Anderson .Paak, ‘Pump Rules’ Star James Kennedy, Set to Headline Neon Carnival, As Desert Party Returns for 13th Year
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Neon Carnival is back for another year in the desert, helping to kick off the start of festival season with a star-studded lineup.
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Grammy winner Anderson .Paak headlines this year’s party, which takes place Saturday, April 13 at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA. Fresh off a St. Patrick’s Eve party in New York City, Paak heads to the California Desert to entertain the late-night crowd under his DJ Pee Wee moniker. This year’s Neon Carnival performers also include viral TikTok sensation DJ Hunny Bee, and Vanderpump Rules star, DJ James Kennedy.
Brought to life by famed LA nightlife king Brent Bolthouse and producing partner Jeffrey Best, Neon Carnival returns for its 13th year as one of the marquee attractions during festival weekend. A strict, invite-only event, the party will once again feature three football fields of carnival-style games, bumper cars and Neon Carnival’s iconic light-up ferris wheel.
Partygoers will also be kept hydrated thanks to headlining sponsor Liquid I.V. and partner Patrón El Alto, the official tequila of the event. Custom Patrón cocktails will be served at bars throughout the venue, and VIP table service will be offered for the first-time, provided by Patrón and Levi’s.
Other sponsors for this year’s Neon Carnival include Ghost Energy, hairbrush company Tangle Teezer, LaCroix, Coca-Cola, Nütrl Vodka Seltzers, French bee Airlines, ApeCoin and Heineken, along with Path Water, who returns for their third year in a row.
Bolthouse says he’s excited to be back in the desert, especially with his good friend .Paak. “Last year we had Anderson spin for the opening of Bungalow in Long Beach and that’s where we really solidified our relationship with him,” Bolthouse tells Rolling Stone. “[Then] last summer, we had him in Santa Monica for our Night Market at Bungalow and we’ve continued to develop a great relationship with him and [he] loves DJing our places. He’s been a guest of Neon Carnival and loves coming to the festival, so it seemed like a natural fit to have him there to perform.”
As for what revelers can expect? “[Anderson] will be bringing his horn player and drum kit with him so it’s going to be a night you won’t want to miss,” Bolthouse teases. “It’s hard to believe that it has been 13 years of celebration and this year’s Neon Carnival is going to be one of the best line-ups that we have ever had.”
In addition to helping to kick off festival weekend, Neon Carnival is also one of the most star-studded events of the season — last year’s party brought out everyone from Camila Cabello and Metro Boomin, to Leonardo DiCaprio and Lil Nas X.
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