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

Also on Saturday, Dec 1 from 5:00–11:00 p.m.: Come to Arenas Road in your holiday attire for contests, prizes, and holiday cheer with participating merchants.

At 9:00 p.m., Streetbar is hosting a costume contest. Don't miss this fun holiday event!

 

Trixie Mattel: Now with Moving Parts

The latest performer in the popular Outlandish Palm Springs performance series is RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner Trixie Mattel on Saturday, December 1 at 8:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. “Now With Moving Parts,” is a decoupage of brand new folk music and surrealist comedy that only Trixie Mattel could hot glue together- guitar picking, razor-sharp reads, and hair teased to the sky! Giddyup! Get tickets

Jazz at Sundown feat. Nona Hendryx

The Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival presents Jazz at Sundown, beginning Saturday, December 1 at 6:00 p.m.  with the electrifying Nona Hendrix at the Indian Wells Theater in Palm Desert.  Hendryx is probably still best known as a member of Labelle, the popular R&B group of the 70’s and 80’s headed by the legendary Patti Labelle. However, since then she has made her mark as a dynamic high energy entertainer across all musical genres from R&B to Pop and Jazz. In recent years she has been on the music scene touring with jazz royalty, multi Grammy-winning drummer, Terri Lyne Carrington.
Get tickets  

Men of the Desert Fashion Show

Men of the Desert 9th Annual Fashion Show and Charity Luncheon is a benefit for Animal Samaritans, held this year on Sunday, December 2 from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Enjoy marvelous fashions selected by Susan Stein, and a magnificent luncheon, along with Handsome Hounds, all to raise money for this critically important Animal Rescue Program. All proceeds go towards the rescue of deserving, adoptable, at-risk dogs and cats. Get tickets  

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

Enjoy a great meal at the Broken Yolk Cafe for 50% off!  Whether you are in the mood for omelets, benedicts, pancakes, or just some delicious eggs, start your day off at the Broken Yolk Cafe, or come for lunch and enjoy sandwiches, salads, wraps and burgers! Get $25 to spend on a great breakfast or lunch for just $12.50! 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

Mark your calendars–and secure your tickets–for these upcoming featured events!

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