Palm Springs
Free Downtown Pride Festival returns with expanded lineup for 30th Annual Pride celebration featuring The English Beat, Book of Love, Jinx Titanic and the Ladykillers, and other artists.
Palm Springs Pride will host a diverse group of artists including, dancers, singers, musicians, activists, and DJs gathering under the theme of Solidarity through Pride to celebrate diversity, equality, and solidarity. The 2016 Pride Celebration will take place in downtown Palm Springs November 4-6 .
This year’s all-inclusive Palm Springs Pride Festival lineup will be headlined by ska legends and iconic ’80s band The English Beat, as well as the Book of Love who is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a USA reunion tour. Chicago-based rock ‘n’ roll band, Jinx Titanic and the Ladykillers, queer rock band Pansy Division, and the high energy The Gand Band. The free two-day Pride Festival features all-girl Americana style rock ‘n’ roll band Ashleigh Flynn and the Riveters, East Nashville’s Amelia White, and the musical, and romantic duo Branden & James.
GayC/DC the world’s only all-gay tribute to AC/DC and the four-piece all female rock band from Los Angeles No Girlfriends, along with electropop band Devin Tait and the Traitors will help highlight the unique musical styles that celebrate diversity in our community. The Trans Rally on Sunday, November 6 at 1:00 p.m. will feature performances by Allison Annalora, Lindsey Deaton, and Paulina Angel.
An assortment of electronic, pop, hip hop, and rock ‘n’ roll artists will perform, including singer and guitarist Shea Freedom, Young Jibwe, an Ojibwa hip-hop artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ciscofoya, and a hot new artist on the rise Yaysh. Popular southern California singer and Rock ‘n’ roll band Tomasina round out the list of performers.
DJ KinkyLoop, DJ Aaron C, and DJ Waide will join over 100 artists scheduled to perform throughout the festival weekend including the DJ Baz “Cuban Nights” show. Festival Emcees include the desert’s hostess, social ambassador and Walk of Stars recipient Bella da Ball℠, Pauly and Monks, Ruba Wilson, and KJ as Joan Rivers.
With 100 performances, the diverse lineup of artists will offer something for everyone including special appearances by the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, Modern Men and Harmonic Voices. All performances take place outdoors on the US Bank stage, Tahquitz stage, Pride Palm Canyon Stage sponsored by Desert AIDS Project, and the Hyatt Palm Springs stage. Signing via ASL will be provided for the deaf community at the Arenas, Tahquitz, and Palm Canyon stages.
The Arenas Rd. Block Party on Saturday, Nov 4, 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. will feature performances of psychedelic rock, pop, drag, and rock ’n’ roll. The party starts with the Dyke March Rally at 6:00 p.m. then the all-girl rock band Corday. Rusty Waters takes the stage and hosts the Drag Me to Brunch troupe to start the night with feather boas and a little glitter. The night continues with pop artist Z LALA, and YouTube star Madilyn Bailey whose channel has 2.9 million subscribers. The glamorous and cutting-edge Priscilla Empress of Pop will get you dancing in the street before LA’s punk-pop electronica band Ediblehead headlines the night.
The Palm Canyon Pride stage sponsored by the Desert AIDS Project will feature individuals and groups performing, singers, dancers, drag personalities, and celebrity impersonators, all coming together for a great time celebrating Pride. The National Anthem will be sung at noon November 5 by Jerome Elliott and November 6 by Charles Herrera. Vocalists will include Carol Kamenis, Keisha D, Eve Holmes, Robbie Wayne, David Hirsch, David McBride, Allen Jensen, Doug Graham, Terry Larson, Larry Bennett, Phillip Moore, Dan Westfall, Jason Hull, Tony Romano, and others. Groups appearing include the Steven Michael’s Dance Machine, and Carnival Cabaret. Drag personalities scheduled to appear include Marina Mac, Sheena Wolfe, Anita Rose, Cher-Javier, Candace Camera, and others. Impersonators include River Gibbs as Michael Jackson.
Features of the Pride Festival include a Children’s Headquarters (CHQ) space for games and crafts, the Youth Zone by Safe Schools Desert Cities, and HIV/AIDS testing by Get Tested Coachella Valley. Over 150 exhibitors, non-profit organizations, food, and beverage vendors will be on hand along with the Tahquitz and Arenas Road Beverage Gardens by Trio Restaurant.
The Festival is a free community event held on Palm Canyon Dr. between Amado and Baristo Rd. and on Arenas Rd. and Tahquitz Canyon Way from S. Calle Encilia to Belardo. In order to keep Palm Springs Pride a free community event, donations will be accepted at entry points.
ABOUT GREATER PALM SPRINGS PRIDE
Greater Palm Springs Pride is a nonprofit community enhancement organization founded to promote the public education and awareness of individual rights and civil liberties of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and to promote the history, diversity and future prosperity of the Greater Palm Springs LGBT community. Palm Springs Pride has been a tireless advocate for equality and diversity since the first Coachella Valley Pride event was held in 1986.
The 501(c)(3) organization brings together the skills, talents and vision of our diverse community through its programs which include the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, Pride Honors Awards, OUT PSP a food and drink event, the Pride Parade, Pride Festival, the unique Pet Pride Parade, and the downtown Arenas Rd. Block Party.
