There's a lot going on this week, so here are some of our recommendations for early week events!
Info-A-Go-Go / Center Social
Join The LGBT Community Center of the Desert on Tuesday, January 23rd for INFO-A-GO-GO! Meet representatives from LGBTQ clubs and organizations across the community and discover where you might like to get "Plugged-IN and INvolved!" Info can be found here.
Then on Wednesday, start the new year with some new friends at The Center Social! The event is at High Bar at the new Rowan downtown, with incredible views of Palm Springs. Live the high life for a night with The LGBT Community Center of the Desert. Info here.
Craft Cocktail Week
Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week will take place January 19-27. Bars and restaurants valley-wide will be invited to create a special craft cocktail, and offer it for sale for $6 during those nine days. Bars and restaurants will be asked to donate at least $2 from the sales of that special cocktail to our charities: The LGBT Community Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank, and the Desert AIDS Project’s Food Depot. Participating restaurants and bars will be invited to offer special cocktail classes and cocktail-paired meals—and celebrate the art of the cocktail in any way they choose. Gay Desert Guide's own Brad Fuhr will be one of the judges – nice work if you can get it!
Palm Springs Health Run & Fitness Expo 2018
Start out the New Year with a healthy and fitness-oriented routine! Join thousands of runners for the Palm Springs Health Run & Fitness Expo at Ruth Hardy Park on Saturday, January 27 from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Run through the incredibly scenic neighborhoods of Palm Springs for the 10K, 5K and 1K Fun Run. Over 100 health and wellness booths provide giveaways and services, fitness experts, and cooking demonstrations. Fun for the entire family! Every 5K and 10K registrant receives breakfast snacks, t-shirt, registration bag and finisher’s medal. 1K Fun Run finishers receive finisher’s medal.
Runners registering through ACTIVE can now donate directly to one of 3 charities (PSUSD Foundation, Desert Healthcare Foundation or United Way of the Desert) when checking out.
More info and registration here.
OUT For Laughs' February Comedy Benefit Series
Comedians Shann Carr and Max Mitchell present LA’s hottest LGBT headliners in OUT for Laughs at the Palm Springs Cultural Center (formerly Camelot Theatre) in Palm Springs every Thursday in February. Ian Harvie headlines the first of four comedy shows, on February 1, benefiting Transgender Community Coalition. Subsequent headliners include Alec Mapa (Feb 8, for Sanctuary Palm Springs), Erin Foley (Feb 15, for Joy Silver for California Senate 28th District) and closer Jimmy James (Feb 22, for the LGBT Center).
Tickets $25 advance or $30 at the door general admission. Get them here.
Chita & Tune – Just In Time at the McCallum
Chita & Tune – Just In Time is a unique concert event that pairs two of Broadway’s most celebrated legends. Chita Rivera and Tommy Tune collectively have won 12 Tony Awards and this iconic Broadway coupling is guaranteed to dazzle audiences at the McCallum on Thursday January 25 at 8pm.
Xanadu Sing-Along Interactive Movie Event
Get those disco clothes out and join Palm Cultural Center for a Xanadu Disco Dance and Cocktail Party with the Sing-Along Interactive Movie event on Wednesday the 25th. Fun starts at 6PM with the 70s & 80's Disco Dance under the big tent with DJ Galaxy. Dress up as your favorite Xanadu character or retro disco attire. Full bar and Xanadu Merchandise table help raise money for the next months show. The movie shows at 8pm. Sing and dance along like Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelly (his last) sing and dance in this iconic film.
All benefiting the Palm Springs Cultural Center and Historic Camelot Theater.
Southwest Arts Festival 2018
The Southwest Arts Festival® Indio 2018 will be held on January 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2018. Now in its 32nd year, the Southwest Arts Festival® will once again be held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Empire Polo Club, featuring natural landscape and sweeping mountain ranges, is an international destination known for its natural beauty (and for another upcoming event, the Coachella Music Festival).
Every year the Arts Festival continues to evolve and attract a high caliber of talented artists and unique artwork. This year’s festival will feature interactive art displays and live music, with pottery, glass and fine art painting scheduled to be on display. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of food and beverage options while casually walking the grounds.