Palm Springs Cultural Center introduces Filipino Festival, return of music, film series
A brand-new festival celebrating Filipino culture, a variety of live theater shows and thrilling movies are just some of the events local residents can expect to see during the Palm Springs Cultural Center's 2023-24 season.
Whether locals or visitors are looking for fresh strawberries or other produce at the popular Original Palm Springs Certified Farmers' Market, or they're hoping to hang out and listen to music at the VIP Lounge, there's something for everyone to look forward to.
Experience a new festival in the valley
The first Coachella Valley Filipino Festival will be a celebration of the local Filipino-American community's culture and heritage on Sunday, Oct. 8.
The family-friendly festival, which will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature:
A variety of Southern California food vendors specializing in Filipino cuisine
Live music and dance performances from internationally known acts, local performers and special appearances by Manny the Movie Guy and Mrs. Asia USA California Wendy Lindo
A cultural marketplace featuring crafts that reflect Filipino culture, as well as artist exhibitions and cultural demonstrations
Family-friendly activities for people of all ages
Festival-themed cocktails that will be served at an outdoor bar
Educational opportunities to learn about the rich history and significant contributions of the Filipino-American community in the region
"Our vision for putting CVFF together was to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where people from all parts of the Coachella Valley could experience some of the best aspects of Filipino culture, such as our food, music, dance, and history," Michael Milan, chair of the planning committee, said. "We also envisioned a space where generations of local Filipinos could come together and share a sense of pride and community while celebrating Filipino heritage."
The Cultural Center is working with the Filipino American National Historical Society Orange County/Inland Empire chapter to create an educational exhibit about farm laborer Larry Itliong and Filipino contributions to the farm movement, such as the grape workers strike in Coachella in 1965.
Among the artist exhibitions, Everette Solomon (also known online as Jev Pic) will display photography from a recent trip to the Philippines he made after discovering his Filipino descent. The event will also feature an activity space and photography display from The Artlands, and Adam Labuen Garcia, who created the festival logo, will be participating as a vendor and selling prints of his work.
Cultural demonstrations will include a Filipino martial arts demonstration by Pamana Kali, a dance performance with educational narration featuring traditional cultural dance from the northern part of the Philippines by Kayamanan Ng Lahi, a cultural dance from the southern part of the Philippines by the Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble and a lecture/musical performance featuring indigenous instruments by Bo Razon.
A number of local Filipino-American community leaders representing a variety of organizations have collaborated on the upcoming festival, including Bayanihan Desert, National Alliance of Filipino Americans, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association.
Wind down at the VIP Lounge
Get ready to swing and groove with jazz musicians, Broadway icons and rising stars during the fall season at the VIP Lounge.
Enjoy familiar voices and new talents every Sunday through Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. Everything from Broadway hits to bluegrass to jazz will be showcased during the fall and winter months. This year's lineup includes:
Keisha D. on Sundays: Keisha D. and her live band will take audience members on a soulful song-filled journey
Mon Petit Salon on Mondays: Violin virtuoso Jeremie Levi and a rotating roster of band members and special guest performers will take the stage
Leanna and the Jazz Collective on Tuesdays: Leanna and the Jazz Collective, with Miguel on congas and a rotating roster of jazz musicians, will bring a feel-good vibe each week
The Mod Squad Variety Show on Wednesdays: An evening of musical hijinks and hilarity awaits with the Mod Squad Variety Show. Hosts Jeff Stewart, Francesca Amari and Wayne Abravane will feature unique arrangements of mid-century pop music, Rat Pack-era tunes, classic oldies and more
Americana Open Mic and Pro Showcase on Thursdays: The Wildflowers, featuring Dede Ondishko on fiddle and piano and Boo Rigney on guitar, kick things off. An open mic set will follow, with signups beginning at 5 p.m. Eight slots are available. Afterward, the evening will end with a professional guest showcase.
Tickets cost $10, while the Americana Open Mic and Pro Showcase costs $12. They can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/VIPLoungeTickets. A full bar and drink specials also await.
Palm Spring Farmers Market returns outdoors
Slightly cooler weather outside means the Original Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market is back outdoors beginning this Saturday.
Through the end of May, the outdoor farmers market will be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. New and familiar vendors will be on the grounds selling fresh produce, flowers and other items.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be entering another outdoor season and welcoming back our community," Executive Director Michael Green in a statement. "Your support has been our driving force for nearly 15 years, and we can't wait to continue sharing the bounty of our region with you. Here's to another season of growing together."
Get your fright on with Terror Tuesdays
Horror fans will have a few more thrills to get them in the spooky mood in October with the Cultural Center's film revival series PS Rewinds: Terror Tuesdays.
Each week, the theater will show an iconic horror movie on the big screen. Screenings take place at 7 p.m. and the lineup includes:
"An American Werewolf in London" on Oct. 3
"The Shining" on Oct. 10
"Scream" on Oct. 17
"Poltergeist" on Oct. 24
"Night of the Living Dead" on Oct. 31
"We're so excited to celebrate Halloween all month long with the Palm Springs Rewinds audience," series programmer Lauren Wolfer said in a statement. "This is a chance for movie lovers to revisit their favorites in a way that only PS Rewinds can deliver."
Tickets can be purchased for $12 at https://tinyurl.com/2w9zwxu7
Theater all season long
If you need a little live theater in your life, there's plenty that the Cultural Center will offer.
The second season of The Bent, a Coachella Valley LGBTQ theater company, will feature five new shows. The season kicks off Oct. 13 through 28 with Moises Kaufman's "Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde." Other shows include "Last Summer at Bluefish Cove" by Jane Chamber (Nov. 1-4), "It's Only a Play" by Terrance McNally (Nov. 24-Dec. 10), "The New Century" by Paul Rudnick (Feb. 8-18) and "The Inheritance (Part One)" by Matthew Lopez (April 26-May 12). Tickets cost $40, and a season pass is available for $175. Visit www.thebent.org for more information.
Desert Ensemble Theatre actors will also be hitting the stage for the 2023-2024 season at the Cultural Center. The lineup includes Singing with the Desert Stars to benefit its theatre education and scholarship program (Oct. 6), "Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties" by Jen Silverman (Nov. 10–12 and 17–19), "The Lifespan of a Fact" by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell (Jan. 26–28 and Feb. 2–4), the world premiere of "Ellie" by Bruce Bonafede (March 8–10 and 15–17) and "Sherlock Holmes Confidential" by Tony Padilla (April 12–14 and 19–21). Tickets cost $37.50, while a season pass costs $135. Visit www.desertensembletheatre.org/shows for more information.
Additionally, audiences will be able to catch the latest works by Inner Circle Arts Society, a Black-owned arts group created by playwright and actor Joachim Moore. Original works include "HEART!" (Dec. 14-17), "The Recorded Story of Nat King Cole" (Dec. 22-31), "Sacred Obligation" (Feb. 21-29), "MedgarX’nJames" (Feb. 23-March 2), "Mr. Joseph; A Southeastern Camping Legend" (May 16-19) and "Halas Powyźej" (May 23-26). Tickets cost $35. Visit https://psculturalcenter.org/pscc/live-theatre for more information.
AI and cinema meet
Artificial intelligence has been a hot-topic issue in media the last few years, and the Cultural Center is giving audience members a cinematic voyage into the world of high-tech sci-fi.
Wolfer said she curated the Machine Dreams series of films about AI with the help of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, and each film will be introduced by the chatbot via an AI video. The lineup includes:
"Blade Runner" on Oct. 5
"Ex Machina" on Oct. 12
"The Terminator" on Oct. 19
"Her" on Oct. 26
"The Matrix" on Nov. 2
"Ghost in the Shell" on Nov. 9
"Wargames" on Nov. 16
"A.I. Artificial Intelligence" on Dec. 7
Attendees can purchase an all-access pass for the Machine Dreams series for $65. Individual tickets cost $12. Visit https://tinyurl.com/MachineDreamsTickets for more information. Showtimes are at 7 p.m.
To learn more about all these events and others, visit https://psculturalcenter.org/pscc
The Palm Springs Cultural Center is located at 2300 E. Baristo Road.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 6 events to attend at the Palm Springs Cultural Center this season
