We’re Gaga Over April In Palm Springs
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“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'” — Robin Williams
You guys, it is even more gorgeous than usual right now. The flowers are so bright and colorful they can’t help but make you happy. And the skies — the skies are the bluest of blues and poking up behind them are mountains peaked with snow.
It’s the backdrop for the music extravaganzas taking center stage down valley: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach. There’s so much to do around here in April I’m gonna hold off on more chatter, because YOU are gonna want to be here and have a lot to get through. Start by booking your boutique small hotel then figure out what you want to do when you’re not lounging by the pool. You might be tempted just to stay there — the temperatures are soaring, the pools are perfection, and a whole world of things are happ-en-ing! Let’s go!
The big stuff
Coachella Music and Art Festival — Featuring Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Green Day, Travis Scott, Charli xcx, Zedd, Ty Dolla $ign, T-Pain, Clairo, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Weekend 1: April 11-13 — Tickets
Weekend 2: April 18-20 — Tickets
Stagecoach — Headliners: Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs. On the Palomino Stage: Lana Del Rey, Nelly, and Sammy Hagar.
Desert X — Spanning several months, Desert X consists of large-scale, site-specific installations that blend contemporary art with nature, creating immersive experiences for visitors. It’s more than a day’s driving, but it’s a bit like an art scavenger hunt, and bonus — you’ll get to see the whole Coachella Valley. A great way to spend a day.
Glow in the Park at The Living Desert features illuminated art installations and interactive exhibits enhanced with special lighting effects, creating a magical experience for visitors. That even makes me want to go.
Palm Springs Cultural Center (PSCC) — Fast becoming the place to be on any given night, the former Camelot Theatre now houses just about every form of entertainment except trapeze artists (but give them time). PSCC offers the finest in local entertainment, performances by Broadway stars, and is home to two theatre companies, a Saturday Farmers’ Market, and countless cool film festivals. Celebrating the old and the new, here’s a run down of their April schedule:
April 1: Melba Miller’s Jazz Oasis, 5:30 p.m. (recurring Tuesdays)
April 2: The Mod Squad — The Happiest Happy Hour in Palm Springs featuring Francesca Amari and Jeff Stewart. Sing-a-longs, percussion-a-longs, drinks and bar food. Total blast!
April 4: Razzle Dazzle – A Broadway Revue, 7 p.m.
April 5: New York’s Finest | Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now
April 6: Amazing Sundays Drag Brunch at Chill Bar Palm Springs, 11:30 a.m., 217 E. Arenas Rd (recurring)
April 9: Pre-Code Hollywood: Madam Satan, 7 p.m.
April 12: The 70s Show, by Modern Men, 7 p.m.
April 19: Unlimited: A Wickedly Wonderful Celebration Of Oz, 5:30 p.m., Palm Springs Cultural Center
April 19: Cult And Classic Films: Cult Nites, 7 p.m. (recurring)
April 23: The OUT Directors Series: Milk, 7 p.m.
April 26: George Michael Reborn. The show is heralded as a hit: “Robert Bartko exudes the energy and passion of George in the ’80s and ’90s. A spot-on George Michael lookalike, with the same vocal range and dance moves, you’ll swear you’re listening to the real deal.”
April 30: Pre-Code Hollywood: Little Caesar, 7 p.m.
All around the town
April 1: Palm Springs Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour & Game, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 220 N. Museum Dr. (recurring)
April 2: A Cabbello presents Keep Calm and Sing On 2.0!, 7 p.m., Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs
April 3: Palm Springs Speaks Presents Mary Louise Kelly of NPR, 7 p.m.
April 6: Palm Springs Vintage Market. Earlybirds: $10. After 8 a.m.: $5. 369 N.Calle El Segundo. If you love vintage, you absolutely can’t miss this!
April 12: Father and Son – Piolo Pascual and Inigo Pascual – Live in Palm Springs!, 7 p.m., Palm Springs Convention Center
April 12: Annual World Art Day Festival, 10 a.m., Downtown Park
April 14: The Palm Springs Guys Happy Hour, Chill Bar
April 15: Movies in the Park: The Love Bug, 7 p.m., Downtown Park
April 24: Dining Out for Life, an event where participating restaurants share at least 33% of their sales with DAP Health to continue their work in that sector. So many restaurants up and down the Coachella Valley are on the extensive list, but they’re all delicious, and that link will tell you everything you need to know. Deciding which restaurant will be the hard part.
Thursdays: Don’t miss free admission to the Palm Springs Art Museum from 4 to 7 p.m., and Village Fest, where we shut down Palm Canyon and everyone comes out to enjoy food vendors, purchase local wares, listen to street buskers, and enjoy the small town feel while walking through the heart of Palm Springs.
Sundays: From 3:30 to 7 p.m. is the Sunday Jam at Melvyn’s inside Ingleside Estate*
Daytime daily dos
Palm Springs Historical Society Walking Tours — SO many tours. Bike tours too!
Desert Tasty Tours — Three hours, three blocks of walking, six tastes, two cocktails. A little history, a lot of fun.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — The top of the mountain is usually 20 degrees cooler than Palm Springs. It’s a great ride up and down, you can see the entire valley, and there are two food options for dining. If you’re a hiker, there are tons of trails.
Evening entertainment
The Bent: The Cake, April 4-12. Love, faith, and a wedding cake collide in The Bent’s bold new production of The Cake, the off-Broadway hit comedy by Bekah Brunstetter. Directed by Kudra Wagner at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
Dezart Performs: Falsetto’s, April 18-27, a hilarious and heartbreaking musical about family, ex-spouses, bar mitzvahs, baseball, and AIDS.
Desert Ensemble Theatre — April 18-27, Beyond Therapy. Bruce and Prudence, two modern, neurotic urbanites, search for love and sanity with the questionable help of their offbeat therapists.
PS Underground — Dinner “theater” with a twist, it’s themed music featuring our finest entertainers. Group seating. A unique and delicious evening.
The Purple Room — Delicious food, Rat Pack vibe, and terrific entertainment. If you’re lucky enough to stay through Monday, go see The Judy Show on select Sunday nights.
Something new
La Bottega — It’s in a tiny strip mall on Indian Canyon (next to RockStar), and it’s a little bit of everything. It’s a coffee shop, a wine bar, a restaurant, and an Italian gourmet mini-mart. On Tuesdays, Carlo will teach you Italian while he cooks and serves dinner. Of course you’ll need a reservation. Their motto? Every hour is happy hour. 40 South Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-333-5468.
Chill Out at Drift* (free events at Drift Palm Springs)
April 12: Saturday Savasana at Desert Oasis: Coachella Weekend One, 9 a.m.
April 13: Reiki Sound Bath at Desert Oasis: Weekend One
April 19: Saturday Savasana at Desert Oasis: Weekend Two, 9 a.m.
April 20: Reiki Sound Bath at Desert Oasis: Weekend Two, 10a.m.
April 27: Reiki Sound Bath at Desert Oasis: Stagecoach, 10 a.m.
That’s it for me for now. Enjoy the flowers!!
*Indicates event is at a Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotel
