Add These 9 Events to Your Calendar for an Epic Pride Weekend Escape
Palm Springs Pride has celebrated its diverse and vibrant LGBTQ+ community for decades, and this year marks the 37th anniversary of this epic three-day festival! The city is known for its laid-back, leisurely vibes, serving as a sanctuary for many,and this November will showcase its character with flying colors. With rainbow flags, art in the streets, live music, exciting events and raucous celebrations, this year’s festival is bound to be one for the books. Palm Springs Pride is set to take place the weekend of Nov. 3-5 with the theme “Drag Now. Drag Forever.” Here’s our roundup of the best things to do throughout the weekend!
Stay at Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs
Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs is gearing up for an epic Pride weekend! You’ll be met with the brand’s signature “it’s five o’clock somewhere” energy—a full-on embrace of Pride weekend with parties and booze. The island vibes of this resort bode well with the desert’s iconic midcentury aesthetic, inviting guests to search for that long-lost shaker of salt at the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Pool and Bar while lounging or indulging in a luxurious spa treatment at the resort’s St. Somewhere Spa. The resort will host various events, like Dave Audé’s Massive Pool Party, featuring special guests and performers, along with the Drag-a-licious Drag Show, Palm Springs Pride Weekend Lift Off Party and the Palm Springs Pride Massive Pool Party. There will also be Dragaritaville Bingo on Nov. 2 featuring drag queen superstar Ethylina Canne! The official main event for Palm Springs Pride, Saturday Night Fever, is a marathon disco party, where international DJs Deanne and Karsten Sollors will be spinning oldies for the crowds. After the parade, close out the colorful weekend by making a splash at Margaritaville’s Rehab Pool Party on Sunday.
Arenas District Pride Weekend Kickoff
When: Friday, Nov. 3, 3-11 p.m.
KGAY 106.5 starts the weekend celebrations with the Arenas District Pride Weekend Kickoff on Friday night. White Party Global DJ Isis Muretech headlines the night for a lively and enthusiastic dance party—in the streets and under the stars! House music and dance hits will move your body, and the outdoor beverage lounge will keep your mood elevated. Food trucks offering sustenance will keep the party going! Stop by early for the Best of KGAY Retro Lunch with DJ Galaxy from 3-5 p.m. Visit their booth at the entrance to trade up a gently used shirt for one of their SAY KGAY muscle tanks!
Drag-a-licious Drag Show
When: Friday, Nov. 3, 6 p.m.
The Drag-a-licious Drag Show in the Grand Ballroom of Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs is the pride (pun intended) and joy of the weekend’s events with an irreverent and unrivaled cast of talented performers. The show’s host, fabulous Ethylina Canne of Palm Springs, will guide guests through the evening, full of glamor, hair and sparkling personalities! Lady Camden, Willam, Jorgeous and Kimora Blac from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will slay the stage in unforgettable attire. Cocktails will be served while guests are welcome to vogue in the aisle for a full-blown party vibe! VIP tickets include a drag swag bag, pre-show appetizers and a meet-and-greet with all the queens after the show!
Broadway in Drag! Competition
When: Friday, Nov. 3, 7-9:30 p.m.
Ready, set, go—the Broadway in Drag! pageant competition is on Pride’s main stage in downtown Palm Springs this year. A sequined ensemble of contestants will go all-in for the crown! Contenders will perform Broadway tunes and be judged on creative dress, evening attire and pure talent. Although they’re all queens, only one can take the crown! The lavish show is produced by the Palm Canyon Theatre and hosted by drag diva Bella da Ball. You can find all the campy fun at the main stage on East Amado and Palm Canyon Road. Jump-start your pride weekend with a pageant full of glitz and glamor. We can all use some drag-tastic magic and, of course, LBGTQ+ world peace.
Palm Springs Pride Weekend Lift Off Party
When: Friday, Nov. 3, 10 p.m.-3 a.m.
After the kickoff party on Friday Night, Palm Springs Pride Weekend Lift Off Party will take place at Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs, starting at 10 p.m. and going into the naughty hours of the morning. Grammy-nominated producer, award-winning remixer and world-touring DJ Chris Cox will headline this unforgettable night, with DJ John Joseph opening the evening. Vibrant and creative visuals, a massive sound system and smoke-show gogo boys are on the agenda. This is the desert’s largest welcome party—the place to see and be seen! Don’t forget to grab tickets for you and your boys.
Palm Springs Pride 5K Run and Walk
When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 8-11 a.m.
For the early birds, the Palm Springs Pride 5K Run and Walk takes place on Saturday morning, starting on West Chino Drive at Belardo Road behind Corridor Shops. This 3.1-mile course weaves through the beautiful neighborhood of Old Las Palmas. Proceeds benefit The LGBT Community Center of the Desert and Transgender Health & Wellness Center. The top three overall male, female and non-binary finishers will receive awards, and the top three in each age bracket for male and female will be given medals. But don’t worry: even if you don’t place in the top spots, all online registrants will get a t-shirt and commemorative medal. Registration is unavailable on race day, so be sure to sign up beforehand!
Palm Springs Pride Massive Pool Party
When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 12-6 p.m.
Sleep in after opening night festivities and before setting course for the Margaritaville Resort Main Pool on Saturday afternoon, where you’ll find the most significant pool party during Pride weekend. Make a splash or dive headfirst into the ultimate celebration. Grammy-winning DJ and producer Dave Audé is the main act that will keep you afloat all night! Other special guests, surprise performers and DJs like Kidd Madonny will be joining the party along with more gogo dancers because—let’s face it—you can never have too many. Luxury daybeds and VIP cabanas are available for those who want to be treated like queens. Grab your brightest Speedo or bikini, some waterproof sunscreen, and head down at noon. The party goes until 6 p.m. (before the next one starts).
Arenas District Official Block Party
When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 5-11 p.m.
The Arenas District Official Block Party will take place on E Arenas Road and Indian Canyon Drive on Saturday evening—and it’s free! This block party is a staple at Palm Springs Pride weekend in Palm Springs’ lively and one-of-a-kind gayborhood. LGBTQ+ bars and local businesses get packed to the brim with residents, visitors and anyone who decides to come by. The crowd eventually spills onto the streets, with celebrants dressed to kill and ready to have a great time! The open-air beverage lounge will be full of joyous dancing and good vibes as everyone revels in the meaning of equality and being true to themselves. White Party Global DJs Jae Fusz and Mohammad will keep the night alive, spinning energizing tracks.
10/28
Saturday Night EDM Party
When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 9 p.m.-4 a.m.
Renowned nightclub Reforma is set to host Euphoria + After Hours, an exhilarating EDM experience that will take you on a musical journey from 9 p.m.-4 a.m. The iconic DJ Abel is a notable figure in the LGBTQ+ community and has curated a night of experience and adventure described as “an electronic music voyage.” Continuing to be a pioneer in the gay dance scene, Abel will captain this excursion with other outstanding EDM DJs like Gareth Emery, Galantis and Oliver Heldens. Get ready for an epic night to celebrate free expression, meet new people and dance to electrifying sounds. To make an already momentous night even better, exclusive tables with bottle service are available to add flair to your night.
Lauren McCarran is a freelance writer specializing in content creation for media outlets. Her work with numerous publications and brands has helped her develop a unique and engaging writing style. Lauren loves to keep a finger on the ever pulsating world of pop-culture while staying in the know of the latest trends and happenings.
