Palm Springs Pride announces event lineup
Greater Palm Springs Pride Celebration organizersannounced the 27th annual festival’s event lineup today.
The Pride Celebration, scheduled for Oct. 30-Nov. 3, includes blockparties, same-sex weddings at the “Forever Marilyn” statue, a two-dayfestival and a downtown parade. The theme is “It’s Time.” The main block ofevents will be preceded by the Pride Honors Awards on Oct. 4.
The lineup includes:
— Pride Honors Awards: Oct. 4 at the Palm Springs Hyatt. Honorees arewriter and activist Tom Bianchi, author Katherine V. Forrest, Palm Springs CityCouncilwoman Ginny Foat, Lambda Legal, comedian Shann Carr, designerChristopher Kennedy, volunteers Michael Green, Stephen Boyd, Lucy Debardelabenand Gail Christian, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays co-presidents Carol and Mike Balasa, and filmmakers Katy and Sam Wilkerson.Tickets are $25 and $50, or $350 for a champagne table for four.
— LGBT Center concert: Oct. 30 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Abenefit concert for the LGBT Center of the Desert will be headlined byBroadway performer and “The Voice” contestant Frenchie Davis. Tickets are$100 or $85 for center members.
— Palm Springs Pride Golf Classic: Nov. 1 at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resortin Palm Springs. Four-player scramble, cost includes green fees, cart fees,breakfast and lunch buffet, prizes and a free instructional clinic. Entry is$99 per player, with $10 going to the Pride Fund.
— Broadway in Drag Pageant: Nov. 1 at Palm Canyon Theater in PalmSprings. Contestants will be judged on evening gown, talent and swimsuit.Admission is $35, $50 for VIP.
— Stonewall Equality Concert: Nov. 1 at 125 N. Palm Canyon Drive inPalm Springs. The free concert will celebrate the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in California, the repeal of DOMA and the progress toward equalityfor gays and lesbians since the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York. Genres spanBroadway, indie and jazz. Performers Irene Soderberg, the Gay Men’s Chorus ofPalm Springs, DJ Corey D, Doug Strahm and Arro Verse.
— Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays: Nov. 1 and 2 at theAnnenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum. The cast features localpersonalities and the show is directed by local producer Keith Coleman. Ticketsare $39 and $29.
— Uptown Design District Chill-out: Nov. 1 on Alejo Road and TachevahDrive. Art, shopping, food and music will be offered in a trendy area of PalmSprings.
— Pride Festival: Nov. 2 and 3 at Palm Springs Stadium. There will belive music, HIV/AIDS testing by the Desert AIDS Project and more than 125exhibitors and non-profits. Admission is $15 daily, $25 for a weekend pass, $10for those 60 and older, youth ages 12 to 18 and students with a current ID.
— Front Runners and Walkers 5k Run/Walk: Nov. 2 at Palm Springs HighSchool’s stadium. Entry is $25, $30 on race day. Discounted entry will beavailable for students and current members of Palm Springs Front Runners andWalkers.
— Free same-sex wedding ceremonies: Nov. 2, at the Marilyn Foreverstatue, Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs. Couples canbe married by an officiant between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., registration is requiredat www.palmspringsgayweddingplanners.com. Ceremonies will be followed by an“equality celebration” at 4:30.
— Pride Parade: Nov. 3, starts at West Baristo Road, goes north on PalmCanyon Drive to East Tamarisk Road. Roughly 50,000 spectators are expected towatch local organizations, activists and themed floats. Grand marshals areblogger Joe Jervis, organizers of Sochi Pride 2014 in Russia, televisionpersonality Ross Mathews and activists and volunteers Melanie Jones, EllenZimmerman, Mark Jones and Brian Vatcher.
Additionally, several parties are planned on Nov. 2 and 3.
For more information, go to www.pspride.org.
