“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ”Let’s party!'” — Robin Williams
Welp, it’s time for Coachella again, and what a beast of a party it’s going to be this year with Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Swedish House Mafia, and Kanye (billed as Ye) headlining. There’s already a titch of craz-ye in the air.
Per their website, the lineup also includes Phoebe Bridgers, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Danny Elfman, Doja Cat, Run the Jewels, Jamie xx, Carly Rae Jepsen, Vince Staples, Japanese Breakfast, Baby Keem, Caribou (and Daphni), City Girls, Denzel Curry, Caroline Polachek, 100 gecs, DJ Koze, Turnstile, Rina Sawayama, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, the Avalanches, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Arooj Aftab, Orville Peck, Nilüfer Yanya, Disclosure, Brockhampton, PUP, the Blessed Madonna, Peggy Gou, Spiritualized, Amber Mark, Slowthai, Fatboy Slim, Mako Kream, Idles, J.I.D, girl in red, Duck Sauce, BadBadNotGood, Amyl and the Sniffers, and many more.
That’s more people than my high school graduating class.
The festival runs two weekends: April 15-17 and April 22-24. If you have tickets, have tons of fun, wear sunscreen, check out how to get there, and here’s a list of their services.
If you don’t have tickets, and you have the sads, you can watch the festival from the comfort of one of our resorts with a cocktail, inside your air conditioned room, or by the pool at the Coachella page on YouTube.
Right after Coachella, it’s Stagecoach starting April 30. So wash, rinse, repeat. But don’t do that with your hair. That’s just a ploy so you’ll use more product, unless you went to a music festival — then definitely wash, rinse, repeat.
That’s what a lot of folks are pumped about for April, but for those of you who eschew everything that comes with being in a huge crowd, yet love a good party (raises hand), read on…
Free things to do (and some food, too)
April 3: Opera in the Park will be held at Sunrise Park in Palm Springs. The free concert will feature accomplished opera professionals accompanied by a professional orchestra. Event attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a day of beloved opera arias.
April 6: Rock The Park, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Kenny Metcalf performs Elton John: The Early Years.
April 28: Dining Out For Life — Check the website for a list of participating restaurants. It’s a lot.
Thursdays Free at Palm Springs Art Museum
Thursdays Village Fest — just ask your host, or follow the crowd.
Ticketed events
April 1: Rouge Ballroom Bash by Nickerson Rossi Dance. Salon Rouge returns to the International DanceFestival. A praised sold-out program that this year will feature this award-winning dance team and ballroom instructors, Beverly Durand and Curtis Collins. Learn basic social dancing, hit the dance floor to strut your moves, and be ready to move. Oh, and the drinks are on them!
Through April 29: Glow In The Park at The Living Desert, a spring lantern festival. This is The Living Desert’s brand new and larger-than-life illuminated experience. This extraordinary nighttime event will feature intricate, immersive, and truly awe-inspiring animal and naturescape lantern creations representing wild places from around the globe. Get ready to see The Living Desert in a whole new light.
PS Historical Society has a bunch of walking tours and biking tours (rental bikes) that look fantastic. Listed by days, the website has offerings like Golden Era Hollywood Homes, the Rat Pack Playground, the Heart of the City, and more.
MOGO Silent Disco: I still wanna go to this. Curated music in your ears, dancing down the street with a non-intrusive tour guide. Come on! How much fun!
Live theater
Desert Ensemble Theater: Great little company at the Cultural Center.
Palm Canyon Theater: Spamalot playing in April.
Dezart Performs: Last chance to see one of their terrific productions of the 2021/2022 season.
Desert Rose Playhouse: Check out Palm Springs The Musical: Born to Sparkle.
Music and comedy
Fridays – Caliente Comedy: Not the all-star comedians, but funny, funny people.
Thursdays – Jazzville: What a show! If you like jazz and you’re here on a Thursday, get yourself a ticket.
Purple Room: Rat Pack vibes, dinner and entertainment. Amazing local performers Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays and Saturdays are ticketed events with well-known entertainers, and on Sundays, check out my beloved The Judy Show.
PS Underground: Musical madness from two creative geniuses. Dinners and brunches like you’ve never experienced before. They also have an Easter Gospel Brunch (adults only).
Oscar’s: So very gay, so very fun. That’s not the name of an act, just a description of Oscar’s.
PS Cultural Center: Not just movies, farmers markets, and the vintage anymore. On April 17, check out Alohana, a tiki day celebration. And there’s Martinis and Moxie on April 13.
Drag brunches
If you haven’t yet, take a ride up the mountain on the tram and hike our gorgeous trails before it gets too hot.
If that’s not enough excitement for you, head even higher into the skies with a warbird ride at the Palm Springs Air Museum, available every weekend.
May is the Oasis Music Festival; I’ll tell you more about that next time.
Until then, stay safe, shop and stay local, and if you go to any of the clubs or theaters, tell them Kay from Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels sent you. No one can pronounce my last name, Kudukis, but it’s often hilarious when people try. But that’s just me. You won’t get a laugh, or any discounts, but they won’t kick you out — I don’t think. Hmmm. Do me a favor, give it a try and let me know? Thanks, you’re the best!
