White Party brings business off the beaten path

Thousands wearing their best whites are coming here to Palm Springs, set out for a weekend packed with music and dancing for the 28th Annual Jeffrey Sanker White Party.

“Palm Springs is part of the whole world. It’s a place for people to be open and free and it’s just been so accepting for us,” White Party Founder Jeffrey Sanker said.

For businesses in downtown Palm Springs, business is booming. But this event’s crowd, caters to some businesses a little off the beaten path.

“It’s exciting. They bring good energy. People are just coming in town looking to have a good time,” Bongo Johnny’s Patio Bar and Grille owner Robb Wirt said.

Wirt said the small patch of businesses on Arenas Road gets an influx during the event. For his business, he said each year, he stocks up.

“We definitely see a boost. Obviously, a lot of people in town so we order a lot of hamburgers and staff accordingly,” Wirt said.

As the season winds down, businesses know this is the last chance to cash in on high-value crowds until Memorial Day.

“It brings people specifically at a time when it’s pretty warm and the season is starting to calm down. It brings thousand and thousands of tourists and obviously thousands and thousands of tourists bring their wallets and that’s what’s good for our economy,” Palm Springs City Councilor J.R. Roberts said.

The White Party is a gay dance festival that brings in more than 30,000 people to downtown Palm Springs for a three-day event featuring eight parties.