The Desert Art Festival finds a new home

A long running Palm Springs art festival held on different weekends throughout the year at Frances Stevens Park in Palm Springs has a new home at The River in Rancho Mirage.

The City of Rancho Mirage approved permits on Friday for March 7-8 weekend.

After the City of Palm Springs denied the festival's permits in March, organizers decided The River to make its new home for the event.

“oh I am thrilled," said Linda Axelrod from Rancho Mirage.

“I love it, and its close to the neighborhood, I am very excited," said Axelrod.

She's not alone.

Marsha Battista also chiming on the excitement for the new location . 

“I think its exciting and we look forward to coming, the parking will be easier," said Battista.

Battista said she's happy its now in her neighborhood.

“Its very convenient we’re just down the road," said Battista.

But for John Mornini from Palm Springs, he's heartbroken about the change.

“Well I am sad because its leaving Palm Springs but this will be a beautiful place to have to have it but I really feel strongly that it should remain in Palm Springs," said Mornini.

Organizers said The River and the City of Rancho Mirage extended an invitation to host the event in their town, approving permits on Friday.

The city released a statement to News Channel 3.

The City of Rancho Mirage was made aware the California Fine Art Festival was moving on February 24. The River in Rancho Mirage is an important dining and entertainment development and we are hopeful this event has a positive impact. We look forward to learning more about the future plans of the team at West Coast Artists/California Fine Art Festivals and look forward to a successful event on March 7-8, 2020. --Gabe Codding, Director of Marketing for City of Rancho Mirage

 "Extremely excited we just can’t wait for it and to have more them come in and they are thinking about doing more than just the one so it’ll be another one coming up soon," said Annemarie Campbell, Director of Events at The River.

Organizers and property management at The River teamed up creating a map of the event for March detailing where vendors will be placed throughout the venue.

“Some changes we added to it all the artists are still there, they’re still putting up stuff and we’re just adding some music on Saturday," said Campbell.