By Crystal Harrell
BB Ingle was a beloved, prominent figure in the Coachella Valley, known for being a world-class promoter and living life as though it were a grand celebration. BB passed away in October of last year after a yearlong battle with stage 4 prostate cancer at the age of 68. To honor BB with the same enthusiasm that he approached event promotion and festivities, the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage will be hosting a Halloween Bash: A Tribute to the One and Only BB.
The event will take place on October 29 from 8 p.m. to midnight, and the brand-new Westin venue, The Backyard, will be showcased for the first time at the Halloween Bash. Along with the premiere of the new venue, the event will take place across the resort. From entertainment in Fireside lounge to DJs spinning the tables in the Celebrity Ballroom, the energy will radiate across the majority of the resort just how BB would have wanted.
The main players that were involved in the formation of the Halloween Bash are event promoter Steve Johns, Todd Marker of Marker Broadcasting, Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa General Manager Tom Scaramellino, and CV Weekly’s very own Tracy Dietlin.
“BB was known to throw these fantastic New Year’s Eve and Halloween parties, so we wanted to pay tribute in a way that would best capture his spirit. He wouldn’t want us mourning in sadness, so we are having this Halloween Bash to celebrate one of his favorite holidays and capturing his spirit. We also didn’t get a chance to commemorate his passing last year during COVID, and this celebration is what he would have preferred,” said Steve Johns.
“This would’ve been the first year in the 9 years I’ve owned CV Weekly that BB wouldn’t have been on our cover. So it warms my heart that we get to honor him with this event. It won’t be the same without him, but I know BB will be smiling down on all of us celebrating him while raising money for Desert Cancer,” shared Dietlin.
The Westin’s new Backyard venue also features a stage, turfed terrace and outdoor kitchen. The kitchen is equipped with a wood burning oven, outdoor smoker, and open-air BBQ. Its Moroccan design will be an amazing new centerpiece for all the resort’s outdoor events and live culinary demonstrations. There are also plans to hold multiple concert dates up until next March in The Backyard.
Ticket prices for the Halloween Bash range from 25 to 50 dollars. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Desert Cancer Foundation—a local organization providing financial assistance for Coachella Valley residents who lack health insurance or sufficient funds to pay for cancer treatment.
“BB was an iconic promoter in the desert and we are doing this to honor him and benefit him. Cancer was the disease that took his life. By having some of the proceeds benefit the Desert Cancer Foundation, we are really helping those in need. This is a great event to kick off Halloween weekend too. We are grateful for the sponsors that have contributed to the event,” stated Todd Marker.
There will also be musical performances to entertain guests at the Halloween Bash. Disco A Go Go is the headliner at the Backyard Stage, coming all the way from the Las Vegas Strip. Disco A Go Go will blow attendees away and have them up on their feet dancing all night long to everyone’s favorite dance hits from the Disco Era. The opening band, The Refills, have been performing for the fans in the Desert Empire for over 10 years, winning multiple awards as they pay tribute to all the rock ‘n roll greats from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.
DJ Dynamic Dave is also performing—known as the legendary DJ of all the major clubs in town for years. Dave will have the crowd dancing to all the old school mixes plus new hits too. DJ Tina Turntables will also be making an appearance at the Halloween Bash, having been on the desert scene for over five years with her masterful mixes on the 1’s & 2’s for nightclubs and special high end parties.
It is asked that attendees use common sense when designing Halloween costumes as to be respectful of other cultures and not to bring replica weapons. To purchase tickets to the Halloween Bash: A Tribute to the One and Only BB, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-bash-a-tribute-to-the-one-only-bb-tickets.
