This Weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings
for November 2-5, 2017
The unique Palm Springs Pride Festival is the largest LGBT gathering in the Coachella Valley. Beautiful downtown Palm Springs will serve as the gathering spot for friends, family and visitors from around the world to celebrate the diversity and unity of our community. The festival includes music stages, DJs, dancing in the streets, food vendors, exhibitors and non-profit organizations. Other events make Pride a nearly week-long affair. We have all the events on our EVENTS PAGE
Kick Off Greater Palm Springs Pride This Friday with the FREE Viva la Vida Street Party
The outdoor concert is a free 21+ Pride event. Join us at the US Bank Stage, on Arenas between Indian Canyon Dr. and S. Calle Encilia, to celebrate life and shout VIVA LA VIDA… yours, mine, ours! Celebrate that we feel alive, alive because we are different, because we are unique, free… happy. Palm Springs is a city where we live life; a life full of the things and people that we love.
Our Guest Host, Diva, performs and Emcees for the night. San Francisco’s Sheena Rose brings her act to the desert and the night continues with Miss Rusty Waters and the ladies of Risqué. Then the flamboyant Los Angeles-based synth disco trio, Iconique takes the stage with their upbeat, and theatrical 1980s influenced performance. Dancing in the street kicks into full gear with Jen DM (Hi Fashion DJ set) and a soulful, ball, vogue house beat.
US Bank Stage on Arenas Rd. between Indian Canyon Dr. and Calle Encilia, Palm Springs. More Info
Pride Run & Walk 5K Steps off Saturday, Nov 4, 2017
Kickoff Pride Weekend the Right Way with a 5K! Presented by the Palm Springs Front Runners and Walkers and this year benefiting The LGBT Community Center of the Desert, The Pride Run & Walk 5K in Palm Springs, California hits the streets of Old Las Palmas Saturday, November 4, 2017. (This event is not pet friendly and strollers are not allowed on the course.)
Free Palm Springs Pride Festival – Nov 4-5
The Palm Springs Pride Festival is a a premiere Pride event in Southern California, taking place in Downtown Palm Springs – on Palm Canyon Dr. from Amado to Baristo Rd., on Arenas Rd from Belardo to Calle Encilia and on other side streets. The festival goes from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Drop by the Gay Desert Guide booth we're sharing with the Desert Business Association and CV Independent. We look forward to seeing you and giving you our new Map & Guide! We'll be next to Lulu on Arenas Road and can give you tips on where to go and what to do, plus Pride Guides and MetroSource Magazine.
Downtown Palm Springs is the setting for a vibrant, pedestrian friendly Pride Festival, unique to Southern California. A diverse array of artists, entertainers, multiple beverage gardens and purveyors of all sorts including, jewelry, snacks and sweets. Add all that to great shopping restaurants, clubs and entertainment venues located along world-famous Palm Canyon Drive and the result is like no place else – Palm Springs Pride.
Free Admission, but you MUST be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Wristbands and ID will be required and checked. Anyone without a valid wristband will not be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages in any Festival beverage venue.
Highlights include:
- Multiple stages downtown for 100+ performances highlighting LGBT performers
- Arenas Rd. Block Party
- A showcase for LGBT Artists
- Massive Bud Light Street Lounge on Arenas Rd
- ATM located in each garden and food court.
- Youth Zone by Safe Schools Desert Cities
- Children’s Headquarters (CHQ)
- HIV/AIDS testing by Get Tested Coachella Valley
- Food & Beverage booths
- 150 exhibitors and nonprofit organizations
- Bud Light draft & other Bud products
- Water and Soda available
VISIT OUR EVENTS PAGE HERE FOR DETAILS
"Rise" at the 18th Annual HRC Palm Springs Garden Party
"Rise" the theme for this year's Palm Springs Garden Party, is a fitting tribute to the hard work of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) advocacy organization with more than 2 million members.
The 18th Annual HRC Palm Springs Garden Party will be held Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 1:30-4:30p.m.
The Garden Party brings together more than 800 individuals (LGBTQ and Allies) for an afternoon of celebration and inspiration featuring an open cocktail reception, an extensive silent auction, thought-provoking speakers, and special celebrity guests and honorees.
The Advocate for Equality Award is given to members of our local community who have demonstrated a history of pro-active advocacy in the Coachella Valley. This year it will be presented to two incredible and driving forces, Barbara Carpenter and Ron DeHarte. More Info
3rd Annual Palm Springs Dyke March Saturday
With thanks for the support of Palm Springs Women's Jazz Festival, The LGBT Community Center of the Desert, and Palm Springs Pride, you are invited to join organizers for the 3rd Annual Palm Springs Dyke March, during Saturday as follows:
- 4:00 GATHER @ Frances Stevens Park
- 5:30 MARCH to Arenas
- 6:00 TAKE the stage @ Arenas
Complete with performances by Drag King Jesse Jones and Keisha D Sings. We'll see you there! More Info
Women's Pride Dance Saturday Night
Saturday night, the L-Fund, which was recently honored by Greater Palm Springs Pride for its work in meeting the financial needs of lesbians in the Coachella Valley, will host this Pride Weekend Dance. Get your groove on at The Hard Rock Hotel, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs.
Admission is $20 advance. More Info
The Parade! Sunday at 10:00 AM
The parade travels south along Palm Canyon Drive from Uptown to Downtown Palm Springs! The step off is at 10:00 a.m. at Tachevah and Palm Canyon Dr.
The parade route travels directly to the opening gates of the Pride Festival. Plan ahead so you can enjoy FREE Entry to the Pride Festival at the end of the Parade route.
Known for its crystal blue skies, year-round sunshine, stunning landscape, palm tree lined streets and starry nights the City of Palm Springs comes alive during the annual Pride Celebration. Rainbow flags and glitter will fill the streets as the ever present Mount San Jacinto Mountains star in the most scenic Pride Parade in the world. More Info
Trans Pride 2017 with Kristin Beck, Lady of Valor
Trans Pride 2017 honors retired United States Navy SEAL, Kristin Beck, who served to protect our country for over 20 years. During her service, she took part in 13 deployments, including seven combat missions. Beck was a member of the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group, a special counterterrorism unit popularly known as SEAL Team Six and received twenty-seven military awards and decorations including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
In 2013 Kristin gained public attention when she came out as a transgender woman and her story and activism led to ending the ban on transgender soldiers during the Obama Administration and the treatment of transgender people at TSA airport checkpoints. Her story was documented in her memoir Warrior Princess and the film Lady Valor. Come meet Beck at the Camelot Theatres for Trans Pride, hear her story, enjoy the special screening of Lady Valor and show your support for transgender leaders in our nation. More Info
Dezart Performs presents The Legend of Georgia McBride
He's young, he's broke, his landlord's knocking at the door, and he's just found out his wife is going to have a baby. To make matters even more desperate, Casey is fired from his gig as an Elvis impersonator in a run-down, small-town Florida bar. When the bar owner brings in a B-level drag show to replace his act, Casey finds that he has a whole lot to learn about show business and himself.
Beginning November 3rd until Sunday, Nov 12, see the show Fridays and Saturdays @ 7:30 PM, Saturdays and Sundays @ 2:00 PM. More Info
Enter to Win a Stay at Santiago Men's Resort
Santiago Men’s Resort and Gay Desert Guide are giving away a 5 night vacation stay.
The winner will be randomly drawn the first week of January 2018. The prize is a 5 Night stay in their King Suite Room. Breakfast and Lunch included. No black out dates, based on availability. $1600 Value.
Santiago Men’s Resort is a luxury gay boutique hotel in Palm Springs, Santiago offers free breakfast, poolside lunch, and all-day refreshments in the Cantina. The wealth of amenities include the largest pool of any gay resort in Palm Springs, beautifully designed, spacious rooms with poolside access and spectacular mountain views. More Info
Happy Hour Finder
Lulu California Bistro is a favorite for locals and travelers alike and there's no doubt as to why! As a matter of fact, LULU and ACQUA have been nominated for many "BEST OF" categories in Desert Sun's 2018 Best of the Valley Contest! You can vote once per day up until November 3rd! And incase you haven’t heard, their daily specials include ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR, nibbles and cocktails, 11am-closing every day of the week!
You can have more than just a “happy hour” at Trunks in Cathedral City! From 10am-6pm Monday through Friday you can get everything from $5 shots to a $1 glass of wine! And not only that, you can join them for a fun themed night Tuesday-Sunday. And if you really want to turn up the heat (especially now that summer has left us), be sure to join them every last Friday of the month for “Caliente”, a hot latino night!
Hot Deals
Coffee, bear claws and more oh my! It’s more than easy to drop $20 in all of the deliciousness that Ristretto has to offer. Everything is fresh baked and delicious! Not to mention the full variety of coffee drinks, Italian sodas and the lunch menu. Start your day with coffee and nosh at 30%-off so a $20-order is just $14!
Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs on the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon is Oscar’s Cafe & Bar. They’ve got one of the best patios in town and with this fabulous weather, who wouldn’t want sit outside and enjoy $25 worth of food and cocktails for only $12.50! And don’t forget about their famous Sunday Tea Dance from 4-8pm, where their patio becomes an outdoor disco. 50% off never sounded so good!
Seaplane Shirts Holds Opening Party Saturday Night
Seaplane is proud to invite you to the opening of their first retail store located at 1009 N Palm Canyon in the uptown Design District of Palm Springs, California. November 4 is 
Pride Saturday with fans in town from all over. "This seems a propitious evening to open," says designer Schuyler Brown, "so the show WILL go on. You are invited!' 8 PM
Seaplane Shirts, a new clothing store on North Palm Canyon, does fun shirts for men, women and kids. Limited production, made in USA. 100% cotton, affordable fun. 15% off with code TWIT15.
Halloween on Arenas – Mirror Me Photobooth Pics Posted!
GayDesertGuide has your pics from our Photo Booth on Arenas Road. If you stopped by, we have posted four galleries. Find your photo HERE, then share it using #ILoveGayPalmSprings!
Top Five Bookmarks of the Week
Ron deHarte, President, Greater Palm Springs Pride