By Denise Ortuno Neil
It is one thing to be the life of the party, but quite another to bring life to the party. And that is exactly what the longtime event specialist Mariah Hanson is being honored for by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce Athena Awards 2013.
Mariah Hanson has always loved a good party, and knows how to put them together. Originally from Northern California, Hanson has been in the nightlife and event business for decades. It started back in college when the then student decided to throw a party, and despite the dismay of college administration, the party was a success and got the wheels turning for Hanson.
Hanson started Club Skirts in 1988, which produces the world renowned event The Dinah, the original Dinah Shore Weekend in Palm Springs. The event is revered as the largest lesbian event in the world, raising the popularity of The Dinah Shore Weekend to extreme levels. The event is a full weekend of parties, involving outstanding entertainment and so much more. It is held at the same time as the Kraft Nabisco Golf Tournament. Hanson first got involved with the event in 1991 and produced her first Dinah Shore Weekend. She incorporated the Palm Springs Museum in her event and loaded up nearby hotels with party goers for a stand out weekend of fun. The event set The Dinah Shore Weekend up for absolute success and Hanson has been propelling it higher and higher for 24 years.
In 1996 Hanson brought her Dinah Shore Weekend concept up the coast and produced The Monterey Women’s Festival. The event was an annual success, and held strong for many years. She later opened her nightclub, The Cherry Bar, the lesbian night spot provided nightclub partying every night of the week. Deciding to focus completely on her extraordinary event The Dinah, she sold the club in 2006.
Hanson is being honored at the 27th Annual Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce Athena Awards Luncheon on Thursday, December 5th 2013 at the Renaissance Hotel in Palm Springs. The Athena Awards is an award ceremony put on by chamber of commerce’s throughout the country to honor women who have made outstanding strides in their business and/or community.
Hanson will be given the Athena Leadership Award. She is highly regarded for creating her amazing signature event, The Dinah, and for what is has contributed to the city of Palm Springs tourism. “I am beyond honored,” said Hanson. She states that she is impressed with the city of Palm Springs for their progressive nature and it speaks volumes of how diverse the city is. She is overwhelmed at the way that the city of Palm Springs has embraced her LGBT event. “You don’t see this in most cities, that’s why I would never produce my event anywhere else,” said Hanson. The Dinah is only presented in Palm Springs.
Other award recipients for this year’s Athena Awards are entertainer extraordinaire Carol Channing, who will be given the Jackie Lee Houston Angel Award and philanthropist Helene Galen who will receive the Community Icon Award. Hanson shares that she is amazed and impressed by the company that she is keeping with the Athena Awards, “It’s humbling,” she said.
And impressive company it is for not only this year’s awards, but for past Athena Awards as well. Former recipients include, Gloria Greer, Barbara Sinatra, Jackie Lee Houston and Annette Bloch just to scratch the surface.
Hanson is gearing up for The Dinah 2014 which promises to be better than ever. The event will have her famous off the hook pool parties, as well as a Comedy Night, Dinah Film Fest and Celebrity Poker Night, plus a whole lot more. Palm Springs hotels offered up for the event include the Saquaro, the Hilton, Hyatt and Courtyard Marriott.
The Coachella Valley is filled with amazing women who have made remarkable contributions to our community. They have invested their talent, time and vision in making the desert the world famous place that it is. Mariah Hanson will be honored as one of those women at this year’s Palm Springs Athena Awards, highlighting her spring event The Dinah, and bringing herself well deserved recognition as a trail blazing visionary.
For more information about The Dinah visit www.thedinah.com
