Let us be your Gay Desert Guide to the weekend! It's World AIDS Day this weekend, so don your red ribbon and show your support, and you can celebrate our Everyday Heroes with Desert AIDS Project's annual event. It is also time for the annual Festival of Lights Parade, and the Holiday Socks Benefit and Men of the Desert Fashion Show will be raising funds for Sanctuary Palm Springs and Animal Samaritans, respectively. We have some fabulously colorful entertainment this weekend with Trixie Mattel, Nona Hendryx, and two new theatre productions: Christmas with the Crawfords, and Hairspray (with The Sound of Music right around the corner!).
World AIDS Day and Everyday Heroes 2018
December 1 is World AIDS Day, a global recognition of the importance of the continued fight against HIV, as well as an opportunity to show support for those living with HIV and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Wearing a red ribbon, and/or sharing on social media with the hashtag #rocktheribbon shows your support! Learn more
Traditionally held on December 1, Desert AIDS Project's Everyday Heroes Awards will be held a day prior this year: Friday, November 30. This annual event, now in its fifth year, features an outdoor reception, awards presentations, live entertainment, and an after-party. 2018 honorees include: Jeffrey Ewell, Willie Rhine, Edie Groesbeck & Rosanne Kumins, and the 2018 AIDS/Lifecycle Palm Springs Participants. Get tickets
Festival of Lights Parade
The 26th Annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is presented by the city of Palm Springs on Saturday, December 1 at 5:45 p.m. on Palm Canyon Drive. KMIR will broadcast the parade live. The annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade features lighted floats, equestrians, bands, autos, and celebrities. This event has consistently been rated as one of the best local events in the Coachella Valley, and one of the top 10 holiday parade events in the country. More info
Santa Party on Arenas
At 9:00 p.m., Streetbar is hosting a costume contest. Don't miss this fun holiday event!
Trixie Mattel: Now with Moving Parts
Jazz at Sundown feat. Nona Hendryx
Get tickets
Men of the Desert Fashion Show
Holiday Socks for Sanctuary Palm Springs
On Sunday, December 2 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Spencer's Restaurant, Holiday Socks is a fun-filled benefit for Sanctuary Palm Springs, a transitional housing program for LGBTQ foster youth and their allies. Enjoy cocktails, lavis hors d'oeuvres, silent auction, and a raucous live auction co-hosted by a celebrity guest. Get tickets
Weekend Theatre
We have three festive and fun local theatre productions opening soon!
Christmas with the Crawfords is presented by Desert Rose Playhouse from November 30–December 23. It’s Christmas Eve at Joan Crawford’s Brentwood mansion and Joan, Christina, and Christopher are awaiting the arrival of Hedda Hopper for a very special live radio broadcast. Unfortunately for Joan, she’s about to receive a houseful of celebrity guests, including Judy Garland, Katherine Hepburn, Gloria Swanson, and Ethel Merman, just to name a few. They sing and dance their way into your hearts! Get tickets
Hairspray is presented by Palm Canyon Theatre from November 30–December 16. It's 1962 and teenagers Tracy Turnblad and her friend Penny Pingleton are avid Corny Collins fans. A chance to dance on the show is publicized, Tracy jumps on the opportunity. But not everyone is happy with Tracy's joining the show. The show's manager, Velma von Tussle, will do anything to oust Tracy, even if it has to include Tracy's friends Seaweed and Motormouth Maybelle. Get tickets
The Sound of Music, presented by Desert Theatreworks, runs from December 7–23. 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
Cuarón to Receive Visionary Award
The Palm Springs International Film Festival announced this week that filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón will receive the Sonny Bono Visionary Award at their annual Film Awards Gala. If you are traveling in for the Palm Springs International Film Festival, or have friends who are coming to town, be sure to check out the Festival's Hotel & Travel Partners page!
Happy Hour Finder
Streetbar offers daily top shelf specials for $6 or $8 martini & rocks drinks, featuring a different top shelf vodka every day of the week and a variety of rotating spirits specials throughout. This Saturday, Dec 1, don't miss their Santa Party Costume Contest at 9:00 p.m.! Get Happy at Streetbar
The RetroRoom Lounge is a great place to go before, during, and after the Festival of Lights parade! Drag Queen Bingo takes place Saturdays from 3:30–6:30 p.m. With daily Happy Hour 'til 7:00 p.m., you can enjoy the intimate and retro atmosphere with $4 well drinks, $2.50 bud light draft, and $5 house wines! Get Happy at RetroRoom
Hot Deals
“EVZIN” is an ancient Greek word which means “to live well.” And that is the very definition and essence of this restaurant, featuring family style servings with only the freshest ingredients cooked to perfection! What is better than getting a $50 Gift Certificate for only $30 for some amazing Mediterranean cuisine!? Get Your Hot Deal
Spotlight
Welcome New Partner of Gay Desert Guide!
Located directly outside of CCBC, Runway is a groundbreaking dining, bar and entertainment venue featuring American casual dining, drinks and drag and also features an expansive outdoor dining area! More info
Up and Coming
- Pinot and Pilates: LGBT Intro Class at Club Pilates Palm Springs
Thursday, November 29 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. - Everyday Heroes 2018
Friday, November 30, 2018 from 5:30–10:00 p.m. - Elvis: The Early Years with Scot Bruce
Friday, November 30 at 6:00 p.m. at The Purple Room - Christmas with the Crawfords, presented by Desert Rose Playhouse
November 30 through December 23 - Shawn Ryan Live! In Mistle-Ho with The Kelly Park Band
Saturday, December 1 at 6:00 p.m. at The Purple Room - Golden Grapes w/Palm Springs Wine Fest at ACE Hotel & Swim Club
Saturday & Sunday, December 1–2 - Festival of Lights Parade 2018
Saturday, Dec 1 from 5:45–9:00 p.m. on Palm Canyon Drive - Palm Springs Women's Jazz Festival: Jazz at Sundown feat. Nona Hendryx
Saturday, December 1 at 6:00 p.m. at the Indian Wells Theater at CSUSB Palm Desert - Outlandish Presents: Trixie Mattel: Now With Moving Parts
Saturday, December 1 at 8:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center - Judy's Old Fashioned Christmas at the Purple Room Supper Club
Sundays through the end of the year, at 5:00 p.m. - The Sound of Music, presented by Desert Theatreworks
December 7–23 at the Indio Performing Arts Center - Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox
Saturday, December 8 at the McCallum Theatre - Outlandish Presents: Baloney All-Male Revue
Saturday, December 8 at 8:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center - Men in Tights – A Holiday Spectacular with PSGMC
Friday, December 14–Sunday, December 16 at PS Art Museum Annenberg Theater - The Palm Springs International Film Festival 2019
January 3 through January 15, 2019
Articles We're Reading
- Rami Malek to Receive Breakthrough Performance Award in Palm Springs
- The McCallum Theatre Presents Scott Bradlee's POSTMODERN JUKEBOX
- Where to Shop in Cathedral City: Eclectic Experience Awaits
- 65 Things To Do in December
- Markets in Greater Palm Springs: Swap Meets, Street Fairs, and More