Like almost no place else, Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly places on earth, recognized in popular media like Rupaul’s Drag Race and The Trixie Motel as a welcoming destination. TicTok sensations The Old Gays make their homes here; Harry Styles’s film Don’t Worry Darling featured iconic Palm Springs architecture.
Hollywood has always made Palm Springs its playground. Ross Mathews, a Valley resident, is out and about and can be heard on Saturday mornings at our sister station KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs. You might even bump into Lea DeLaria at your favorite restaurant.
Over Three hundred days of sunshine per year welcome visitors and delight residents in our oasis, making it easy to enjoy a fabulous mix of restaurants and bars, unique shopping, world-class arts, theater, pool parties, and breathtaking natural beauty. LGBTQ+ folx from around the world come here to live, work and play. Search our digital GayDesertGuide.LGBT for the insider’s guide to our desert oasis.
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The first Pride Celebration of the year kicks off with Cathedral City’s LGBT Days from March 3rd to the 5th, with live performances, the Annual Bed Race, vendor village, pool parties, and more! Desert X is a site-specific contemporary art exhibit that returns from March 4th through May 7th to create and present international contemporary art that engages with desert environments by acclaimed artists from around the world.
Furry men and their admirers gather February 23-27 to dance, splash and woof the house down at International Bear Convergence (IBC). World-famous Global White Party Palm Springs arrives May 12th-14th, with techno DJs and musical headliners performing late until the night (early into the morning). Later in the year, Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, September 20-24, is the world’s largest women’s music festival. Palm Springs knows how to turn the queer party out all year.
Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Stagecoach Music Festival, Desert Wine Fest, The Riverside County Fair (with Out at the Fair!) and Fashion Week El Paseo bring a world of culture to the valley.
The new Acrisure Arena has top-selling entertainment like Lizo and Reba Macintyre and The Coachella Valley Firebirds, a professional ice hockey expansion team that hosts Pride Weekends. The Palm Springs International Gay Hockey Tournament kicks off its first year March 23-26, to be held at the Berger Foundation Iceplex adjoining Acrisure Arena! The PNB Paribas Tennis Open March 8-19 welcomes thrilling on-court action, an unparalleled atmosphere, intimate fan interaction, exquisite dining, and more.
Just want to relax; a variety of new restaurants are now open for you to check out. Craving Mexican food? The new Low Desert (1775 E Palm Canyon Dr. Ste 405) features a modern take on Mexican cuisine; the Brussels Sprout Mix makes a delicious appetizer! If you are downtown, check out the latest iteration of Casa Blanca (130 S. Palm Canyon Palm Springs ). The fourth location of this popular Mexican eatery is owned by the same people who bring you Pinocchio In the Desert. Reforma is a new bar, restaurant, and nightclub, with Impala Bar and Grill right next door in the Historic JW Robinson Department Store building downtown.
The popular Monster Shakes has a new location in Cathedral City (68718 E Palm Canyon Dr. Ste 300). Check out the Chco-Taco! If you need to get some work done, DropBy Office (68718 E Palm Canyon Dr Suite 301) is located in the same complex; this coworking space also provides design, print, and ship services.
Do you feel like shopping? Ball Beach Wear (170 E Arenas Rd, Palm Springs) offers the latest in resort and swimwear, shorts, tanks, and tees with an attitude. El Tuggle (388 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs) Highlights fresh and bold fashion inspired by the desire to bring you detailed design, elevated style, and rays of good vibe. Bear Wear, with their big men, small men, all men philosophy, has opened as a second location in Cathedral City (68571 East Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City); check out this and their original location on Arenas Road. Market Market, an emporium of fine vintage & repurposed goods, has opened in the Curve District.
Find all this and more in our Spring 2023 Visitor Map & Guide. Pick one up around town or click to download: bit.ly/SP2023GDGMAP
With so much happening around the Coachella Valley, you can always find something new to Do, Eat, and See. Bookmark GayDesertGuide.lgbt on your smartphone, follow us on social media @GayDesertGuide and listen to KGAY 106.5 or KGAYPalmSprings.com for all the latest happenings. @coachella-valley-independent