THE INDIO DATE FESTIVAL

During the annual INDIO DATE FESTIVAL AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR, held in Indio, the entire city springs into action with a week of activities and entertainment. An Arabian-themed play is held every night, world class entertainment comes to the town of 50,000+ residents, and livestock, camel races, beauty pageant queens and a huge carnival all keep locals focused on fun. 

Opening ceremony includes blessing of the dates, and award-winning Arabian Nights Musical Pageant starting at 6:15 p.m. at the Pageant Stage. An entertaining show that mingles contemporary humor with classic folklore, magic and mystery are at the heart of “Aladdin and the Heart of Agrabah”.

Also arriving on the first day are the Llamas, Dairy Goats, Poultry.  Opening Ceremony & Blessing of the Dates at 9:30am; Camel & Ostrich Races at 11am & 3pm – Arena; WGAS Motorsports Monster Trucks at 8pm – Arena and Carnival rides from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Affordable admission makes this event a great family outing and draws California vacationers and beach dwellers from as far away as 100 miles.

Location: Indio is located about 70 miles east of Palm Springs or 125 miles east of Los Angeles in Riverside County.  

Riverside County Fairgrounds

82-503 Hwy 111, Indio, CA 92201. Call: (800) 811-FAIR or (760) 863-8247. WWW.datefest.org

Presented by the City of Rancho Mirage and the Recreation Commission, the event celebrates the love of art and life in the greater Palm Springs area.  Festival coordinator, Diana Beck smiles as she reflects on how the quality of the exhibits as well as the popularity of the show increases exponentially every year. 

Casually walking through the peaceful, fresh, park setting you will find ceramics, sculpture, textiles, glasswork, watercolor and oil painting, metalwork, photography, and mixed media projects. Many of the same artists return to the Rancho Mirage show every November with great pleasure.  

Painter Jim Stallings, whose clients include individual and corporate collectors from every state and around the world shares that he looks forward to seeing all the friends he has made here over the years.

Complimenting the extensive collection of local, regional and national artists are the live jazz performances center stage. This years performances included LORI ANDREWS, solo harpist. Lori and her quartet have a unique style and sound that enchanted new listeners and veteran fans alike. Lori performed award winning hits from her latest CD release, “After Hours.

 Also performing was NILS, in a return engagement. After wowing the crowd in 2006 with smooth grooves from his CD “Pacific Coast Highway”, Nils presented  his newest release, “Up Close and Personal”.

The Rancho Mirage Art Affaire is a family occasion. Kids and grownups alike will find the creativity and whimsy of the very popular  MAD HATTER paper hat artist irritable.  Streamers, sequins, wild feathers and tons of glue are in great supply as Dads, Grandparents and kids work side by side to create their version of the “best Hat.” The play station is FREE and your creation is yours to keep forever.

Look for information about the 2010 Festival.  Although a year away, mark your calendars so you don’t miss this desert destination treat!!

RANCHO MIRAGE ART AFFAIRE

 Set along the San Andreas fault, the preserve is dotted with beautiful standing ponds, Fan Palm oases including  including the Willis, Hidden Horseshoe, and Indian Palms and is home to many endangered species like the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard and the Pupfish.

Join Christopher Baker, travel writer, as he takes us on a quick tour.

 The Coachella Valley Preserve system was designed to protect and endemic, threatened animal, the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, found nowhere else in the world, this lizard is a member of a rich array of organisms specialized to live on sand dunes

Desert sand dunes harbor one of the most species rich communities found in our southwestern deserts.

There is fewer than 5% of that habitat remaining in viable condition. Over the years, the lure of mild winter temperatures and beautiful scenery has resulted in an explosion of human development.

As canyons filled with houses, development pushed into the valley’s center, blocking the vital sand movement processes that keep the dunes alive. Today the majority of the remaining, viable dune habitat is contained in the Coachella Valley Preserve system.

On any given day you may see a Coyote, Roadrunner, rabbits, a Rattlesnake and yes, if you are lucky the elusive Fringe-toed Lizard!

 There are over 20,000 acres of pristine desert landscape protected within the preserve with miles and miles of nicely marked trails for hiking and exploring.

Get a map at the Visitors Center and you will find a trail perfectly suited to your fitness level. 

 Hiking from the rustic visitors center to the top of Vista Point takes you through two of the major Palm groves and gives you an overall perspective of the vast desert dunes.

For a wonderful day hike for the entire family, plan an early morning departure.  Bring a light jacket for potential weather changes, and while in the desert, always remember to carry sunscreen and plenty of water.

There is so much more to the Palm Springs desert resorts area than wonderful restaurants, world class golf, gorgeous pools and non stop shopping. Take a day, hop in the car and explore what nature has to offer. It’s spectacular!

    For more information visit:

COACHELLA VALLEY PRESERVE

THE LIVING DESERT IS ALL THIS and so much more.

A single word could not begin to describe all that The Living Desert is and does. One must string words together, like beads: zoo and endangered species conservation center – botanical gardens – natural history museum – wilderness park – nature preserve – education center. The thread that holds all the beads together is the word “desert.” 

The Living Desert, located in the town of Palm Desert, California, provides a one-stop opportunity to explore all the great American deserts and learn about their plants and animals. The Living Desert occupies 1,200 acres of the California Desert, 200 of which are developed as a zoo, botanical garden and natural history museum.

 A visit to the Living Desert and Gardens is an opportunity to see remarkable native plants, animals and the natural landscape of the Palm Desert area. 

A walk along the well manicured winding paths brings you up close to desert flora and fauna in a natural setting.  You feel as though you are walking through a natural landscape. 

Meet over  400 different species, including Mexican wolves, bobcats and falcons. Visit the outdoor theater that offers live presentations twice a day.  Don’t miss the Butterfly and Hummingbird compound or the enormous model train exhibit that defies your imagination.

THE MODEL TRAIN EXHIBIT IS WORLD CLASS.

Throughout the year, The Living Desert is host to several annual events. WILD LIGHTS in December is a family tradition for many locals. Hundreds of thousands of lights decorate the trees and walkways creating a wonderland of light and color. Hot cocoa, chili and toasted marshmallows are served with a background of music and entertainment.  HOWL-O-WEEN is celebrated 2 nights each year with vendor booths and treats for children. 

A highlight to anyone’s visit to the Palm Springs area, The Living Desert is a great outing for the entire family

THE LIVING DESERT 47900 Portola Dr. Palm Desert CA 760 346 5694

http://www.livingdesert.org

The INDIAN WELLS GOLF COURSE rivals any private course in California as does the Palm Desert public course known as DESERT WILLOW.

For the player just learning the game or those looking for economy, CIMARRON GOLF in Cathedral City and INDIAN SPRINGS in Indio are both great choices.

Locals as well as vacationing golfers will always find a challenging round at either one of two Indio courses; EAGLE FALLS Course adjacent to Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino or TERRA LAGO agjacent to the WorldMark Timeshare Resort in Indio.

The city of La Quinta has spared no expense when designing their public course, SILVER ROCK. It is a gem of a course with views and surrounding landscapes that will make it hard to concentrate on the dificult play at hand. As one of the longer courses in the desert, it caters to several levels of play and truly gives the seasoned golfer a memorable round.

There are numerous semi private and private Country Club golf courses throughout the Palm Springs Desert resorts area. Many offering play privileges to select Resorts and Hotels. Every Hotel, Resort and Timeshare has a complete list of courses with pricing and availability. Check with your concierge for specific details.

There are a multitude of first class venues throughout the Palm Springs-Desert Resorts area offering everything from big name headliner entertainment to small, sophisticated cultural performances. From the wonderfully intimate Annenburg Theater adjacent to the Palm Springs Museum of Art to the high energy, star studded main stage at Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino you will certainly find a venue and show to suite your taste any time of the year!

Follow BeHereTV for up to the minute performance and live entertainment information.

Greet the sun or bid it farewell as you drift in beautiful desert skies.

Hot air ballooning in the desert is one of the most peaceful experiences you could possibly hope for. While floating effortlessly in one of our colorful hot air  balloons, you will view breathtaking  vistas of some of the most picturesque landscapes in California. Vineyards, polo fields, world famous golf courses, and exotic orchards are just a few of the unbelievable sights you will experience.  Your flight direction is determined by the breeze.

Your pilot will give a guided tour as well as serving your champagne and cookies, while you are in the air. During the first few minutes, you will receive a guided tour of the valley.  Your picture will be captured during the celebration and attached to your flight certificate before your leave. 

BALLOON ABOVE THE DESERT

83232 E   44th  Ave  Indio
Call for reservations:   760   247-0410

A premier fine arts festival attracting thousands annually. The Indian Wells Arts Festival brings a splash of color to the beautiful grass concourse of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

This spectacular venue transforms into an artisan village featuring 200 judged and juried artists and hundreds of pieces of one-of-a-kind artwork available for sale.

Watch Glass Blowing, Monumental Rock Sculpting, Wood Carving, Pot Throwing, Weaving and Mural Painting. Glass, Beadmaking and Canvas Stretching Demonstations ALL DAY!

Wine Tasting, Gourmet Market, Children’s Activities, Entertainment and Refreshment add to the festival atmosphere.

TICKETS
Adults – $10 at the gate
Children 12 & Under – FREE
10am – 5:30pm - Gates Close 4:30pm
FREE Parking - Valet Available

 For more information, please visit our website at www.indianwellsartsfestival.com

or call 760.346.0042

78200 Miles Avenue – Indain Wells Tennis Gardens
Indain Wells, CA 92210

 The BEST OF THE WEST JET RALLY is something you have to see to believe. Model airplanes that transend a “hobby” to being more of an obsession of the grown up guys that fly them.

The saying “Big Toys for Big Boys”  is very evident as you listen to the  model jet plane owners and pilots discuss their collections of $10,000-$50,000. planes.

See for yourself. From a distance, you will not believe the jets you are watching perform tricks are pint size models worth thousands!!

For more information go to:

A landmark botanical garden that has been delighting Palm Springs visitors for more than 60 years.

Meet Clark Moorten who will give you a personal tour of the “World’s First Cactarium,” a garden that includes 3,000 fine examples of desert cacti and other desert plants. 

A fascinating diversion from your typical resort vacation day: Visit this amazing garden of exotic Cactus and you will never look at those prickly plants the same. If you see Mr. Moorton himself, you may even be lucky enough to get a personal tour. At the very least he will give a great story or two about this most unique collection.

MOORTON BONTANICAL GARDENS

1701 South Palm Canyon Drive   Palm Springs, CA 92264
 

760 327 6555