Let us be your Gay Desert Guide to the Weekend!
December 21–23, 2018

We are very excited to welcome a new LGBTQ radio station, 106.5 FM to the Coachella Valley, kicking off with some fun Holiday music! WildLights at The Living Desert and Robolights are holiday attractions you won't see anywhere else, as is Snowfall at The Gardens on Paseo. There are also holiday-themed shows at Wang's Drag Brunch, The Purple Room's Christmas and New Year's dinners, and it's the final weekend for The Sound of Music, always popular during the holidays! We have upcoming events to mark on your calendar, a New Year's Eve Party Roundup, some great Happy Hours, Hot Deals, and Top Recommended Articles to share with you too!

LGBTQ Radio Station Launches at Christmas

On Christmas Eve and Day, December 24 and 26, Qchella Media's new 106.5 FM will be playing some very gay holiday classics and songs you may have not heard before! Everything from Mariah Carey to Donna Summer, Rufus Wainwright to the Weather Girls (just to name a few) will be played for a special holiday-themed pre-launch. Then, at the stroke of midnight on December 26, 106.5 FM will officially launch as a new Coachella Valley radio station serving the LGBTQ community. This new station will also be powered by Gay Desert Guide for all the listings of gay-friendly businesses, events, and attractions in the desert! You can also listen on 1270 AM, and the official launch party will be Wednesday, December 26 from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at Chill Bar Palm Springs. More info on that here, and be sure to “Like” Qchella Media on Facebook!

 

“WildLights” Continues Daily at The Living Desert

A Million Twinkling Lights adorn The Living Desert Zoo this Holiday Season for WildLights, open daily from December 19 through 24. This year The Living Desert welcomes visitors through its new entrance, which has greatly improved access and flow into the Zoo. Guests can explore new pathways and light displays throughout the African section of the park and meet many of the Zoo’s African animals including cheetah, zebra, and giraffe. Animal encounters and keeper chats, camel and carousel rides, and entertainment also take place nightly.  Get tickets

Holiday Shopping at Villagefest

With just a week until Christmas, it might not be smart to try shopping online to get your gifts in time for the holiday. Get instant gratification and unique gifts from the heart, sold directly from your local artists and craftspeople at Palm Springs Villagefest, Thursday December 20 from 6:00–10:00 p.m. on Palm Canyon Drive. More info

Snowfall at the Gardens on El Paseo

Come to The Gardens on Friday & Saturday, December 21 & 22, to experience the sights of snowfall and sounds of carolers at Snowfall at The Gardens. 10-minute “Snowfall Shows” at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. will create memories that last much longer. More info

Twas the (Drag) Brunch Before Christmas at Wang's

Join the gang at Wang's for a festive holiday brunch on Saturday, December 22 from 11:30 a.m to 2:00 p.m. This new brunch experience on the heated patio will feature fantastic food, fun holiday numbers, and the unparallelled service and atmosphere for which Wang's is famous. Their drag queens are also your servers and will take care of you from the moment you arrive and will entertain you until you leave. With DJ Galaxy and featuring Diva, Anna Rexia, Candace Camera, Xotica & special guests. Reservations suggested. More info

Holiday Theatre Wrapping up This Weekend

The Sound of Music, presented by Desert Theatreworks, runs its final performances this week: December 19–23. The holiday favorite features classic songs like “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Do-Re-Mi.” The story is based on the actual life of Maria von Trapp, who leaves an Austrian convent to serve as governess to the children of a widowed naval officer. Get tickets

Christmas with the Crawfords is presented by Desert Rose Playhouse will be performing SOLD OUT SHOWS through December 23. Congratulations to Desert Rose on their big hit set on Christmas Eve at Joan Crawford’s Brentwood mansion where Joan, Christina, and Christopher welcome Hedda Hopper and a houseful of celebrity guests: Judy Garland, Katherine Hepburn, Gloria Swanson, and Ethel Merman, just to name a few. They sing and dance their way into your hearts!

Purple Room Holiday Shows and Dinners

At Purple Room Palm Springs, Michael Holmes' remaining performances of “The Judy Show: Judy's Old Fashioned Christmas” are sold out, but you can still catch Michael performing on Wednesdays with Trish Hatley, swinging to the music of the Rat Pack Era. The Purple Room is also offering special Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners! On December 24 & 25, enjoy a three course Christmas dinner while listing to Holiday Jazz performed by Mark Kahny and Jay Lewis (more info), and on New Year's Eve there will be three seatings featuring a three course dinner. Rose Mallet and Mark Kahny will provide the entertainment for the early dinner shows; the late show runs from 10:00 p.m. to Midnight and includes a champagne toast and entertainment by Sharon Sills. More info

Robolights

Robolights is a massive, colorful display of sculptures and structures artist Kenny Irwin created from recycled materials and draped in 9 million Christmas lights. He began building the display when he was 12 and it now attracts visitors year-round, but especially around the holidays. It has been featured in a number of stories and reports by the national and international media. More info

New Year's Eve Party Roundup

Looking for a place to ring in 2019? We have no shortage of options here in the Greater Palm Springs Area! From Mildly Wild and Glow Karaoke to Adonis Lounge and Drag Superstars, we've got a roundup of New Year's Eve parties to consider. Read more

Celebrate the Season with Auntie Mame Among Friends

On Wednesday, December 26 from 6:00–10:00 p.m., Join Among Friends first for Auntie Mame Interactive. Mame's 1920's-themed cocktail party starts at 6:00, come dressed up (or not) like the characters in the cocktail party in the movie or wear festive holiday attire. There will be multiple bars set up to serve you in style. Then at 8:00 gather in the theater for an interactive version of Auntie Mame. Now the movie you love comes alive with audience participation, live actions, and surprises! Get tickets

Children of Harvey Milk Book Signing and Reception

Mark your calendars! As part of a worldwide book tour for his new book, The Children of Harvey Milk, Professor Andrew Reynolds will be having a book signing at Just Fabulous and a reception at Eight4Nine on Thursday, January 10th from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Part political thriller, part meditation on social change, part love story, The Children of Harvey Milk tells the epic stories of courageous men and women around the world who came forward to make their voices heard during the struggle for equal rights. The book is based on deeply personal and revealing interviews with over ninety elected officials and high-profile candidates from across the globe. Palm Springs, and its leading politicians, play a cameo part in the book with its all LGBTQ council. More info

Toucans Tiki Lounge has Happy Hour until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 'til 7:00 on Sunday. Check out their All New Pop Country Tea Dance on Sundays as well, from 2:00–6:00 p.m! They have tequila, whiskey, and beer specials, country cowboys and backyard games, plus music from all your country favorites and the F-10 food truck. Get Happy at Toucans 

 

Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill has not only $5 house margaritas all day every day, but $6.95 Happy Hour Appetizers every day from 5:00–7:00 p.m. too! On “Street Fair Thursdays” you get $2 Crispy Tacos and 2-for-1 Rio Margaritas. And since it's “tamale season,” you can call and order your sweet corn or pork tamales today! Get Happy at Rio Azul
 

Mary Pickford Theatre – D'Place Entertainment in Cathedral City is a State-of-the-art theater offering stadium or luxury VIP seating for the hottest first-run films. Offering the D-BOX Motion Chair Experience, Beer, Wine and good eats at their Cinema Cafe and more!  With this HOT DEAL, enjoy $15 in Entertainment Dollars redeemable toward admission or refreshments for only $10! Get Your Deal
 

Pinocchio in the Desert is a local favorite for a simple reason: they serve fabulous food in a fun atmosphere! From corn beef hash and eggs or Kali Burriot to a towering mushroom burger or Monte Cristo sandwich, the choices are always delicious. Check out Sunday Brunch and their famous (infamous) bottomless glass of bubbly, and with this HOT DEAL, get $25 of food and drink at Pinocchio in the Desert for just $17.50!

Mai Salon, on beautiful El Paseo in Palm Desert, is a team of professional hair stylists, makeup artists & beauticians dedicated to giving you the look you want for weddings, haircuts, professional makeup and beauty treatments!  “You’ve tried their salon, now try Mai Salon!” More info

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