Women hit the desert for Spring Break, Golf and Jazz
Thousands of queer women and their friends will head to Palm Springs for the infamous and largest lesbian party on the planet: The Dinah.
Lesbians and their friends will converge upon the desert resort town April 2 – 6.
Once known as the lesbian Spring Break, The Dinah has turned into a one of a kind women’s music and comedy festival celebrating women artists, and attracting more than 15,000 women to Palm Springs for a week-long celebration.
“The Dinah 2014 is already on its way to be the biggest one ever,” says Mariah Hanson, producer of The Dinah. “You haven’t seen anything like it yet!”
“There truly is no other place on earth like Palm Springs,” adds Mariah. “We couldn’t have picked a better city to host what has over the years become not only the biggest lesbian event in the world, but as well a Palm Springs signature event.”
This year will be no different. Hanson is particular proud of the entertainment she’s nabbed for the ladies.
Headlining The Dinah is Grammy Award-winning rapper Eve, Sapphic hit wonders Mary Lambert of the “Same Love” spin-off hit “She Keeps Me Warm,” and Tegan and Sara. They cap off a lineup of astonishing musical artists such as Antigone Rising and Australian rapper and fashionista Iggy Azalea, to name a few.
Fortune Feimster heads up the funny ladies Gina Yashere, Erin Foley and of course Suzanne Westenhoefer.
“It’s such a phenomenal line-up, most certainly one of the greatest in Dinah history,” says Mariah. “They’re all extraordinarily amazing, and I can’t wait to see them at The Dinah.”
New this year is the Battle of the DJs. Dinahites will get their groove on at the Saturday and Sunday main pool parties as the spinstresses battle it out for the top honor.
Mariah is particularly proud of the philanthropic events, the Celebrity Poker Tournament and The Dinah Film Festival, where 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign and the featured filmmakers.
“I’m just very honored and grateful to have the opportunity year after year to be producing The Dinah,” says Mariah.
It’s been 24 years since the party “really got started,” meaning expanded beyond house parties hosted alongside the Ladies Professional Golf Association tournament originally sponsored by the late Dinah Shore. Dinah was an avid golfer and supporter of women golfers, but no one knows how she felt about lesbians hijacking her name and event, turning it into the biggest all-girl party in the world.
The Kraft Nabisco Championship took over sponsoring the event decades ago, but in 1994 it finally did away with Dinah’s name after her death.
She lives on at the Mission Hills Country Club, where a statue of Dinah surrounded by flowers punctuates the list of plaques of women golf greats … oh and the debaucherous parties all in the name of celebrating women.
Yet, in recent years – especially after the bitter breakup between promoter powerhouses Club Skirts’ Mariah and Girl Bar’s Robin Gans and Sandy Sachs that promoted the original Dinah Shore Weekend in 2006, The Dinah has matured beyond its “lesbian Spring Break” image into a women’s festival to contend with, and the golf tournament has turned into a world-class sporting event.
The Dinah has attracted emerging breakout stars such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Pussy Cat Dolls, and Fortune, just to name-drop a few. At the same time, The Dinah has remained true to its roots, hosting an incredible line up of Sapphic entertainment, such as Hunter Valentine and Uh Huh Her. Celesbians who walk the red carpet at the signature parties also hang out and mingle with guests around the pool parties during the day.
This year, Mariah is particularly proud of the diversity in the entertainment featuring artists Thea Austin to Evelyn “Champagne” King and hosting the traditional parties and comedy shows to producing the second year of The Dinah Film Festival.
Dinah in Color
Last year, The Dinah got a little bit of competition with the first-ever Women’s Jazz Festival that put a little color into the traditionally mostly white event that brought out 1,000 women to Palm Springs.
The women’s musical event produced by Jazz artists Sweet Baby J’ai and Lucy and Gail Productions, which has produced women’s music and other events in Palm Springs for a decade, showcases a diverse set of women jazz musicians.
The festival is back again this year, during The Dinah, with a lineup of 45 performers for a four-day outdoor music festival. Sweet Baby J’ai, the artistic director of the Women’s Jazz Festival, anticipates that this year will turn out double the number of women from last year’s attendance, she said.
“The lineup is incredible. There is a little something for everyone,” says Sweet Baby J’ai, a lesbian.
“This is another arm of Dinah Weekend,” she adds. “Hear some music and chill out,” to concerts ranging from contemporary Jazz to Hip Hop.
Unlike The Dinah, whose primary audience is in their 20s and early 30s, the Women’s Jazz Festival attracts women in their 30s and older, says Sweet Baby J’ai, who says she has her own memories of her crazy and wild days at The Dinah during her 20s.
The tournament, which expects 115 of the world’s top women golfers from approximately 28 countries, also offers events for golf fans such as lessons with the pros and the world’s longest putt.
Palm Springs definitely has a little something for every lezzie and their friends: golf, parties and great all-girl entertainment.
Tickets for The Dinah are $10 – $269, depending on the event.
Tickets for the Women’s Jazz Festival are $15 – $75, depending on the event.
Tickets for the Kraft Nabisco Championship are $16 – $625, depending on the event.
Dinah Events
Mon, Mar 31 – Sun, Apr 6
The Kraft-Nabisco Championship @ Palm Springs
A world class golf tournament that will attact upward of 115 of the world’s top women golfers from an estimated 28 countries will take to the green vying for a place in sporting history in Palm Springs. $16 – $625, depending on the event. Mission Hills Country Club, 34-600 Mission Hills Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. 760-324-9400
760-324-9400. www.kncgolf.com
Wed, Apr 2 – Sun, Apr 6
The Dinah @ Palm Springs
The largest all-girl party in the world is back with award-winning musicians, celebrity comedians, and of course celesbians walking the red carpet affairs. You don’t want to miss the debauchery happening in the desert during The Dinah! $10 – $269, depending on the event. See schedule for event times and locations. 888-92Dinah or (34624). . http://thedinah.com
Wed, Apr 2 – Sun, Apr 6
The Women’s Jazz Festival @ Palm Springs
Celebrate women in jazz at the largest Women’s Jazz Festival on the West Coast. $10 – $269, depending on the event. See schedule for event times and locations. 760-416-3545760-416-3545. . http://pswomensjazzfestival.com
Originally published by the Bay Area Reporter.
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