Oct. 31 Daily Briefing: Pride planning, toy drive coming, band taking tree orders, and more

Happy Halloween, everyone! While there may not be as many trick-or-treaters as there used to be in our neighborhoods, it’s still worth mentioning that when darkness falls tonight you’ll want to be extra alert for pedestrians. If you’re driving, please slow down, and if you’re heading out to a party, please don’t drive impaired. If you’re still looking for something to do tonight, we hit a few of the highlights in our calendar section below. 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Monster Mash” by Bobbie ‘Boris’ Pickett and The Crypt Kickers

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LEADING OFF

Preparing for Pride, city leaders tout safe, welcoming atmosphere

If all goes well later this week, nobody will notice the small army it takes to make Palm Springs Pride a success. Organizers wouldn’t have it any other way.

Driving the news: Monday morning, two days before the official start of this year’s five-day event, city officials, civic and business leaders, and board members of Greater Palm Springs Pride gathered in the Arenas District to speak about how they’re preparing for this year’s event and what it means to the city.

What they’re saying: “Pride to us means something that is more than just an event,” said Dean Lavine, owner of Blackbook, a popular bar just steps away from where the gathering took place. “… We’re grateful and thankful that we have the love and support of the entire community.”

Zoom in: The event is supported by not only taxpayer dollars, but donations and volunteers from throughout the Coachella Valley.

• Those volunteers will fill 700 different shifts during the five-day celebration. Law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions will also be present to ensure security. 

Bigger picture: The Pride event, which started modestly with 15,000 attendees, now attracts over 150,000 people, making it the largest free Pride festival south of San Francisco.

• The economic benefit of Pride is estimated to be over $25 million, although a full study has not been conducted.

Bottom line: “It’s important to have a welcoming feel,” said Mayor Grace Garner. “Palm Springs is a welcoming community, and a welcoming and safe place for people all over the world to come.”

Read our complete story here.

BRIEFLY

🎁 Legion Auxiliary plans toy drive

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 519 will soon be launching its annual “Parents As Heroes” toy drive, aiming to collect 1,200 new, unwrapped toys for families in need this holiday season.

• The toy drive will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 1, with drop-off locations at The American Legion (400 North Belardo Rd.), The Purple Room (1900 East Palm Canyon Dr.), and elsewhere.
  
  
• The collected toys will be organized into a “Toy Bank,” where parents can select gifts for their children at no cost. The Toy Bank, which is an adults only event, will be open from Dec. 7 through Dec. 11.
  
  
• Details: For more information on the toy drive or toy bank, to donate, or to volunteer to assist, contact Danielle at 760-910-3830 or Darci at 858-722-5226. Location and times for the Toy Bank can be found here.

🎾 Tennis event benefits local nonprofit

The Desert Tennis Association (DTA) is set to donate proceeds from its upcoming Palm Springs Open to the AAP – Food Samaritans’ (AAP) food voucher program, supporting low-income Coachella Valley residents with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses.

• The international tennis tournament attracts more than 300 LGBTQ players worldwide. It is scheduled to take place on Thanksgiving weekend, from Nov. 24 to 26.
  
  
• Among the highlights are a player’s party featuring a silent auction and raffle benefitting AAP at Reforma in Palm Springs at 7 PM on Saturday, November 25. Since 2006, DTA has donated more than $180,000 to AAP.
  
  
• Details: Tennis matches at various locations throughout the valley are free to attend. For more information, turn here.

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TODAY’S EVENTS

Garstin Trail Hike
9 a.m. | Bogart Trail at Barona Road
Join the Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer docent and hike the Garstin Trail. A suggested tax-deductible donation of $5 per person is appreciated and encouraged to support volunteer programs.

Halloween Carnival
4 p.m. until 7 p.m. | Desert Highland Unity Center
Join in on the fun. It’s only $1 for haunted house entry and $1 for entry to the carnival.

‘Bite’ Killer Prom Dinner
7 p.m. | PS Underground
Attend a frightfully fantastic evening combining the glamour of prom night with spine-tingling thrills and chills along with music from The Gand Band. ($165)

Terror Tuesdays
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
Every Tuesday in October, the Cultural Center brings you a chilling lineup of iconic horror. Tonight’s show is none other than “Night of the Living Dead.” ($12)

Halloween Costume Contest
8 p.m. | Quadz
Cap off your Halloween with a costume contest at Quadz Video Bar. Hostess Aunt Lyla will be handing out $400 in prizes!

SAVE THE DATE

• Agua Caliente Cultural Center opening on Nov. 3.
  
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K run and walk on Nov. 4.
  
  
• Native American Learning Day & Market on Nov. 4 at PSHS.
  
  
• Pickleball community meeting on Nov. 8.
  
  
• Veterans Day Drive-Thru Appreciation Lunch on Nov. 10.
  
  
• Annual Palm Springs Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11.

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AND FINALLY …

If you haven’t been to a big box store recently, you may have missed the fact that the holiday season has already kicked into high gear. If wandering the aisles gazing at 15-foot inflatable lawn decorations is your thing, you’re in luck.

Why that matters: It’s also time to start thinking about something for the inside of your house — a tree that will magically begin to drop its needles the moment you hang the last ornament.

• But what if there was a way to assure the tree you drag into your living room was as fresh as possible? That’s where our friends at Palm Springs High School’s Spirit of the Sands Band can help.

Driving the news: This holiday season, instead of selling trees (and wreaths) on a first-come, first-serve basis at school’s parking lot, the band will be taking orders and fulfilling them the week after Thanksgiving. 

• That’s when a shipment will be arriving from Oregon — harvested the day before they arrive in Palm Springs and not in October like you might find elsewhere.

Details: The deadline for orders is Nov. 13. Trees start at $70 and wreaths at $45. As usual, all proceeds benefit the band

• You can place your order by going online here.