‘Solidarity Through Pride’ Bringing Pride back to downtown where it belongs
By Judith Salkin
Mmmm. Let’s see, there is a ton of stuff to do this weekend in Palm Springs – and most of it is tied to the 30th annual celebration of Greater Palm Springs Pride.
While the week’s events started with a candlelight vigil and march through downtown that honored the late LGBT activist George Zander on Tuesday, the weekend is filled with concerts, dances, the Pride Festival on Arenas Road and Palm Canyon Drive and, of course, the piece de resistance, the Pride Parade on Sunday morning.
“Palm Springs has one of the most unique Pride events in the U.S.,” says Ron deHarte, President of the Greater Palm Springs Pride Board of Directors, of the event that takes over Downtown and Arenas Road on Friday through Sunday. Considering the size of the city and the LGBT population in the valley, Palm Springs Pride draws more attendees than Los Angeles, Long Beach or San Diego. “We have people who plan their vacations around our Pride event, and that makes us a significant presence (as part of the city’s annual events).”
The multi-day event wasn’t always so significant, but as the old saying goes, big festivals from little variety shows grow.
In 1986, the first year that Pride was celebrated in Palm Springs, it was a variety show at the Riviera Hotel. The variety shows continued for a couple of years, even moving to the McCallum Theatre when the show got bigger and the audience grew.
Palm Springs Pride shifted into something of a more traditional celebration in 1990 with vendors and entertainment along Arenas Road, says deHarte. The parade made its debut in 1997, with its contingent of walking groups, floats and bands, including the Palm Springs High School Marching Band, which has been there from the first year.
When the festival got too big for Arenas Road, it was moved to the Palm Springs stadium at Sunrise Park in 2001. The stadium offered more space but it also enclosed the festival and entertainment venues. And while it wasn’t meant to, it created a closed atmosphere.
Because of the location on the baseball field and the fact that everything was enclosed by the bleacher, it felt segregated from the rest of the city, except for the parade. Considering the open and welcoming atmosphere in Palm Springs that certainly not what GPSP wanted.
As Pride kept growing, so did the cost of renting the stadium, and by 2011 it was time to change location again.
“We started looking at bringing the festival back to downtown,” deHarte says. To give festival-goers more opportunities to explore the shops and restaurants on Palm Canyon Drive, “We needed to be more visible, and not feel like we were hiding from the rest of the city.”
Being back in Downtown since 2014 has accomplished a lot for Pride. “People hang out on Arenas Road, and they go shopping or try the restaurants on Palm Canyon,” he says. “We’ve been able to create the most unique Pride event (anywhere).”
Gay, lesbian, straight, transgender, families, couples and individuals, this year’s Pride is expecting more than 120,000 locals and visitors – 72 percent of the total – throughout the weekend, that’s a lot of foot traffic from Friday through Sunday downtown.
Admission is free for most of the events and the Pride Festival, with the exception of a couple of events.
The entertainment is worth checking out the weekend where highlights include the Trevor Under the Stars Concert with Lance Bass making an appearance; English Beat and Book of Love in concert; and so many other acts it takes four stages to hold it all.
There are activity booths for little kids and teens, vendors, food, beverage areas and all the businesses and restaurants on Palm Canyon Drive and Arenas Road – and every other street in the area – to explore.
“That sends a significant statement toward the brand of then city, that we welcome everyone,” he says. “It tells a worldwide story that Palm Springs supports all of us.”
Ron deHarte’s top Greater Palm Springs Pride events not to miss:
English Beat
9 p.m. Saturday, November 5
Tahquitz Stage
Free
1970s English rockers whose music is fusion of ska, reggae, punk, pop and soul.
Trevor Under the Stars Concert
8-11 p.m. Friday, November 4
Tahquitz Stage
General admission, Free; VIP, $50 includes vodka bar
Lance Bass, Daniel Franzese and George headline with Kotsiopoulo with America’s Got Talent Finalist, Brian Justin Crum and Grammy Award-winner DJ Dave Audé. This inaugural concert recognizes The Trevor Project’s impact in suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ young people and raises awareness about their life saving resources to kick-off Palm Springs Pride.
Book of Love Concert
2:10 p.m. Sunday, November 6
US Bank Stage
Free
This forward-thinking, American synth pop/electronic band became a page-turner in the mid-80s as one of the first bands whose music dealt with sexual orientation and gender roles. One of their biggest hits was 1988’s “Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls,” one of the first songs that openly addressed the AIDS epidemic.
The Pride Parade
10 a.m. Sunday, November 6
Palm Canyon Drive
Free
This year’s parade promises to be A-Maz-ING! First, the parade will start off with a tribute to the 49 victims who lost their live on June 12 at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Two of the attack survivors and 49 members of Palm Springs’ LGBT community will lead the parade to show support for all victims of hate crimes. The nearly 200 units in the parade will include the Palm Springs Chief of Police and chiefs from other Coachella Valley communities, along with members of the PSPD, the world’s largest LGBT band – 300 to 350 marching musicians – along with Palm Springs High School and Desert Hot Springs High School marching bands, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, groups from other communities and floats will all march up Palm Canyon Drive.
The reviewing stand will be located near Frances Stevens Park, with other stands near Trio and 849 restaurants. DeHart suggests parking and finding a place to watch along closer to those spots as the street closer to the start of the parade will fill up early.
The Pride Festival
All Weekend
Palm Canyon Drive and Arenas Road
Free Admission
This is a family affair, with kids and youth activities and a play station, beverage stations, vendors, games, non-stop music and other entertainment. Greater Palm Springs Pride welcomes everyone to come out and enjoy the weekend.
LESBIAN EVENTS:
Second Annual Dyke March and Rally
4-6 p.m. Saturday, November 5
Frances Stevens Park
Be a part of Lesbian History and join Annual Palm Springs Dyke March during PS Pride to celebrate lesbian accomplishments and continue to push forward.
L-Fund Women’s Pride Dance
7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, November 5
Hard Rock Palm Springs
$50 advance; $60 door; $5 valet
Features DJ T-LA Storm spinning Motown, Top 40 and classic rock dance tunes. Signature drink of the night proceeds benefit the L-Fund one-time assistance to Coachella Valley lesbians in financial crisis.
Greater Palm Springs Pride Website: pspride.org/event
For complete, up-to-date entertainment listings and information
