular and longest running LGBT festival in the Coachella Valley. Considered to be one of the most scenic Pride parades in the world, the Greater Palm Springs Pride Celebration marks its 28th Anniversary, November 7-9, 2014, with block parties, a free two-day festival and parade in Palm Springs.
Two-Day Pride Festival: November 8 and 9
(11 a.m. – 10 p.m., November 8, and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., November 9)
Enjoy the rainbow mile in downtown Palm Springs! The Pride festival is free and open to all. Festival highlights include: US Bank Stage, Pride Stage at the Hyatt, theBig Top Cabaret and Palm Springs Gay Rodeo Association Country Dance tent. The festival will feature live performances from electro-hop superstars to eclectic musical and new wave techno-pop bands. Features include an Authors’ Village, Children’s Headquarters (CHQ), Safe Schools Youth Xone and specialty lounges and multiple Bud Light and cocktail gardens. More than 125 exhibitors and non-profit organizations, farmers’ markets and food vendors will participate.
– See more at: http://www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/articles/greater-palm-springs-pride-celebrates-28th-anniversary-new-downtown-location-events#sthash.ivmqxgKz.dpuf
GET A ROOM! INNdulge!
Palm Springs Gay Pride
Provincetown sensation Miss Richfield 1981 headlines Pride Weekend at Purple Room Restaurant and Stage in Palm Springs with her new show Play With My Poodle for two performances only, Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8. Also performing Pride Weekend will be award-winning singer-songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine on Thursday, November 6 and Michael Holmes in his hysterical parody The Judy Show on Sunday, Nov 9.
Miss Richfield 1981’s live performances have received critical acclaim, with The New York Post declaring the show “the must-see act in Provincetown.” A P-town icon, Miss Richfield 1981 has been performing there for the past 12 summers and fills the Paramount Theater at the Crown & Anchor nightly.
Many have seen Miss Richfield 1981 in the TV ads for Orbitz online travel and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Miss Richfield has also appeared on Today on NBC, Cake Boss on TLC, and Weekends With Samantha Brown on Travel Channel. She tours nationally and sells out shows in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, South Florida and Minneapolis. She is also television spokesperson for the City of Philadelphia.
Her new show, Play With My Poodle, is a truly original performance and leaves audiences in hysterics with its off-the-page humor, twisted sing-alongs and audience interaction.
The Miss Richfield 1981 show starts at 7:00pm. Tickets for the show are $25 and are available at www.purpleroompalmsprings.com or by calling 760.322.4422.
Kicking off Pride Weekend at Purple Room on Thursday, November 6, will be singer and recently named “Songwriter of the Year” by the West Coast Songwriter’s Association Bobby Jo Valentine with his brand of hopeful folk/pop and infectious vocal melodies. San Francisco area-based Valentine’s music was featured in the television commercial for the 2013 Ford Fusion.
A master lyricist, Valentine also received two West Coast Songwriters Association “Best Song” awards for his songs Somedays and Fly, both on his new album, A Place to Belong. Valentine’s other two albums are Home and By My Side.
Alexa Spieler of A-List Music gives Valentine 5 out of 5 stars and writes, “If Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Regina Spektor combined forces, you would have Bobby Jo Valentine. Soulful and uplifting, soothing and calming, Valentine’s music is the perfect blend of indie and modern pop/rock.
“Witty wordplay, clever melodies…the nicest guy to ever pick up an acoustic guitar,” saysLA WEEKLY
The Bobby Jo Valentine show starts at 7:30pm, Tickets for the show are $15 and are available at www.purpleroompalmsprings.com or by calling 760.322.4422.
Michael Holmes’ Hilarious The Judy Show, Sunday, November 9
The fun Pride Weekend entertainment continues on Sunday, November 9 with Michael Holmes’ The Judy Show. The spirit of Judy Garland is alive and well in this blend of hysterical comedy and outstanding music that explodes into an evening of nonstop belly laughs, glamour and high camp. With a killer wardrobe and razor-sharp wit, Holmes plays and nails them all, singing your favorite songs and thrilling the audience with charm, zingers and stories. The Judy Show’s guests are always changing, so audiences never know who will surprise and delight them on stage on any given evening. Be on the lookout for Carol Channing, Mae West, Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Pearl Bailey, Peggy Lee and Tallulah Bankhead.
The Judy Show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the show are $20 and are available at www.purpleroompalmsprings.com or by calling 760.322.4422.
Palm Springs Gay Pride and Parade to be moved this Fall
Pride in Palm Springs will never be the same. We’ve worked several years to get to this point and on Wednesday night the Palm Springs City Council unanimously approved moving the Pride Festival to Palm Canyon Dr. in Downtown.
This year’s event logo featuring the palm tree lined Palm Canyon Drive leading directly to Palm Springs Pride couldn’t be more fitting. We are beyond thrilled with the news.
The road would close at 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, and reopen at 3 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10.
Additional road closures would be held for the Pride Parade, which will be held on Nov. 9.
Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet said the event has a “fabulous, wonderful energy” and that it would inevitably provide a boost to the city’s shops and restaurants.
“The move downtown will have a bigger impact than we realize,” Pougnet said.
Jeffery Sanker Announces ICON Awards
In celebration of his 25th Anniversary, White Party Founder and Producer Jeffrey Sanker has created the WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS ICON AWARDS. These awards recognize a select group whose unique and varied achievements have stood out and best embody the spirit of White Party.
“We are thrilled to present our special Icon Awards to individuals who have exemplified White Party’s defining principles of unity & celebration, commitment to excellence and leading edge creativity,” said Sanker. “I look forward to presenting those attending recipients their awards on the White Carpet at this year’s Saturday main event.”
WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS ICON AWARD RECIPIENTS INCLUDE:
ARTIST:
Carmen Electra- Artist, Activist
Cher- Pioneer for LGBT Community; Activist
Jai Rodriguez- Actor, Activist
Kathy Griffin- Comedienne, Philanthropist, Activist
Lady Gaga- Pioneer for LGBT Community, Philanthropist, Activist
Lance Bass- Actor, Activist
PHILANTHROPIST:
Aaron Walton- Philanthropist, Activist
Bryan Singer- Director, Activist
David Cooley- Founder of Abbey, Philanthropist
Fred Arens & Jason Duguay- Philanthropist, Activist
Roland Emmerich- Director, Philanthropist
Sir Elton John & David Furnish- Philanthropist, Activist
ACTIVIST:
Adam Bouska & Jeff Parshley- NoH8 Campaign, Activist
Bruce Vilanch- Actor, Writer, Activist
Lisa Vanderpump- Reality Star, Activist
Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo- Prop 8 Activists
Ron Oden- Former Mayor of PS, Activist
Ronnie Kroell- Activist
Todd Saporito- Philanthropist, Activist
PIONEER:
Andy Cohen- BRAVO TV personality, Activist
Candis Cayne- Pioneer of LGBT Community, Activist
David Stern- Former Publisher of Frontiers, Activist
DJ Abel Aguilera- Deejay, Activist
Reza Farahan – BRAVO TV personality, Pioneer of LGBT Community
Congratulations to all WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS ICON AWARDS recipients!
Sanker announced this year’s 25th Anniversary plans include a completely redesigned White Party, boasting the most innovative and elaborate video displays ever experienced. Chart-topping remix production team BENT COLLECTIVE (Danny Verde & Steven Redant) will also make their live DJ performance debut. And media sponsor SiriusXM is on board to broadcast on-site from the Convention Center White Carpet for this historic event.
White Party will also offer lots of new photo opportunities, such as Instagram “selfie moments” and a special photo set up where groups can get instant pics emailed for free.
Additionally, to benefit DESERT AIDS PROJECT and fund raising auction efforts, Sanker has enlisted the talents of internationally recognized conceptual photographer Duke Shoman to create beautiful, striking photographic tableaus. In keeping with the WPPS 25th “Silver Anniversary” theme, a sleek, sexy and modern chamber of shining, brilliant silver will be the setting that stars and VIP guest will step into – following their arrival on the White Carpet – to commemorate this twenty-five year milestone.
The following afternoon, at the Sunday T-Dance, you can double your pleasure with two giant 100 foot high Ferris wheels, and the day will culminate with the biggest fireworks display in White Party history, choreographed to the music of DJ/Producer Wayne G.
Sanker also revealed the exciting new addition of Uber as the official transportation provider for White Party. Why drive when you can Uber? Services will be available all weekend long for White Party attendees. Uber lounge stations will be set up at White Party locations manned by special Uber concierges. Uber will also have stretch limos for White Party guests to get around in style. New users can download the app and enter the code WP25 for a free first ride! Sign up at: www.uber.com/GO/WP25. Both new and existing users can also enter the code whiteparty to unlock a flat rate from LA to Palm Springs and back!
White Party Palm Springs is the largest gay dance music festival in the world, celebrating its 25th Anniversary April 25-28, 2014. For more information, hotel reservations and tickets, visit: www.jeffreysanker.com.
Palm Springs November Fun
Leather Pride will once again be held the
2nd weekend
in November following the Greater
Palm Springs Pride Festival so that
guests who
wish to may bookend their vacation to
Palm Springs and enjoy BOTH
celebrations.
2nd weekend
in November following the Greater
Palm Springs Pride Festival so that
guests who
wish to may bookend their vacation to
Palm Springs and enjoy BOTH
celebrations.
GET A ROOM NOW at INNdulge
DesertLeatherPride info Nov 7-11
Greater Palm Springs Pride Festival Nov 2-3
FALL in Beautiful Palm Springs
Gay Palm Springs is getting ready for fall fun!
It starts with Halloween, which is on a Wednesday 31st this year.
The city
celebrates Pride the following Saturday and Sunday, November 3-4.
celebrates Pride the following Saturday and Sunday, November 3-4.
And Leather
Desert Pride follows the next weekend, November 8-11.
Desert Pride follows the next weekend, November 8-11.
For Halloween, a street party and costume contest takes place on Arenas
Road, the Castro Street of Palm Springs. Entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m.
hosted by Palm Springs drag celebrity Bella Da Ball. Drag performer “Nicky,”
as Carol Channing, hosts the 8-10 p.m. costume contest.
Palm Springs Pride starts on Pride eve with the Broadway in
Drag pageant on Friday, November 2, at 8 p.m. at the Palm Canyon Theatre. The
Pride festival is on Saturday and Sunday. Arenas Road will host a block party
on Saturday night, November 5, from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Coinciding with Pride, the
2012 AIDS Walk will celebrate its 25th year on Sunday, November 4, at 8:30 a.m.
and will join with the Pride Parade, which heads down Palm Canyon Drive
starting at 10 a.m.
Desert Leather Pride begins on Thursday, November 8, with a
meet and greet event at Hunter’s Nightclub. The event will be packed with
activities all weekend. The Palm Springs Convention Hall will host the Mr. Palm
Springs Leather contest from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 10.
read more at Bay Area Reporter
Gay Jazz Artist Dave Koz Brings Christmas Tour To Palm Desert December 12th
COMING OUT,
DOES NOT HURT ONES CAREER,
contrary to popular belief!
Just ask Dave Koz.
When he came out in The Advocate in 2004, Dave Koz instantly expanded his already large fan base and shattered a lot of myths about gay men and music.
In a career that spans twenty years and a dozen albums, saxophonist Dave Koz has established himself as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary music. But for as noteworthy as his body of recorded work and as entertaining his live performances and other past accomplishments might be, Koz finds himself in an era of dramatic and sweeping change where everything once taken for granted is suddenly up for grabs. For Koz – and for all of us in this first decade of the new century – it’s a new day, full of new challenges and opportunities, and new rules that are still being written.
Koz embraces this era of change – and even the uncertainty that comes with it – on Hello Tomorrow, his debut on Concord Records (released on October 12, 2010. “Put The Top Down,” the breezy lead single from the album, rocketed to #1 at Radio after just three weeks!). Produced by Grammy winners John Burk and Marcus Miller (who also appears on most tracks), the album features a diverse army of high-profile guests: Herb Alpert, Jonathan Butler, Brian Culbertson, Sheila E., Boney James, Jeff Lorber, Keb’ Mo’, Ray Parker, Jr., Lee Ritenour, Christian Scott and others. Each of the thirteen tracks – most of them written by Koz and his collaborators, others penned by friends and legends – focuses on being open to new beginnings, and trusting that the future is unfolding in all the right ways for all the right reasons.
Looking back on the Advocate Coming Out interview, he says, “I think everyone makes that leap at the right time in their own lives—there is no absolute rule, and thus I tend to shy away from giving anyone else advice on how to do this. In my own experience however, I never had a master plan to come out…that moment shocked me when it came—I sort of knew it instinctively and I said to myself, “It’s time”. Up until that point it was something I was either too worried, or too freaked out to do. I wasn’t willing to risk it…but then something surprising happened.
I was doing an interview for another gay publication—and the interviewer initially said it was just to speak on the music, no personal questions. His editors had a different agenda and he came back to me saying that in order for the article to run I would have to address my sexuality. Well, I noticed the way this information made me feel…and for the first time ever, it didn’t scare the &*%# out of me! I went to my managers with the idea of coming out—they were super supportive, having helped Melissa Etheridge along her journey. But they said if you’re going to do it, do it with The Advocate. And that’s exactly what happened—a few months later, just about in sync with my turning 40, it was done. This little piece of information that I’d been guarding so preciously all my adult life was finally out there for the world to see. Of course at the time I was freaking out…but I haven’t looked back since. By far, the very best thing I’ve ever done for myself. “
LAST WEEK, Dave added his effort to the Dan Savage It Get’s Better Project. You can watch his video and listen to his growing up gay story . And he reveals how his music got him through the struggles of growing up gay. Music – and more specifically, the saxophone – have been Koz’s primary survival tools since his childhood and adolescence in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley. “The saxophone became my best friend, my most trusted ally, because it enabled me to communicate feelings that I didn’t have the words for. In many ways, it saved my life.”
This is shows 13th Anniversary! And this year’s run will feature special guests South African singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler, keyboardist Brian Culbertson and Dutch saxophone star Candy Dulfer. It will mark Dulfer’s first tour with Koz while Butler and Culbertson are back by popular demand.
The artists will perform hits from their respective catalogues and join together on a variety of holiday standards for an inspirational, high-energy show that has become a cherished tradition for many fans. The tour will take them from coast to coast and include three Los Angeles area shows (December 17th & 18th at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts and December 19th at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live). The festivities will conclude with a show at Modesto’s Gallo Center for the Arts on December 20th.
DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS… A SMOOTH JAZZ CHRISTMAS
2010 TOUR COMES TO Palm Desert, CA 7:00pm
Dec. 12, 2010, McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts !
“Holiday music is like comfort food – when you hear these songs, they transport you,” says Dave, who has three classic holiday albums to his credit (December Makes Me Feel This Way, A Smooth Jazz Christmas Dave Koz & Friends, Memories of a Winter’s Night). “It’s like when you smell a fresh apple pie, and it conjures up memories of your grandmother’s baking and all the traditions that make this such a special time of year.”
Palm Springs Gay Pride November 6 and 7
2010 Greater
Palm Springs Pride Festival
Saturday & Sunday Nov. 6-7, 2010
10AM – 8PM Sat., 10AM – 6PM Sun.
Palm Springs Baseball Stadium
2010 Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade
Sunday Nov. 7, 2010 10AM
Known for its crystal blue skies, year-round sunshine, stunning landscape, palm tree lined streets and starry nights the City of Palm Springs comes alive during the annual pride celebration. The 24th anniversary of Pride celebrations in Palm Springs will be held over the weekend of November 6 and 7, 2010.
On Sunday, November 7 rainbow flags and glitter will fill the streets as the ever present Mount San Jacinto Mountains star in the most scenic pride parade in the world. The downtown parade steps off at 10am and travels along historic Palm Canyon Drive.
Only a rainbow mile from downtown, the unique two-day pride festival is held at the former spring training home of the California Angels and Chicago White Sox. On pride weekend, thousands take to the field with the baseball diamond serving as the gathering spot for friends and a celebration of diversity and unity. Complete with gay-owned and LGBT friendly companies, the festival includes music, dancing, food vendors, and booths staffed by local organizations.
With over 125 parade contingents, 100 exhibitors, and several entertainment venues, the Palm Springs Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest annual gathering of LGBT people and allies in the Greater Palm Springs area.
More info at PS PRIDE !
Gay Palm Springs Summer Splash 2010
If you’ve never been to Palm Springs, California, now’s the time to discover America’s Great Gay Oasis! Long a favorite for Winter getaways, Palm Springs is fast becoming a Summer hot spot as well. Why? The answer is simple. Summer Deals and Summer Splash!
2010 marks the third year for Summer Splash! – the Palm Springs Summer Promotion sponsored by the Desert Gay Tourism Guild. The number of participating businesses is greater than ever before, and the line-up of special events and special offers is both vibrant and varied.
Discover amazing hotels deals (Like INNdulge 2nd Night Free !), special discounts from retailers and restaurants, savings on movies, Summer events and local attractions. There are even special airline discounts from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air and Westjet, and a great rental car offer from Enterprise Rent-A-Car!
New for Summer Splash! this year is the SPLASH PASS – a wallet-sized discount card that gets you special savings at area restaurants, retailers and other businesses, and discounted admission to many area attractions and special events. It’s the perfect addition to Summer Splash! The best part? The SPLASH PASS is absolutely FREE to everyone – valley visitors and residents alike!
Sound like fun? It is!
The party starts on June 1st, 2010, and continues all the way through September 30th, 2010.
Don’t miss it!
To find out more, visit Palm Springs Summer Splash , or go to Palm Springs Gay Info
January is HOT in Palm Springs!
Happenings in January:
January 5-18 – Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs Film Fest
January 9-10 – Palm Springs Winter Softball Classic
Palm Springs Winter Classic
January 15 – Michael Feinstein and Cheyenne Jackson at The McCallum Theater
McCallum Theatre
January 15 – Lionel Richie at Fantasy Springs Casino
Fantasy Springs
January 15-17 – National Gay Pilots Association Winter Warm-Up
Gay Pilots
January 22-24 – STOMP at The McCallum Theater
McCallum Theatre
January 23 – Harry Connick Jr. at Fantasy Springs Casino
Fantasy Springs
January 29-31 – An Evening with Lily Tomlin at the McCallum Theater
McCallum Theatre
DEAL OF THE MONTH!~STAY WITH INNdulge
JANUARY SPECIAL: Wednesday Night FREE!
Wednesday Night is FREE during the month of January at
INNdulge Palm Springs! Minimum two night stay.
Better yet, Stay Seven Nights, and Get Two Free! Both
Wednesday Night and your Seventh Night are FREE !
The Best of Gay Palm Springs
Happy Pride! celebrate Diversity!
Wishing everyone a safe and HAPPY PRIDE!
From Best of Gay Palm Springs and Best Gay Cities
In Palm Springs – Pride is celebrated in November.
2009 Greater Palm Springs Pride Festival
Saturday & Sunday Nov. 7-8, 2009
10AM – 8PM Sat., 10AM – 6PM Sun.
Palm Springs Baseball Stadium
2009 Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade
Sunday Nov. 8, 2009
10AM – Steps off at Alejo Road moving south down historic Palm Canyon Drive to Ramon Road
Same Sex Kiss Day at Starbucks
Can I have a Double-Mocha fat-free….and a big KISS??
This one-day event coincides with “Tax Day” to highlight the fact that “LGBT couples have yet to be granted the same rights to file our taxes jointly on a Federal level, and we can still be fired for being openly gay in the workplace. That’s why you’re encouraged to be seen on Tax Day, April 15, 2009, spreading your love with a KISS!”
Same Sex Kiss Day calls for couples to go to a neighborhood Starbucks coffee shop and during one (or all, if you wish) of four designated times throughout the day, exchange a kiss with your same sex partner or friend. The set times are at 7:15 am, 12:15 pm, 5:15 pm, and 8:15 pm.
Why Starbucks? Well according to the Same Sex Kiss Day site, “Starbucks has been committed to LGBT rights since the beginning of time offering domestic partnership insurance, quoting gay artists on their coffee cups, and funding our gay pride parades.”
Hallmark HAS NOT created a card for this yet.
