Pride at the (Indio) Park
Celebrate love, acceptance and music in downtown Indio! At 6 p.m., Saturday, June 13, the city of Indio will host Indio’s Pride Celebration at Center Stage, at 82881 Miles Ave. While the Coachella Valley is home to various pride festivals, most of those events are outside of June, aka Pride Month. Indio is out to help change that, and is hosting an evening of entertainment and community. Catch sets from indie pop group Ju!ian + the Band (pictured, who will be featuring local drag performers in their set), psychedelic Latin act Giselle Woo and the Night Owls, and Mexican folk group Mariachi Arcoíris. Explore vendors; spread lovel and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community! The event is free. For more information, visit www.instagram.com/cityofindio. —Matt King
Take the World-Famous Stage
A world-famous open-mic night has returned! After a long hiatus, Open Mic Night is back at Pappy and Harriet’s, at 53688 Pioneertown Road, in Pioneertown. Both local artists and world-class musicians have made the iconic venue’s open mic series a smash hit, as the event has featured drop-ins by everyone from Robert Plant to Ke$ha. Desert Nick is the newest host of the series, and he welcomes creatives in all mediums to join the illustrious list of stars to grace the Pioneertown Palace’s stage. Sign-ups are from 6 to 7 p.m., every Monday, and performances run from 7 to 10 p.m. If you’re looking to perform, it’s three songs, or 15 minutes max, per act. The event is free! For more information, visit pappyandharriets.com. —Matt King
Still Recovering
A year and a half ago, the Eaton Fire devastated a community. No Water No Rescue, a new documentary from filmmaker Stephanie Cunningham-Strange, digs into the aftermath of the fire that tore through Altadena on Jan. 7, 2025, leaving destruction, grief and a long recovery process that continues to this day. A benefit screening takes place at the Mizell Center, at 480 S. Sunrise Way, in Palm Springs, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 17. The film explores both the human toll of the fire and the complicated realities communities are facing afterward. The screening is a preview event and feedback opportunity, before the documentary moves toward eventual distribution. Tickets are $25. Click here to learn more and purchase tickets. —Charles Drabkin
A Queen of Latin Music
At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 17, there’s going to be a lot of hip-shaking taking place in Palm Desert, as Shakira takes the stage at Acrisure Arena, at 75702 Varner Road. Known for global anthems like the 2010 World Cup theme “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the ferocious disco-pop gem “She Wolf” and the dance-y “Hips Don’t Lie,” Shakira has spent decades dominating charts with both Spanish and English tunes. Her set at Acrisure Arena is set to be filled with choreography and countless catchy songs. Tickets as of this writing start at $196.40. For tickets and more information, visit acrisurearena.com. —Matt King
The Best Medicine
As America continues to stress-test itself daily, we need to remember that laughter is a form of resistance. Ralph Porter is here to help, as he headlines the Juneteenth Comedy Showcase at the Agua Caliente Palm Springs, at 401 E. Amado Road, at 7 p.m., Friday, June 19, bringing a lineup of Black comedians to the Cascade Lounge. Porter has shared stages with everyone from Sinbad to Tiffany Haddish while developing a style that mixes easygoing charisma with observant humor. The show is 21 and over; the space has a full bar, and while no food is served in the Cascade Lounge, you are welcome to bring in eats from the casino’s restaurants. Tickets are just $23.17; get them and learn more here. —Charles Drabkin
The Importance of Gathering
The Sunset Music and Education Foundation is commemorating Juneteenth with A Celebration of Freedom, Culture and Community, taking place at Revolution Stage Company, at 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 20. Hosted by local favorite Sweet Baby J’ai (pictured), the free event brings together musicians, poets, speakers, visual artists and students for an afternoon of storytelling, jazz, cultural presentations and community conversation. The afternoon is meant to be both a celebration and a reminder that creating spaces for culture, history and shared experiences matters, especially at a moment when everything seems to fragile. The event is free, but the organizers ask you to reserve a space by clicking here. For more information, visit sunsetmusic.org. —Charles Drabkin
Farewell to a Musician and a Venue
The frontwoman of an adored desert band is moving away, and is saying goodbye with a farewell music and art show. At 6 p.m., Saturday, June 20, local groovy grunge band Lazuli Bones will present Out of Gas, hosted at the Oasis on Miles, at 82713 Miles Ave., in Indio. This will be the band’s last show for a while, as singer/songwriter and guitarist Madison Ebersole is leaving the desert and heading to Kentucky. The show will also serve as a showcase of Ebersole’s artistic creations. Space in Sound and June and the Tax Evaders are set to open the show—which is one of the last events scheduled at the Oasis on Miles. Tickets are $10 at the door, and proceeds will go toward Ebersole’s moving expenses. For more information, visit www.instagram.com/lazulibones. —Matt King
A Tall Father’s Day
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, at 47900 Portola Ave, in Palm Desert, is celebrating Father’s Day with … giraffes? From 7 to 9 a.m., Sunday, June 21 (with the last entrance at 8:30 a.m.), guests can get early access to the Giraffe Savanna Habitat to celebrate World Giraffe Day—which overlaps Father’s Day this year. Attendees can enjoy interactive learning stations, enter a raffle for an exclusive experience at the zoo’s Giraffe Care and Conservation Center, and, if properly dressed in giraffe-inspired fashion, get a 2-for-1 deal to feed the giraffes! (Closed-toed shoes are required.) The event, other than the giraffe-feedings, is free with museum membership or paid admission, which is $44.95 for adults, and $34.95 for children; kids 3 and under are admitted for free. Learn more and get tickets at www.livingdesert.org. —Charles Drabkin
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