Summer is nearly here—and that means one of the Coachella Valley’s most poppin’ parties is nearly here, too.
Desertopia, a twice-a-year celebration of music, art and drag, returns for a fifth year this Memorial Day weekend. The festival combines pool-party fun, electronic music jams and, as the Desertopia’s socials detail, “queer desert magic.” Expect a safe space for all LGBTQ+ and allied attendees, on Friday, May 22, at Studio 4707; and Saturday, May 23, at The Sonoran.
During a recent phone interview, Desertopia co-creator Kevin Kauer explained how the event was formed, in collaboration with co-producer Anthony John.
“People come to Palm Springs from all over, and it’s such a great place to be for Pride and everything, but we didn’t really feel that there was an alternative option for people,” Kauer said. “It felt a little bit more one note or linear, and our backgrounds are more underground and diverse. We came up with Desertopia and then brought in Victor Rodriguez and Jerren Ronald (Perfect Lovers). They’re a married couple, and they do Bears in Space in L.A., and Por Detroit in L.A. and Mexico City, and all these kinds of things. We all just teamed up together to bring the vibe that we do to the desert. A lot of people moved there during COVID, so there were different ages and different backgrounds and that kind of thing, so it felt like it was a time that something new and kind of different needed to happen in the desert.”
Kauer said doing Desertopia has been “super-transformative.”
“We’re always in different locations and different venues, different hotels, different clubs, different non-venues that we’ve turned into venues—and it kind of keeps things nice and exciting and fun,” Kauer said. “There’s always a different experience. It’s indoor; it’s outdoor; it’s daytime; it’s nighttime; and it’s so many different things at once, and they’ve always just been really, really great, and packed with all different kinds of people. Our production value over the years just keeps going up.”
Kauer and his co-organizers strive to create an experience, not just a party, he said.
“It’s not just us opening the door and putting some DJ on and kind of forgetting about it; it’s really the full experience that people get,” Kauer said. “We have different things (attendees) can do during the parties, and it’s tied in with the experience of coming to Palm Springs and wanting to get the most out of your weekend. … We really take care of people from start to finish, and there’s a lot of talent and artistry that comes out with the music and the drag and everything.”
Desertopia has hopped around various locations in its five-year history, but has maintained a consistent relationship with The Sonoran, which featuring 38,000 square feet of outdoor event space, and some dynamic indoor offerings.
“The very first year, we did our Sunday daytime party at the Sonoran outside, and this last party was the first time we came back to their outside space for a daytime party,” Kauer said. “Pretty much every year, we’ve used the inside space. … That’s always been a favorite space of ours. It’s very unassuming, until you go inside and realize what a fun and dynamic space it is. We’ve always loved being there, and this last year, outside of the pool party, which we’re doing again, we were able to have a lot of space … for things a bit more carnival-esque—and waterslides.”
Last year, during Greater Palm Springs Pride, a Desertopia event was hosted in a new location, at 4707 E. Sunny Dunes Road. They’ll be returning to this space Memorial Day weekend for the Friday-night party.
“It’s an incredible space,” Kauer said. “It’s not like a club or anything. It used to be a showroom for some guy’s car collection, but it’s got this great indoor/outdoor experience where we’re able to do the music outside, kind of bleeding into the inside, and have open air. It’s a rare treat in Palm Springs because of the noise. Luckily, in the location they’re in, it’s doable and approved with the city, so we don’t have to worry about (noise), which is great.”
Kauer detailed each day’s entertainment offerings.
“(On Friday), we have Horse Meat Disco, which is just such a staple for us,” he said. “(We) have been working with Horse Meat for a couple of decades. It just always brings out everybody, and it’s super-fun music. Along with them, we have Father Figure, who’s our friend Mark from P-town, and he’s been holding down this party called FAGBASH there for 20 years or something. Everyone who moves around doing parties has been there and knows him and knows all the magic that he brings, so that pairing is really special.”
On Saturday, there will be an afternoon pool party, followed by an evening show with a variety of performers.
“Saturday night, we have x3butterfly, who lives in New York, but is from Detroit. We always want to have a good mixed lineup of different people, different locations, different backgrounds and different identities. We have me, Jerren and Victor; Sindri, a great disco DJ from L.A.; Flabbergast, an amazing drag queen; and DJ Naté. It’s really all over the place.”
Kauer promised that proceeds from Desertopia will go directly toward supporting the performers.
“Those tickets and everything that’s being bought is supporting queer artists, smaller artists, trans artists, POC artists,” he said. “A lot of very mixed, diverse people are on the ground working, so I think it’s nice to know that having that fun experience, and buying tickets, is really helping out a lot of artists.”
Desertopia will take place on Friday, May 22, at Studio 4707, at 4707 E. Sunny Dunes Road, in Palm Springs; and Saturday, May 23, at The Sonoran Palm Springs, at 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Unit B. Weekend passes start at $170, and single-event passes start at $80 for Friday; $60 for the Saturday pool party; and $65.01 for the evening event. Learn more at www.desertopia.party.
