Earlier this year, Tom Swan Hernandez presented myself and John Taylor with AMVETS Post 66 Business of the Year award. We were grateful to Tom, whose tireless work to recognize and remember LGBTQ+ veterans is ongoing. He and his post gave us the official state LGBTQ Veterans Memorial at Desert Memorial Park in 2018.
As Veteran’s Day is upon us, I think of those who have served in the military and how many were LGBTQ. Tom and many others will gather Saturday at 10 AM to honor them. Palm Springs will host its annual Veterans Day Parade Saturday as well.
In between the leisure activities, parties and events you may attend this weekend, take a moment to say a quiet thank you to those who served our country to keep us free.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Palm Springs Food & Wine Festival
The Palm Springs Food & Wine Festival takes place Saturday, November 11 from 11 am–3 pm & Sunday, November 12 from 12–4 pm at the Palm Springs Stadium Pavilion, bringing together some of the best chefs in the world for a celebration of food, drink, culture, and entertainment. The festival will feature celebrity chef demonstrations, expert panels, and tastings from 40 acclaimed restaurants and 80 boutique wineries. Attendees will engage with celebrity chef demonstrations from Martin Yan of “Yan Can Cook,” Susan Feniger of “Two Hot Tamales” and her new Palm Springs restaurant Alice B’s, Tanya Holland of “Tanya’s Kitchen Table” on the OWN Network, and chefs Michael Chung and Andre Carthen of Kathy Ireland Worldwide and many more. Get tickets
Brothers of the Desert Annual Wellness Summit
Brothers of the Desert is hosting their 5th Annual Wellness Summit on Saturday, November 11, from 8:30 am–4:30 pm at Margaritaville Resort. The event will focus on Black gay men and their allies, and will feature workshops, keynote presentations, and lunch. Everyone is welcome to attend. The theme of the summit is “Honoring Our Past, Envisioning Our Future.” Keynote speakers include AMFAR Policy Director Greg Millett, Bishop Yvette Flunder, Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, and Emmy-nominated director Nathan Hale-Williams (host). More info
ONE-PS Celebrity Lip Sync Battle
ONE-PS brings their exciting Lip Sync Battle to the Palm Springs Cultural Center on Sunday, November 12 at 3 pm. Contestants representing city-wide organizations take to the stage to raise funds for PS Parks and Rec Youth Engagement Programs and ONE-PS New Neighborhood Development at this hilarious high-energy event. Which organization’s shenanigans will surprise us the most? Show up to see for yourself and benefit our community. Emceed by Shann Carr with special guest Kit Tapata. Contestants are a who’s who of Palm Springs royalty: PS Police: Justin Lawler, PS Fire: Kitty Alvarado, LGBTQ Center: Mike Thompson and Lex Ortega, PS Office of Neighborhoods & Special Programs: Denise Goolsby & Veronica Goedhart, Mizell Senior Center: Charles Huff, PS Programs Compliance: David Recio and Crew, The Art Of Pride: Jamie O’Neil, PS Unified Schools: Carla Culbertson & Jody Diaz, PS Pride: Mitchell Battersby & Rene Pullsman. DAP Health: Andrea Murray. There will be a distinguished panel of celebrity judges as well, including KGAY’s own Morning Show host John Taylor! Get tickets
Out on the Walk
Your last days to experience the LGBTQ+ History & Archives of the Desert’s Out on the Walk, an exhibition celebrating the LGBT individuals on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars, are this weekend, November 9–12 at the Village Green. KGAY/Gay Desert Guide will be on-site hosting on Friday, November 10 from 2:45–6 pm, stop by and say hi! The Walk contains more than 450 stars honoring notable entertainers, humanitarians, civic leaders, architects, artists, authors, athletes, and veterans, and some of the honorees were known to live openly as LGBT individuals, while others due to time and personal preference did not. By identifying and celebrating these LGBT celebrities, business people, humanitarians, philanthropists, authors, artists, and civic leaders, organizers hope to share the story of how each one helped to make the greater Palm Springs area the welcoming place for the LGBTQ community it is today. The Walk of the Stars website and app also features information about the honorees. More info
Guide Dogs of the Desert All-American Fundraiser
Guide Dogs of the Desert presents An All-American Fundraiser on Friday, November 10 at 6 pm at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage. Join in for a night filled with fun, laughter, and many paw-some moments. Guide Dogs of the Desert provides life-changing Guide Dogs to individuals with visual impairments free of charge. Help raise funds to support their fantastic work while enjoying a special evening including dinner and the musical styling of 2-time Grammy Award Winner Diane Schuur. Get tickets
Palm Springs Veterans Day Parade
The 26th Annual City of Palm Springs Veterans Day Parade will take place Saturday, November 11. The parade kicks off at 3:30 pm on Palm Canyon Drive at Ramon Road and heads north concluding at Amado Road. Immediately following the parade, the Palm Springs High School Spirit of the Sands Band will perform a post-parade patriotic concert on the corner of Palm Canyon and Amado Road. The concert concludes with a fireworks finale. More info
Fields of Valor 2023
The Evening Rotary Club of Cathedral City presents the 16th Annual Fields of Valor, a week-long celebration of veterans, from November 4–12, at Patriot Park. There will be a Marines Birthday Celebration on Friday, November 10 at 4 pm, Veterans Day Observance on Saturday, November 11 at 9 am, and Closing Ceremony on Sunday, November 12 at 9 am. An area will be dedicated to Soldiers of Valor from past wars to honor family and friends. More info
10th Annual Reel Women’s Film Festival
The 10th Annual Reel Women’s Film Festival (RWFF) is happening on Sunday, November 12 from 10–5 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, with VIP opening reception for platinum pass holders and sponsors the night before (Nov 11) at Eight4Nine and if you can’t make it to in-person screenings, there’s an encore online film screening the week after, from November 13–19. With CA serving as the nearest sanctuary state for thousands of women forced to travel from AZ, TX and beyond to access abortion care services, your support of this year’s film festival — featuring films about women by women — directly benefits the sexual and reproductive care services that Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest provides. See the full schedule and link to get tickets on our event listing: Get tickets
The Fantasticks: A Love Story Reimagined
CVRep presents The Fantasticks: A Love Story Reimagined, running through Sunday, November 19. This West Coast premiere of the re-imagined and re-gendered adaptation of the groundbreaking musical was re-adapted by original librettist and lyricist Tom Jones to preserve the beloved score and storyline into which the two young, original lovers – Matt and Louisa have become – Matt and Lewis. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says “The entire production is, in a word, exquisite.” Read his full review here. – Get tickets
Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties
The Desert Ensemble Theatre presents Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties by Jen Silverman from November 10–19. Betty is rich; Betty is lonely; Betty’s busy working on her truck; Betty wants to talk about love, but Betty needs to hit something. And Betty keeps using a small hand mirror to stare into parts of herself she’s never examined. Five different women named Betty collide at the intersection of anger, sex, and the “thea-tah.” Get tickets
Carole J. Bufford – “Divine Decadence”
The Purple Room Supper Club Presents Carole J. Bufford – “Divine Decadence” on Friday and Saturday, November 10 & 11. With a seductive blend of vintage charm and modern flair, “Divine Decadence” combines the best of the past and present, showcasing a diverse collection of songs spanning from the Roaring 1920s to the Vibrant 2020s. This captivating cabaret takes audiences on a dazzling 100 year journey celebrating the evolution of music and capturing the spirit of each decade. Carole J. Bufford will breathe new life into timeless classics and offer scintillating takes on some of today’s current hits. Dinner at 6 pm, Show at 8 pm. Get tickets
The Thanksgiving Play
Dezart Performs presents the hilarious new Broadway comedy by Larissa Fasthorse, The Thanksgiving Play, running through Sunday, November 12. Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in this wickedly funny satire, as a troupe of terminally “woke” teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month. Our theatre reviewer, Stephen Radosh, says “Fasthorse’s satire is razor-sharp and under Michael Shaw’s quick-paced direction it’s a lot of fun. The play does have much to say and for the most part says it while delivering lots of laughs.” Read his full review here. – Get tickets
Kinky Boots
Desert Theatreworks presents Kinky Boots, running through Sunday, November 26. Kinky Boots is the winner of every major best musical award, including the Tony, the Grammy and London’s Olivier Award. Based on true events, this huge-hearted hit tells the story of two people with nothing in common – or so they think. Charlie is a factory owner struggling to save his business. Lola is a fabulous entertainer with a wildly exciting idea. With a little compassion and a lot of understanding, this unexpected pair learns to embrace their differences and creates a line of sturdy stilettos unlike any the world has ever seen! Get tickets
Feel Good Festival
The inaugural Feel Good Festival will be held on Saturday, November 11 from 10 am–4 pm at Cabot’s Pueblo Museum in Desert Hot Springs. The festival will feature food, live music, wellness activities, and shopping. There will be performances by Sukha and Sister John Angela, a sunset yoga class, a breathwork workshop, a pizza pop-up, a feel good bar, a local farm stand, a tamales pop-up, vintage clothing vendors, wellness vendors, and massage therapists. Free event, RSVP requested. More info
Platinum Star Properties Turkey Drive
Platinum Star Properties is hosting their 4th Annual Turkey Drive on Saturday, November 11 from 11 am–2 pm. They are partnering with The Community Center Food Bank, DJ Galaxy, and Cathedral City Senior Center to collect donations of frozen turkeys, hams, and other non-perishable food items. All donations will go to those in need in the community. More info
