April plants the seed of new beginnings in our minds. Perhaps that’s because the name of the first full month of spring is derived from the Latin Aprilis: to open. Think a budding flowers’ first hello. And like our wildflowers this year, the Coachella Valley is bursting with April events.
That includes the eighth annual Brew at the Zoo, April 1 at the Living Desert in Palm Desert. Our opening April weekend is also Club Skirts Dinah Shore weekend welcoming the women to town. Plus, NCLR (National Center for Lesbian Rights) hosts their annual garden party. As always, our online and mobile events calendar has complete event details, links to buy tickets and directions. Just go to GayDesertGuide.LGBT and look for our EVENTS channel.
The following week, music lovers can have a wholly different experience at the 19th annual Opera in the Park at 1 PM April 9 in Sunrise Park on Ramon Road in Palm Springs. This outdoor event features up-and-coming opera singers accompanied by a live orchestra.
Want music that rocks this spring? The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – or just plain Coachella — fits the bill. Held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Coachella runs April 14 through April 16 and April 21 through April 23. With such performers as Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Radio Head, The XXs and celebrity sightings galore, Coachella promises to be the biggest playdate around.
In an effort to keep the valley humming with budding new talent, McCallum Theatre’s Open Call competition is scheduled for April 13 through April 15 at 7 PM with an additional performance at 2 PM April 15. The shows have a variety feel similar to America’s Got Talent with contestants vying for prizes ranging from $500 to $2,500.
It wouldn’t be a Coachella Valley spring without plenty of opportunities for serious fun.
By that, I mean events that offer opportunities to kick up your heels while contributing to causes that are close to your heart.
And there’s plenty of loving fun to choose from. The L-Fund’s third annual Gumbo Gala will be held April 2 at the Palm Springs Pavilion. The L-Fund offers financial relief for lesbians in crisis. The fundraiser honoring novelist Katherine V. Forrest, who penned gay detective Kate Dellafield, features award-winning gumbos by Chef Betty Berrysmith.
The other big food event is one we’re sponsoring – Desert AIDS Project’s Dining Out for Life on Thursday, April 27th. See our special channel on GayDesertGuide.LGBT for participating restaurants, specials and videos from the chefs who will be creating special menus.
The FIND Food Bank, which addresses local hunger and food insecurity, holds its annual telethon from 5 PM to 11 PM April 7 on CBS Local 2 News. While most of us never experience hunger, the lines outside our food banks tell a different story. Whether you support AAP’s Evening Under the Stars, The Center’s Thursday food bank, or Meals on Wheels your contributions help those in need. So “open up” and help during April.