We were sad to hear that “Evening Under the Stars” has been canceled this year due to financial and supply chain issues. One of the valley’s signature events for years at the famed O’Donnell Golf Course, it will not be rescheduled. That comes on the high heels of the former Dinah Shore Open being sold to Chevron and moved to Houston.
While those are blows to our community, the number of new events, fundraisers and activities continues to multiply as we look forward. Our April downloadable calendar is on the website now and our Events calendar online is chocked full. From where drag shows are on any given night to support groups, we cover it all!
By the way, thanks to Palm Springs Escape for that wonderful drone show by Pixis Thursday night. We had seats at the top of the Kimpton Rowan and enjoyed the show as VillageFest celebrated 30 years. The Palm Springs Escape events go on all weekend.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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The Chevron Championship
The Chevron Championship is taking place now through Sunday, April 3 at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. This is one of the five Major championships of professional women’s golf on the LPGA Tour. After decades in the desert, this is the last year it will be played here before moving to Houston, Texas as part of the new title sponsorship agreement with Chevron. The official name of the trophy is “The Dinah Shore Trophy.” The trophy is named in honor of the television, film and recording star Dinah Shore, who was probably the single greatest influence in helping the Ladies Professional Golf Association achieve the prestige it enjoys today. More info
Dinah Party T-Dance
Palm Springs Crave presents a Ladies T-Dance supporting The L-Fund on Sunday, April 3 from 4–8 pm at Wang’s in the Desert. This celebration of the original Dinah weekend will feature DJ Michael Allen and surprise performer so get your back off the wall and dance! All are welcome. More info
Indian Wells Arts Festival
The Indian Wells Arts Festival takes place April 1–3, from 9 am–4 pm each day at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Established in 2003, the Festival ranks as the nation’s 32nd Best Fine Arts Show from thousands, and has also been ranked as one of the nation’s Top 100 Best Fine Art Shows of the Decade. The show attracts upwards of 10,000 festival-goers each year with major collectors local to the desert cities and Southern California, and coming from as far abroad as Canada, Germany, and Sweden. This juried show limits its showcase of artists to 200 across an average of 30 categories of art. Get tickets
Palm Springs Escape
For four days, April 1–4, The Kimpton Rowan will be partnering with AN/A Brand Closet Showroom Social to transform the Palm Springs property into Palm Springs Escape, a first-of-its-kind spacious oasis filled with curated tranquility, wellness programs, sustainability-focused practices, and artistic creations from the best of LGBTQI artists, female and Black entrepreneurs, and enduring luxury goods. Guests will have complimentary access to a diverse range of classes (stargazing, wellness rituals, and artistry), sponsored product sampling, wine and spirits tastings, and an exclusive private showroom filled with art, jewelry, bespoke designers, and fashion. Get tickets
Faux Fur Ball – All You Need is Love
The Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter present the return of their signature event, the Faux Fur Ball, on Saturday, April 2 starting at 6 pm with a welcome reception, craft cocktails, tantalizing bites reminiscent of the hipster days, and silent auction. At 7:30 pm, grab your love beads and head on over to the main event, an awards presentation and spirited live auction. Finally, get your groove on as cocktails continue to flow and the dance floor is open as cool vibes take you into the night. Proceeds provide critical funds to the shelter’s life-giving mission as the original public shelter in the Coachella Valley, with a no-kill philosophy and giving compassionate care to all animals. Get tickets
Salon Rouge “Ballroom Bash”
The Palm Springs Dance Festival presents Salon Rouge on Friday, April 1 from 6–7:30 p.m. This ballroom bash will feature the award-winning Nickerson-Rossi dance team and ballroom instructors Beverly Durand and Curtis Collins. Learn basic social dancing, hit the dance floor to strut your moves and be ready to move! Any level of dance is welcome. There will be also be a professional performance by Beverly and Curtis, and additional performances featuring dancers of the Coachella Valley. More info
Palm Springs Dance Festival Gala
The 2022 Gala performance of the Palm Springs Dance Festival will be Saturday, April 2 with a matinee performance at 3 pm and an evening performance at 7:30 pm, preceded by a reception at 6:30. Witness the beauty, power, and passion of Nickerson-Rossi Dance with their exceptional and eclectic 2022 line-up promising to entertain the most unforgiving of dance connoisseurs. With an audience of only 100, everyone feels like they have a front row seat! Line-Up includes: McKeever Dance Theatre (Palm Desert) performing Tap & Jazz, Rangoli Dance Company (Los Angeles) performing Classical Indian, Nickerson-Rossi Dance (Palm Springs) performing Modern Dance, and “The Chosen” Artist Fuse Dance Company (Orange County) performing in the Contemporary style. Get tickets
Cocktails & Dance Fundraiser for HER HRC
Palm Springs Crave presents Cocktails and Dance, a fundraiser for HER HRC on Saturday, April 2 from 7–10 pm at V Wine Lounge. Music will be provided by KGAY 106.5’s own DJ Galaxy. Come out and show your support for HER and HRC! More info
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Back by popular demand, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, returns to the McCallum Theatre for five performances, from Friday, April 1–Sunday, April 2. The show follows Brooklyn girl Carol Klein as she fights her way into the record business and eventually becomes the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter Carole King. Coming up in April at the McCallum: The Desert Symphony: The British Invasion Years (Apr. 7), Chris Botti (Apr. 9), Open Call Project (Apr. 16), Waring International Piano Competition (Apr. 18), David Feherty (Apr. 22–23), and Shen Yun (Apr. 28–30). More info
Patricia Welch at Indian Wells Resort Hotel
Broadway Legend Patricia Welch performs a season farewell on Saturday, April 2 from 6–9 pm at Indian Wells Resort Hotel. While she continues to perform at other venues, galas, and special events in the Coachella Valley year-round, this will be the final performance to experience a unique dinner and show setting in the quaint IW Live restaurant and lounge. Welch is well-known for her starring roles and featured soloist acts with Robert Goulet, Yul Brynner, and Wayne Newton. Get tickets
The Alibi Reopens with Bob Mould, The Lemonheads
The Alibi will reopen to the public this weekend with a stellar offering of live music featuring Husker Du/Sugar frontman Bob Mould on Friday, April 1 and college radio pioneers, The Lemonheads on Saturday, April 2, hitting the stage to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their seminal album It’s a Shame About Ray. The Alibi will continue to feature an eclectic calendar of daytime and evening music and entertainment including Big Freedia (April 16, 17 and May 27,28) and Pansy Division (June 30). More info
Western Xposure: Spring 2022
Western Xposure Spring 2022 Bear Weekend is March 31–April 4 at CCBC Resort. This is a free-flowing weekend event for the gay bear community, as well as the men who love and admire them. The chill atmosphere is meant for going at your own pace with the entire resort open 24 hours so you can just enjoy yourself. The beauty of Western Xposure events: You can go as hard or as easy as you want. Due to Covid they have scaled back some things but will still have a free lunch BBQ and DJ’s spinning all weekend poolside, with DJ Carrera, Bulldog, JPMe, and BoyShapedBox. Get tickets
Glow in the Park: A Spring Lantern Festival
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens present Glow in the Park: A Spring Lantern Festival, open from 6:30–10 pm, nightly through April 29. This brand-new and larger-than-life illuminated experience will feature intricate, immersive, and truly awe-inspiring animal and nature-scape lantern creations representing wild places from around the globe. Dozens of displays featuring illuminated lanterns and light displays will create unforgettable moments and experiences. Get tickets
LOCAL THEATRE
One Weekend Only: Cyrano de Bergerac
Palm Canyon Theatre presents Cyrano de Bergerac from March 31–April 3. Cyrano de Bergerac is a brash, strong-willed man of many talents. In addition to being a remarkable duelist, he is a gifted, joyful poet and is also a musical artist. However, he has an obnoxiously large nose, which causes him to doubt himself. This doubt prevents him from expressing his love for his distant cousin, the beautiful and intellectual Roxane, as he believes that his ugliness would prevent him the “dream of being loved by even an ugly woman. Get tickets
Every Brilliant Thing
Dezart Performs presents Every Brilliant Thing from April 1–10 at the Pearl McManus Theater. You’re six years old. Mom’s in the hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. Soon, the list will take on a life of its own. A play about depression and the lengths we will go for those we love. Check out our Gay Desert Guide Review by Stephen Radosh [here], where he calls Every Brilliant Thing “nothing shy of an amazing evening of theatre.” Get tickets
Little Shop of Horrors
Desert Theatreworks presents Little Shop of Horrors, running now through April 10. A deviously delicious musical send-up of ‘50s B movies, Little Shop of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatergoers for more than 30 years, telling the story of a geeky florist shop worker who is secretly harboring a man-eating plant (voiced in this production by singing sensation Keisha D). His conundrum grows out of control as the sounds of early ’60s rock, doo-wop and Motown numbers fill the air. Get tickets
Palm Springs Musical – Born to Sparkle
The Desert Rose Playhouse presents Palm Springs Musical – Born to Sparkle, now through April 10. This world premiere is a brand new musical set in present day Palm Springs. Two passionate women leave their successful lives in Hollywood to fulfill a deathbed promise to revive The Fabulous Follies. With a colorful cast as diverse as Palm Springs itself, complete with a 7–foot-tall drag queen, this musical is clearly…Born to Sparkle! Get tickets
All This Intimacy
Desert Ensemble Theatre presents All This Intimacy by Rajiv Joseph, running now through April 3. In this sex comedy gone wrong, Ty Greene is a normal guy with three very big problems. In an unprecedented (for him) run of promiscuity, Ty has managed to impregnate three women in the span of one week. As the women converge and figure out what’s happened, Ty realizes his life is adrift and that he only has a limited time to try to piece it back together. Get tickets
Cathedral City Senior Center Rummage Sale
The Cathedral City Senior Center hosts their annual Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 2 from 8 am–12 pm. You will find all kinds of household items. Best of all, the proceeds of the sale help support senior center programming and operations. Have stuff you want to get rid of? Donate your items to the Senior Center and let them use the proceeds. Donations can be dropped off during regular business hours between 9 am and 5 pm on Thursday, March 31 and Friday, April 1. More info
RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Season 14, Episode 13
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has recapped the latest episode from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14, and this week, the finale is in sight (TWO go home tonight!) and the maxi-challenge is a celebrity roast of none other than Drag Race panel judge—and host of his own Saturday morning show 10 am–Noon right here at KGAY 106.5—Ross Mathews! See who slayed, who bombed, and read Dante’s full recap of Episode 13: The Ross Mathews Roast [here].
LOOKING AHEAD
Rock the Park: Kenny Metcalf as Elton John
KGAY Palm Springs 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide welcome Kenny Metcalf as Elton the Early Years on Wednesday, April 6 at the New Downtown Park. KGAY will be broadcasting live from 5:30–7 pm and “Elton” takes the stage at 7 pm. Dazzling outfits, stunning vocals, and a spectacular backing band complete this phenomenal reproduction that brings the audience on an adventure of both sight and sound! This concert is part of The Palm Springs Chamber’s free monthly tribute concerts. More info
‘Evening Under the Stars’ Gala Canceled
AAP – Food Samaritans (AAP) has announced that they have canceled their 27th annual Evening Under the Stars gala, which was scheduled to take place at the O’Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs on Saturday, April 30. In short, it was too expensive to put on this year, but organizers plan to re-imagine the event for spring of 2023. Learn more
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs is “The Pride of the Valley,” and you can show your Pride by proudly wearing our rainbow logo! Check out our selection of apparel and other items emblazoned with the best radio station call letters: KGAY! Shop now
Saturdays with Ross Mathews is on KGAY 106.5 every Saturday at 10:00 am on the FM dial in the Coachella Valley and streaming worldwide online! Brought to you by the John White Real Estate Group. Ask your smart speaker to “Play K-G-A-Y Palm Springs.”
- Indian Wells Arts Festival
Apr. 1–3 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden - Palm Springs Animal Shelter Faux Fur Ball – All You Need is Love
Sat. Apr. 2 at 6 pm at the Palm Springs Air Museum - Palm Springs Escape at the Kimpton Rowan
Apr. 1–4 - Every Brilliant Thing – presented by Dezart Performs
Apr. 1–10 at the Pearl McManus Theater - Palm Springs International Spring Dance Festival
Mar. 26– Apr. 2 at Nickerson-Rossi Dance Theater - Rock the Park Concert: Kenny Metcalf as Elton The Early Years
Wed. Apr. 6 from 5:30–9 pm at the New Downtown Palm Springs Park - Little Shop of Horrors – presented by Desert Theatreworks
Mar. 18–Apr. 10 - Palm Springs The Musical: Born to Sparkle – presented by the Desert Rose Playhouse
Mar. 24–Apr. 10 - MOGO Silent Disco Tours
Fri. and Sat. evenings, from 6:30 pm–7:45 pm in downtown Palm Springs - Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus Presents Razzle, Dazzle, Shine!
Fri. Apr. 8 at 7 pm at the Annenberg Theater - The Chase: The 28th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards
Sat. Apr. 9 from 5–10 pm - Modern Men Present Sounds of the 60s
Sat. & Sun., Apr. 23 & 24 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center - Greater Palm Springs Dining Out For Life
Thursday, April 28
Welcome New Partner!
Palm Springs Bottle Shop is a wine/beer and specialty foods market stocked with a selection of brands created and led by LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and Women entrepreneurs and makers. Located at 383 N Indian Canyon Dr in Palm Springs inside the Mojave Flea Trading Post, they have the best selection of Pool Side Beverages and Snacks in Coachella Valley. Open every day from 11–5 pm. Learn more
- 54 Things to Do in the Desert in April 2022
- The National LGBT Chamber, Grubhub, and the Desert Business Association Present Over $80,000 in Grants to Local Businesses
- Palm Springs Prepares to Shelter Trans Youth Being Targeted in Conservative States
- Restaurant News Bites: Dining Out for Life Returns; Sushi Kawa Opens at The River; and Much More!
- BWW Review: Desert Theatreworks Has Mounted A Must-See Production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
The sophistication and glamour of the Rat Pack era comes alive at Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, the desert’s premier supper club. Tucked away in the Club Trinidad Hotel, The Purple Room is where Frank, Sammy, Dean, and their pals cavorted on and off the stage in the swinging 60s. Enjoy classic cocktails with a modern twist, world-class cuisine, and the best in live entertainment for 25% off with our HOT DEAL: Get a $50 gift card from the Purple Room for only $37.50! – Get Your Deal
We also have Hot Deals at Men’s Grooming Spot, Revel Public House, AMP Sports Lounge, Kitchen 86, Desert Mischief, Il Giardino, Grand Central, Runway, Oscar’s, Just Fabulous, Lulu California Bistro, Bear Wear and more! See All Deals
Listen to KGAY 106.5 over the air, stream it [here], or listen on TuneIn Radio with Alexa or Siri by saying “Play K-GAY 1065 from Tune In Radio.” John Taylor is on mornings 6–10 am and program director Chris Shebel is on afternoons. Our Retro Lunch with DJ Galaxy and DJ Eric Ornelas is now heard on Sundays as the Retro Lunch & Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm. And Saturdays at 10:00 am, it’s Coachella Valley resident Ross Mathews with his very own radio show!
