
Not a year goes by that the Red Dress/Dress Red Party helps me to make new “best friends”. And in talking to The Center’s staff at Wednesday’s Center Social that we sponsored, the same is true for them!
Yes, people come out of the woodwork around this time each year with a quick “how have you been?” followed by “can you get me a pair of tickets to Red Dress?”
Now, I don’t blame you for trying, my friends. It can be a hard ticket to come by even though capacity at the Air Museum event has steadily increased over the years. When that magic on-sale date rolls around, it’s like a Taylor Swift concert was coming to town.
Truth is: our allocation of tickets is in the single digits. There are a lot of people on my KGay Desert Guide team who want to sport their red finery for the evening. Center staff can’t help you either. They don’t have a magic wand to make tickets appear for “friends”.
So set an alarm on your Smartphone for February 12th and be ready with your credit card.
Then the real fun begins: What the hell am I going to wear this year?
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival
The Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival will take place on Saturday, January 25 from 8 am–1 pm at Ruth Hardy Park. This energizing event offers a 10K, 5K, 1K Fun Run, and Bike Ride, catering to fitness enthusiasts of all levels. Alongside the runs, the Wellness Festival features over 60 vendors showcasing the latest in nutrition, exercise, and wellness. KGAY’s John Taylor will be Out and About at the Festival from 9–11 am! It’s a comprehensive fitness expo designed to inspire, challenge, and energize participants of all ages. More info
Southwest Arts Festival
The Southwest Arts Festival® returns to the stunning Empire Polo Club in Indio from Thursday–Sunday, January 23–26, 10 am–4 pm daily. This acclaimed event features over 200 artists showcasing traditional, contemporary, and abstract fine art, jewelry, and quality crafts. Set against the beautiful natural landscape and sweeping mountain ranges, the festival offers a unique blend of creative display and live music. Organized by the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Southwest Arts Festival® is renowned for its high-quality art and professional integrity, supported by over 200 dedicated community volunteers. More info
Desert Open Studios Tour
The 5th Annual Desert Open Studios Tour will take place from Friday to Sunday, January 24–26, 11 am–4 pm daily. This event offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes, with 150 artists from Indio to Desert Hot Springs opening their studio doors. Art lovers can explore a variety of artistic styles and mediums in both small, personal studios and larger creative hubs. Visitors will have the opportunity to view works in progress, purchase art directly from the artists, and support the vibrant creative community of Southern California. More info
Art Party 2025: Cosmic Odyssey
Art Party 2025: Cosmic Odyssey at the Palm Springs Art Museum is a cosmic gala fundraiser honoring artist Lita Albuquerque. On Saturday, January 25 from 6–10 pm, guests will immerse themselves in an otherworldly evening featuring creative cocktails, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, interactive entertainment, and out-of-this-world experiences. The evening kicks off with a cocktail reception at 6 pm, followed by dinner at 7:30 pm, and entertainment and dancing at 8:30 pm. Get tickets
This Weekend at the McCallum Theatre
David Foster and Katharine McPhee will take the McCallum Theatre stage on Friday and Saturday, January 24-25 at 8 pm with a show featuring Foster’s hits and McPhee’s biggest songs. Then, on Sunday, January 26 at 3 pm, comedian Rita Rudner will share her thought-provoking one-liners and amusing observations on everyday life. Get tickets
The Light in the Piazza
CVRep presents The Light in the Piazza from January 22–February 2. Winner of six Tony Awards & five Drama Desk Awards, The Light in the Piazza takes us to the Tuscan countryside where, a beautiful, surprisingly childish young woman loses her hat in a sudden gust. As if guided by the hand of the Sistine Chapel, the hat lands at the feet of a handsome young Florentine man. But as events unfold and secrets are revealed we follow a love story unlike any other. Filled with a beautiful blend of classical and Broadway melodies, our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says “This is a beautiful production of a not-often-produced musical and deserves a date on your calendar.” Read his full review and Get tickets
Chuck Yates as Tru
Desert Ensemble Theatre presents Tru from January 24–February 2 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Celebrating Truman Capote’s centennial year, actor Chuck Yates recreates his critically acclaimed performance that he created for Coyote StageWorks in 2013 (“Performer of the Decade,” Broadway World/Palm Springs). Capote remains a literary icon, but today is perhaps more known for his infamous betrayal of his society “Swans” in the pages of Esquire. Adapted from the writer’s own words and works, Tru is a one-person tour-de-force. Get tickets
Spring Awakening
Revolution Stage Company presents Spring Awakening from January 14–30. This groundbreaking rock musical, based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play, captures the turbulent journey of adolescence with unflinching honesty. Set in late 19th-century Germany, it tells the poignant story of teenagers grappling with sexual awakening, societal expectations, and identity. With powerful performances and a haunting score by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, featuring unforgettable songs like “Mama Who Bore Me” and “The Bitch of Living,” this production speaks to the heart of growing up. Get tickets
Fat Ham
Dezart Performs presents Fat Ham from January 17–26 at the Pearl McManus Theater. Fat Ham is about a Black, queer discovery of self, softness, and resilience. Your typical Southern family cookout just got anything but. Juicy gets a visit from his father’s ghost seeking revenge for his death by his brother – now married to his mother! Sound familiar? Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says Fat Ham is “at once laugh-out-loud funny and truly touching…” Read his full review here and Get tickets
Legally Blonde The Musical
Desert Theatreworks presents Legally Blonde The Musical from January 17–February 9. Follow Elle Woods as she takes on Harvard Law, fueled by the desire to win back her ex-boyfriend. With infectious energy and catchy tunes, the show captures Elle’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Along the way, she faces challenges from peers, professors, and her former flame, but with the help of newfound friends, she proves her resilience and determination. Get tickets
A Very Sordid Wedding
Palm Canyon Theatre presents A Very Sordid Wedding from January 17–26. It’s 2015, seventeen years after Sordid Lives and Peggy’s unfortunate death, after tripping over G.W.’s wooden legs, and life has now moved on for the residents of Winters, Texas. A Very Sordid Wedding explores the questions, bigotry and the fallout of what happens when gay marriage comes to communities and families that are not quite ready to accept it. Get tickets
Agua Caliente Bird Song and Dance Festival
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is hosting the annual Bird Song and Dance Festival, “Singing the Birds,” on Saturday, January 25 from 10 am–7 pm at Palm Springs High School. This event brings together bird singers and dancers from tribes across Southern California and the Southwest, celebrating the region’s rich Native American heritage. The day-long festival features bird singing and dancing, a Native American Market, and various food vendors. Reserve your free admission: Get tickets
Huey Lewis Tribute at The Gardens
The Gardens on El Paseo 27th Annual Concert Series continues on Saturday, January 25 at 4 pm with Heart of Rock and Roll (Huey Lewis & The News Tribute), benefiting Shay’s Warriors Life After Cancer. Reserve your tickets now and wine down on the Center Lawn, Saturday evenings to support your community. Upcoming benefit shows include: Billy Joel Tribute (2/1), Journey Tribute (2/8), Rolling Stones Tribute (2/15), John Stanley King Band (2/22), Jimmy Buffett Tribute (3/1), and Rod Stewart Tribute (3/8). Get tickets
ALSO THIS WEEKEND
Friday, January 24
The Comparable Dina Martina | 7 pm & 9 pm at Revolution Stage Company
Collective Soul: Harmonizing the World, One Note at a Time | 8 pm at The Show
Saturday, January 25
Country Dance Saturdays (New Day & Location) | 7 pm at 933 Crossley Road
The Dinner Detective Palm Springs Grand Opening | 6 pm at Hilton Garden Inn
Sunday, January 26
PS Concerts: Andrew Sords, violin | 2 pm at Richards Center for the Arts