The Essential Pride Events Guide for Palm Springs Pride 2022
It's Pride weekend once again here in Palm Springs, and this year’s theme is SAY GAY! Here's our Essential Pride Events Guide for Palm Springs Pride 2022 🏳️🌈
Cheers, Queers! It's Pride weekend once again here in Palm Springs, and this year’s theme is SAY GAY!
You know they’ll be plenty of boys, booze, and blasphemy to remind you of how proud you are to be gay – and how lucky we all are to be able to live out loud here in Gay Palm Springs!
Between official Pride events, unofficial pool parties, and everything in between – there's an appalling amount of events happening all weekend long here in our quaint little desert town. Scroll to the bottom of this post for every option under the sun, or simply jump into this curated list of events we're most excited about…
Here's our Essential Pride Events Guide for Palm Springs Pride 2022 🏳️🌈
Friday, November 4th
3pm - 11:30pm - KGAY 106.5 Arenas District Pride Kick Off Block Party with music & dancing in the streets!
Saturday, November 5th
10am - Hotel Zoso Pride Drag Brunch (singing drag queens from P-town)!
11am-5pm - Palm Springs Pride Festival Day 1 + Marketplace (Click here for a downloadable festival map)
11am-5pm - CCBC Rainbow Splash Pool Party
1pm - Ongina's Palm Springs PRIDE Drag Brunch
5:30pm - UNBOUND: a live immersive kink chamber opera experience!
6pm - Boylesque! : A Night of Drinks, Drag & Delirium at Boozehounds
8pm - Todrick Hall on main stage
9pm - Bob the Drag Queen at Hotel Zoso (admission includes Zoso to SAY GAY! Underwear Party after)
9pm - ROUGH SEX at The Barracks (Free clothes check available, $20 cash at the door, no tickets are sold online for this event)
9pm - CCBC CumUnion (passes can be purchased in advance at the door)
Sunday, November 6th
10am - 12pm Palm Springs Pride Parade 2022
10am - 2pm - Pride Parade Party & Drag Brunch at Roly China Fusion with Rosemary Galore
11am - 6pm - Palm Springs Pride Festival Day 2 + Marketplace (Click here for a downloadable festival map)
4pm - The Robyn Party at the Arenas (nothing but Robyn songs)!
6pm - An Evening With Latrice Royale (includes a 3-course meal)
Best Summer Activities in Gay Palm Springs
Here are our votes on the Best Summer Activities in Gay Palm Springs!
It sure is hot here in the low desert! Fear not, fellow gaycationers and staycationers – there’s still plenty to do this summer here in Gay Palm Springs that will keep you busy and keep you cool (hopefully at the same time).
I’m not just talking about all-indoor activities either. There’s plenty of inspiration waiting for you all throughout the Coachella Valley.
Of course, there are plenty of other fabulous things to do and see this summer in greater Palm Springs, but these are our favorites so far. If you'd like to increase your search results, check out the Gay Desert Guide.
And if you have an activity you already love that didn't make the list, please email us and let us know (and let us know why you love it)!
In the meantime, here are our votes on the Best Summer Activities in Gay Palm Springs!
Drag Shows
Let’s start with the essentials. Naturally, sweetie, drag shows are all over Palm Springs. You can play Bingo with Miss Rusty Waters at Hunter's every Wednesday, make yo dollas holla at Vanity's Doll Haus every Friday at One Eleven Bar in Cat City, or bask in the nostalgia of The Judy Show! every Sunday at the Purple Room (just to name a few of course). Check out the Gay Desert Guide for a complete list of drag shows.
Dining
Grab some brunch at 1501 Uptown Gastropub, a light sushi lunch at Antigua Sushi Lovers, and then dinner at the NY-style Paul Bar/Food Gastropub. Or if you’re looking for a more unique experience, PS Underground is an ever evolving supper club (no two dinners are ever the same) featuring gourmet meals and world class entertainment. And if fresh local produce is your poison or pleasure, check out the Coachella Valley Certified Farmers' Markets.
For more of our dining favorites, look no further than our “Best Dining in Gay Palm Springs” post.
Hiking (in the morning)
If you want to beat the heat but still enjoy all the natural beauty the Coachella Valley has to offer, consider some morning (or evening) hikes like Tahquitz Canyon Waterfalls, Indian Canyon trail, or the many other trails in and around Palm Springs. There are also groups like Great Outdoors Palm Springs (GOPS) and various Facebook hiking (even naked hiking) groups you could join.
Or consider taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway – the “World’s largest rotating tram car” – up two-and-a-half-miles of Chino Canyon cliffs that feature panoramic views of the spectacular valleys below. The journey ends at the top of Mt. San Jacinto State Park (an elevation of 8,516 feet) where you’ll find observation decks, restaurants (with a view), and over 50 miles of hiking trails. It’s typically 20 degrees cooler at the top. And be sure to check out the Jeffrey pine trees up there because they smell like butterscotch (for real)!
Joshua Tree
Plan a perfect trip to Joshua Tree with the help of J Harvey’s My Normal Gay Life travel blog. In addition to Joshua Tree National Park, the high desert is full of spectacular natural wonders and blended ecosystems of both the Mojave and Colorado deserts. While you’re there, grab a bite at the Joshua Tree Saloon. And don’t forget to check out the Outdoor Desert Art Museum’s sculptures and installations (for free) and the World Famous Crochet Museum.
Just Relax Poolside
The pool might be the best place to wade out the Palm Springs summer heat. The pool at the Rowan Hotel is (freely) open to the public throughout the summer, so consider a poolside lunch and cocktails there. If men-only is more what you had in mind, there are day passes available at the Canyon Club in Palm Springs and at CCBC in Cathedral City (Cat City).
Movies
Catch a nice air-conditioned movie at the Palm Springs Cultural Center or the Mary Pickford Theater In Cathedral City (they even have recliners there)! You can also check out all the inspiring Palm Springs Film Festivals happening throughout the year.
Museums
If you want to quench your thirst for culture, start at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s exquisite collection of over 12,000 works of modern and contemporary art, architecture, and design. Every Thursday night, locals can browse the museum for free (5-7PM)! Next check out the Moorten Botanical Gardens “living museum” to see over 3,000 varieties of desert plants, trees, and spiky cacti.
If you’re curious about Palm Springs’ historic inhabitants, check out the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum’s five different exhibit areas dedicated to telling different chapters in the story of the Agua Caliente people.
And if you want to see the quirkiest museums of all, you’ll have to drive out of town to see the International Banana Museum in Mecca, CA (it’s exactly what it sounds like). And don’t forget to check out the World Famous Crochet Museum in Joshua Tree.
Nightlife
Get your tea dance on at Oscar's, bring your pup to Boozehounds, or make new friends at "Underwear Night" at the Barracks in Cat City. Check out more of our “Best Gay Nightlife in Palm Springs” favorites on our blog!
Other Inspirations
With six escape adventures to choose from, Escape Palm Springs has escape rooms that challenge you to pull off a bank heist, flee the doomed Titanic, save a wizarding school from an evil spell, or help Scotland Yard capture Jack the Ripper.
After you’ve escaped, go celebrate at Agua Caliente Resort Casinos in Palm Springs (or in Cat City) and see how far your luck will carry you!
Check out the Gay Desert Guide for more LGBTQ+ happenings in Palm Springs!
Outdoor Art
There’s no shortage of creative expression here in Coachella Valley. Start in Palm Springs with Marylin Monroe herself (the other lady liberty), conveniently located right in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum and next to the massive Palm Springs Babies Sculptures sandpit. Each baby is a whopping 11 feet long, 9 feet high, and weighs almost 300 pounds.
If stepping into a parallel dimension is more your vibe, check out RoboLights – an extraordinary four-acre light display created by artist Kenny Irwin boasting displays made from approximately 1000 tons of donated junk. It’s so strange, it’s even been featured on Conan O’Brian, The Learning Channel, and the BBC Travel Channel. Then go check out the Spider Volkswagen sculpture – a bizarre sculpture of a VW beetle-turned giant spider.
If dinosaurs are your jam, drive to Cathedral City and check out the new Jurassic Wonders in Cathedral City or the Cabazon Dinosaurs in Cabazon – a highly postcarded Palm Springs icon, boasting more than 50 life-size dinosaur statues. You may recognize it from its appearance in cult classic film Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure!
Just keep on driving and let Desert X be your tour guide to see all the incredible outdoor art spread all throughout the Coachella Valley.
Shopping
Grab some short-shorts at Division Palm Springs, some leather gear at Gear Leather & Fetish, and truly unique gifts from Just Fabulous Palm Springs. Check out more of our Best Gay Shopping in Palm Springs favorites on our blog!
Shows
Check out the The Judy Show at the Purple Room – a drag parody of the great icons of the 60s. Then enjoy AsiaSF Palm Springs iconic dinner show experience while the transgender Ladies of AsiaSF Palm Springs dazzle you (think “high drag,” but it’s not drag, honey). Or check out all the great drag shows happening almost daily here in and around Palm Springs.
If live music is your jam, check out the newly opened Alibi Palm Springs, Oscars, the McCallum Theatre, or the famous Pappy & Harriet’s saloon in Pioneertown. There’s always a ton of live events happening in this town, so check out the calendar listings for what’s coming up.
Summer Events
Palm Springs has quickly become an all-season place to be, so there’s always an event. Check out the Palm Springs Cultural Center or the Rock The Park summer music series. And if you’re still on Facebook (most folks still are in this town), consider joining the Gay Men of Palm Springs Facebook Group, or check out Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism for a calendar of events.
Tours
Whether it’s guided or self-guided tours you’re looking for, there’s a lot to see in our little town. Check out the Legends & Icons Tour or the Historical Society Walking Tours. If mid-century modern is what you crave, consider Mid-Century Modern Tours or Palm Springs Mod Squad tours. And for a fun self-guided tour of some fabulous Mid-century modern neighborhoods here in Palm Springs, check out our MCM Architecture Self-Guided Tour guide (Google Maps GPS-ready)!
For a unique, self-guided tour, get up close and take selfies with turbines on a Windmill Tour through the Coachella Valley and see some of the best-preserved windmills in all of California.
They are MUCH bigger than most people realize! And be sure to check out the Windmill Market while you’re there for the best Date Shake in Coachella Valley (4 years standing)!
Wellness Day
Since you came all the way to Palm Springs to relax and get away from it all, why not have a wellness day? Get a massage at The Men’s Grooming Spot, a haircut at Daddy's Barbershop, or some cannabis at The Vault Dispensary and Lounge. Or have you ever wanted to meditate in a cave? Check out more of our Best Gay Shopping in Palm Springs wellness favorites on our blog!
Best Dining in Gay Palm Springs
Here's a list of our favorite restaurants in Palm Springs – curated by us, with an emphasis on flavor, atmosphere, quality of ingredients, great tasting food, and gay-friendly (of course)…
Whether it's eye candy or after-dinner candy you're looking to accompany a great meal, there's something for everyone here in Gay Palm Springs!
Here's a list of our favorite restaurants in Palm Springs – curated by us, with an emphasis on flavor, atmosphere, quality of ingredients, great tasting food, and gay-friendly (of course).
We all have certain standards when we're dining out – different palettes, different allergies, and different tastes in hot waiters 😜 We know that not everyone's going to agree with our choices, but we hope that overall this list won't disappoint.
Of course, there are plenty of other great restaurants in greater Palm Springs (and in the surrounding Coachella Valley), but these are our favorites so far. If you'd like to increase your search results, check out https://visitpalmsprings.com/dining-in-palm-springs.
And if you have a place you already love that didn't make the list, please email us and let us know (and let us know why you love it)!
In the meantime, here are our votes on the Best Dining in Gay Palm Springs (in alphabetical order by cuisine)!
*Or opt-in below for a downloadable cheat sheet version…
American
Willie Rhine of Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge and Chad Gardner of 533 Viet Fusion and Roly China Fusion bring their combined successful track records to offer a new seasonally fresh eatery. The food at 1501 Uptown Gastropub is great and there's lots of indoor and outdoor seating. We particularly love brunching outdoors because of it's beautiful view of the mountains!
Boozehounds aims to provide a friendly environment for both canines and their humans. By day, they are a coffee, co-working, and lunch spot. By night, they are a perfect happy hour and dinner destination for the whole family.
Chi Chi's is centered in the tradition of California wellness and set in the playful pool area of the Avalon Hotel. We love their specialized menus and innovative dishes.
Chicken Ranch is committed to keep to keeping it fresh; bringing farm-fresh produce and free-range poultry from local farms to your plate. They are always serving up quality and fresh, from rotisserie chicken, delicious salads, and seasonal ingredients. This is one of our favorite lunch spots.
Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge
Located in the Uptown Design District of Palm Springs, EIGHT4NINE's eclectic and colorful menu selections feature a fusion of comfort food, ethnic influences, and bold originality. So original, they haven't changed the menu in years, but folks still love it. The real standout for us is the bright and modern décor!
GiGi’s is a desert-inspired, Modern American restaurant, serving creative farm-to-table fare with a commitment to the freshest locally sourced ingredients. You may even be able to catch an occasional celebrity low-key dining here, but you didn't hear it from us😉
John Henry’s Café has been a favorite of Palm Springs locals and in-the-know visitors for over thirty years. It's quite an experience that you can only understand when you experience it for yourself, so... Go experience for yourself 😉
King's Highway at the Ace Hotel
An old roadside diner reimagined, King's Highway reinterpreted American comfort food for the desert with a focus on fresh, organic, and local ingredients. It might be Palm Springs best-kept secret (especially if you're trying to snag a table somewhere in town on a busy weekend night)!
La Copine is the only place we're listing that requires a day trip out of town to Yucca Valley. They are an incredible Californian restaurant serving fresh & inspired lunch in the Hi Desert from Thursday-Sundays only (11am-4pm). It's in the middle of nowhere but the food speaks for itself. If you don't believe us, just as The New York Times or VOGUE!
There is no place in Palm Springs more colorful than Lulu's. A must for every new Palm Springs tourist, Lulu's has become the restaurant all of Palm Springs loves to be (and be seen).
Oscar's has everything from dancing to live dinner entertainment in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. From drag brunch, to celebrity evening-with shows, to Oscar's signature T-Dance on Sundays, there's something for every gay!
Honoring the Rat Pack era, Michael Holmes’ Purple Room is the desert’s premier supper club and live performance space, featuring local and national jazz artists and the always popular, The Judy Show!, a parody of the great icons of the 60s.
Sherman’s has become a landmark in the desert. A Kosher-style family restaurant, they offer an extensive menu for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner reminiscent of a New York style deli.
The Pantry's menu is an exceptional modern take on classic “Americana” cuisine, reinterpreting the traditional resort menu using a fusion of new techniques and influences. Their menu highlights fresh ingredients local to California and the Coachella Valley.
In the center of the Plaza, Tyler’s offers one of the best burger experiences in the desert!
Asian
This is a personal favorite of ours, and another Asian fusion eatery brought to you by the gay owners of Roly China Fusion. 533 Viet Fusion is a casual, hip setting for a mix of modern and traditional Vietnamese dishes and cocktails. We particularly love their spring roll menu, full of fresh selections like their lemongrass duroc organic pork roll and mushroom soba roll.
Antigua Sushi Lovers just opened and we love the owners as much as we love the sushi! They're also currently one of only two sushi places open for lunch as well as dinner in Palm Springs.
AsiaSF is a cabaret dinner show that has been wowing crowds for 23 years in San Francisco, and they've chosen Palm Springs as its first location outside the Bay Area. AsiaSF performers, who are all transgender women, bring their own personalities to lip-synced renditions of party playlist classics, creating a memorable dinner show for an iconic date night.
From dim sum to drag brunch, Roly China Fusion is modern Chinese cuisine with an asian fusion twist. Inspired by Chad’s husband Roly, the restaurant brings a vibrant, whimsical and elevated dining experience to the Palm Springs area. They also own 533 Viet Fusion, which is a personal favorite of ours!
Rooster and the Pig is a Vietnamese-American restaurant that strives to serve food and drink with distinction. They also take allergies seriously, so we always appreciate that.
Sandfish serves up quality hand-crafted sushi and whiskey pairings in a beautiful Scandinavian designed interior.
Taka Shin offers exquisite Japanese cuisine that delicately presents traditional Japanese food with a contemporary twist in a relaxed, no-frills environment.
Thai Smile has been bringing the authentic tastes of true Thai cuisine to Palm Springs for 18 years. We love crossing the street after a Sunday evening tea dance at Oscars for a comforting (and affordable!) curry.
Torakichi Ramen is a relatively new restaurant specializing in ramen. It's an intimate setting, but where it lacks in ambience it well makes up for with flavor!
Bar Food
Winner of Desert Sun's Best Restaurant in 2020, Blackbook is the real "chill bar" in the Arenas district as far as we're concerned. Its sleek industrial style features the largest whiskey selection in Palm Springs and a lot of acclaim for being the "best bar food in Palm Springs" among the locals.
The coolest (pun fully intended) gay bar and dance club here in Palm Springs, Chill Bar is another staple gay-borhood bar in our beloved Arenas district, featuring drag bingo, go-go boys, and our favorite disco-ball male statues (featured on The Palm Springs Guys website)! They have a fun bar menu, and the flatbreads are a particular stand-out for our pallets.
Hunters is Palm Springs’ go-to gay bar and dance club fun for 20 years now. Featuring the longest happy hour in all the Valley, Hunters serves up drag shows, karaoke, and Djs that keep the dance floor pumping (loudly!) right in the Arenas district. But they also have a great bar menu (from fried pickles to "hey girl" hot wings).
PaulBar is bar/food. That's all they have to say about that on their website, but locals have a lot more to say about how much they love it. The location isn't ideal (you'll wonder if you're in the right place at first), but it's got a very cool vibe when you get inside which is why it's so popular.
With plenty of atmosphere for all patrons “to roost,” the Roost Lounge in Cat City is a another friendly neighborhood gay bar with ongoing entertainment and karaoke.
BBQ
As the name suggests, Smoke Tree is all about BBQ; Baby Back ribs, Beef Ribs, Brisket, Pulled Pork, Smoked Chicken, Tri Tip, Andouille Sausage, Smoked Turkey, and more. This is the best BBQ in Palm Springs, but their hours often change whenever they feel like it, just FYI.
Cafe
Koffi (Various Locations)
Locally owned and operated, Koffi was established in 2002 and is now the largest independent specialty coffee retail and roasting operation in the Coachella Valley. Koffi has four (4) different café locations – three (3) of which are right in Palm Springs (Koffi North, Koffi Central, and Koffi South). Their oat milk iced lattes are strong & smooth, just the way we like them.
Right in the heart of the Antique Shopping District, the ever-popular Townie Bagel’s makes water boiled bagels fresh daily in Palm Springs. All their bagels, breads, muffins, and scones are made from scratch in their bakery. It's a local favorite, so get in line early!
Continental
Bar Cecil is a nod to the great American and European bistro experiences. They celebrate those who follow the beat to their own drum with an aesthetic as creative and inspiring as their food and cocktails. This place it POPULAR, and reservations are limited, so try to go early or late on a whim sometime.
Jake’s is a casual/hip American bistro serving fresh, innovative, and comfort food favorites. Their lunch menu screams California fresh, and they even have a "Flight of Salads" if you can't decide which mouth-watering salad to toss... I mean, choose 😉
Johannes Restaurant is modern European cuisine from Austrian born Chef/Owner Johannes Bacher, with an Upscale Casual Ambiance and an entire schnitzel menu!
Mid-Mod Café is Uptown Palm Springs’ [new] organic alternative for healthy smoothies, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner. Created by the gay owners of Palm Greens, Mod Cafe offers a healthy spin on American classics with vegan, organic, vegetarian and Gluten-free options.
Truss & Twine sits adjacent to the team’s first venture, Workshop Kitchen + Bar and is the epitome of Palm Springs’ sophisticated desert vibe. They specialize in classic cocktails broken down by era, alongside a desert-inspired menu using ingredients from the Coachella Valley.
This mid-century lounge serves up boutique California wines, craft beers, and throwback cocktails. It's also a favorite destination for live music and drag performances, like Ross Mathew's "Dragtastic Bubbly Brunch".
From the same owners as Truss & Twine, Workshop Kitchen & Bar is farm to table seasonal through and through. From their James Beard-award winning interior design to their classic cocktail bar, it's our favorite spot in Palm Springs!
French
FARM is a Provencal-style restaurant with a menu comprised of traditional French dishes, brimming with locally sourced produce, eggs, and artisanal meats. It's a very popular spot for lunch and brunch, so get there early!
The name “French Miso Café” reflects the origin diversity of the owners Tomoko Jones and Eric Bovy. The result is an endearing setting where one can enjoy traditional Japanese and French cuisine at the same table. This place is as quality as it gets in Palm Springs – just be mindful of their limited hours.
Indian
Monsoon serves up a medley of flavorful Indian dishes like Chicken Curry Prawn Vindaloo and Malai Tikka, as well as vegetarian entrees like Mushroom Masala and Aloo Gobi.
Italian
Featuring the flavors of Northern Italy, Al dente Trattoria Toscana is a quaint cucina with a European atmosphere. We're still on the hunt for exceptional Italian food here in Palm Springs, but this one's our favorite so far.
Bill’s quest of making the best pizza possible led him to Italy and back exploring a wide range of pizza styles and techniques.
Sammy’s Place serves authentic Italian food in the Palm Springs area – the very best we've had in the valley so far! Their hours are limited to Thursdays - Sundays and they don't seem to have a website, but it's worth the trip.
Right in the heart of Palm Springs’ Fashionable Uptown Design District, Trio Restaurant aims to bring people together with timeless Italian-American fusion dishes and colorful décor. They also love actively giving back to the community, so that's a win in our book!
Mediterranean
With 2 locations in Palm Springs and one in Cathedral City, Santorini Gyro Restaurant serves up authentic Greek food as good as we always hope for.
Mexican
El Mirasol has built a reputation for consistently serving piping hot plates of artfully prepared Mexican regional cuisine and tangy flavorful margaritas in Palm Springs, California. Chef Felipe Castaneda serves up authentic versions of Mexican standards such as chile verde, shrimp pipian, and polo en mole poblano. We love starting with drinks next door at Dead or Alive Bar, then popping over to El Mirasol for a delicious dinner.
The same owners as FARM, Tac/Quila is their made-up word for combining gourmet Jalisco style cuisine with specialty tequilas and mezcals. Mexico’s artistry extends to its flavorful, colorful, and specialized cuisine.