Heading to Cathedral City's LGBT Days? Here's what to know about the weekend's festivities
Coachella Valley residents and visitors are celebrating Pride in Cathedral City this weekend.
From March 3 to 5, the city is hosting a series of events for its annual “LGBT Days” celebration. They include a film screening, drag brunch, bed race and tribute to the late actor Leslie Jordan, who had appeared at LGBT Days in the past.
Tickets to most events, some of which are free and some paid, can be reserved at CathedralCityLGBTdays.com.
Here is The Desert Sun’s guide on what to expect each day:
What’s happening Friday, March 3?
The Pride celebrations will kick off with a city hall lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.
This will be followed by a performance by local drag performer and host Angelique VaGorgeous and movie screening of “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater.
Ryan Hunt, the city's communication and events manager, recommended attendees dress warmly for the cold night, and bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs. He said no outside food or drinks are allowed. There will be food and drinks available for purchase at the event.
The screening is free, but you have to reserve a spot online.
After the film, around 9 p.m., there will be a drone show. Hunt said attendees won’t be able to view it from the amphitheater, so organizers will be moving people to the festival lawn and third floor of the parking structure, where visibility is better.
What’s happening Saturday, March 4?
LGBT Days is combining two favorite pastimes on Saturday: drag shows and brunch.
There will be a poolside drag brunch called “Bacon and Leggs” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Paloma Resort, a new hotel that opened in Cathedral City last year that features bright decor, a Spanish restaurant and a poolside bar.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at CathedralCityLGBTdays.com. This doesn't include food, and Hunt said people can purchase food from The Paloma Resort's menu.
Later that night, LGBT Days is paying tribute to Leslie Jordan at Mary Pickford is D’Place with shows at 4 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Film director Del Shores will be hosting, and there will be other guests like Newell Alexander and Ann Walker.
Tickets range from around $25 to $50.
What’s happening Sunday, March 5?
Cathedral City’s Pride is probably most well known for its Parade of Beds and bed race competition. It’ll take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. this year at Avenida Lalo Guerrero, by City Hall.
Hunt said some participants include city management, the city’s police and fire departments, and the Cathedral City Senior Center. The bed race involves a "bed" on wheels that people decorate and then have to push to race. People can still sign up to participate at CathedralCityLGBTdays.com.
There will also be performances by The Dreamboats, Palm Springs Gay Men’s Choir and others.
The Abbey, a famous gay bar, restaurant and club in West Hollywood, will take over hosting from 12 p.m. to around 4 p.m. in the same area. Hunt said they’ll be handling the entertainment and music for people to have fun after the bed races.
“We're hoping for a really good turnout and really excited to celebrate Cathedral City's diversity in our vibrant LGBTQ+ community and we'll hopefully see hundreds to thousands out here for LGBT Days this weekend,” Hunt said.
Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City. Reach her at ani.gasparyan@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Here's what to know about Cathedral City's LGBT Days this weekend
