The Dinah Shore Weekend Celebrates 30 Years
Three Decades of Celebrating Queer Women (Postponed until 2021)
Calling all Queer Women of the World…
How does spending five nights in the desert at the world’s largest all-girl LGBTQIA+ festival in the world sound?
With over 20,000 girls, bois, and everyone in-between expected to attend, this is the hottest festival in the world.
And it’s in the heart of the Californian desert. Imagine sun, awe-inspiring canyons, and networking opportunities with thousands of wonderful women.
As featured in the L Word and many more lesbian/queer media and film, The Dinah Shore Weekend is celebrating its 30th birthday in 2020 and the event has been postponed until 2021.
We want to see you there!
Support LGBTQIA+ pride and keep this festival alive.
Get to meet queer ladies, celebrities, and friends for life from all over the world.
We have made MANY incredible life-long friends and soul mates at the Dinah Shore Weekend and with a mishmash of events that include sociable gatherings and comedy nights right through to three of the Dinah’s infamous pool parties, there really is something for everyone.
History of the Dinah Shore Weekend
Mariah Hanson, the founder of the event, has always strived to throw celebratory events for LGBTQIA+ women in a safe and fun environment.
She achieved just that by hosting a space where women can make new friends and celebrate their queerness every year in Palm Springs, California.
Under the Club Skirts Marquis, Mariah hosted the Dinah Shore Weekend for the first time in 1991. ‘The Dinah’ was successful in building a community of queer women who kept coming back for more.
The world-renowned Palm Springs Modern Art Museum was home to the first Dinah event, which was completely sold out. Not only does Mariah and her team organize the events of the Dinah Shore Weekend, she is responsible for securing artists and a variety of performances, she also, very considerately, books out entire hotels in the Palm Springs downtown area so that are 100% lesbian and queer women occupied.
This creates a wonderful safe community for all women attending the annual event. This also ensures that everything is within walking distance and also supports the local community by being close to various bars, restaurants and tourist attractions.
Today, in its 30th year, The Dinah is considered the largest lesbian/queer women event in the world.
Thanks to Maria’s efforts spanning three decades, Mariah has received the coveted key to the Palm Springs city, presented by openly out Mayor, Ron Oden in 1998.
Mariah has appeared in the Out 100 list of influential lesbians, and she has received many awards and accolades, including the nationally renowned Athena Award, a Legacy Award by Palm Springs Pride and a Lifetime Achievement award by The Coachella Valley LGBTQIA+ Community Center.
She recently received an Achievement Award with Lily Tomlin by NCLR in 2015 and before she fell in love with her partner, Nurse Practitioner Leslie Karr, she was voted #36 most eligible single lesbians by lesbian.com.
What an awesome woman!
Dinah Shore Weekend Schedule
Our favorite global LGBTQIA+ festival is celebrating its 30th year.
The Dinah Shore Weekend is a 6-day long festival in the heart of downtown Palm Springs offering live comedy, LGBTQIA+ vendors, networking events, and their unmissable pool parties with a wide selection of DJs and live artists.
We previously covered The Dinah Shore Weekend back in 2017 and we’re delighted to be able to cover the birthday event in 2020.
Here’s what’s happening at The next Dinah Shore Weekend:
Day 1
Official Pre-Party 8pm to 11pm, Hilton Hotel – Poolside
Wednesday is one of our favorite days of the Dinah Shore Weekend. It’s all about gentle vibes and networking with lots of lovely ladies from around the world.
The Dinah hosts their first gathering on Wednesday evening. It’s outdoors and by the pool of the Hilton hotel on a blissfully warm Palm Springs evening.
With dim mood lighting and soft beats, the Official Pre-Party offers peaceful opportunities to make friends for the schedule of events ahead.
This is where we made the most friends, we literally stuck by the crew we formulated at the opening party, and we just kept adding to it throughout the weekend.
Day 2 – TWO EVENTS
Dinah Comedy Night, Palm Springs Convention Center, 8pm
Every year, the Dinah hosts world-class comedy and has often featured openly queer women and allies of the community. This year, we are super excited to see Dana Goldberg, Gina Yashere and Dinah Leffert!
The comedy night is held at the gorgeous Palm Springs Convention Center which is very spacious and clean, offering safe havens for those who are anxious about crowded spaces.
Official Opening Party – Asia SF, 9pm
This is where the dancing begins. With world-renowned DJs and special performances from contest winners, the Dinah is taking their Official Opening Party to a brand new venue, Asia SF.
Expect to see DJ Miss M and wild Gogo dancers and a special midnight performance!
Day 3 – TWO EVENTS
First Pool Party aka The Girl Spot Friday, Hilton Hotel Pool, 12pm to 6pm
The Real L Word star, Rose Garcia, is back again this year hosting what we can only describe as an indescribable pool party of epic proportions.
Imagine hoards of beautiful queer women dancing, bobbing, swimming, soaking and mingling under the desert Californian heat. Rose spends her day introducing acts and hosting fun and wild games with prizes, of course.
Friday will feature performances by Umi and Yung Baby Tate as well as a vendor fair, celebrity meet and greets, Gogos and smoking hot DJs spinning out chilled summer beats.
This is the first of THREE pool parties hosted by the Dinah!
The Black and White Ball, Palm Springs Convention Center, 9pm to 2:30am
The Palm Springs Convention Center makes a perfect setting for the infamous Black and White Ball.
A celebrity-studded red carpet marks the entrance into the building and many rooms are set up that host amazing DJs and performances by Saweetie and Shopia Messa.
Take a moment to get your picture taken on the red carpet!
Day 4 – THREE EVENTS
The L Word Pool Party, Hilton Hotel 10am to 5pm
Saturday is the day of the busiest and wildest pool party at the Hilton Hotel and boi, is this going to be a good one!
If an exclusive performance by the super talented Lion Babe isn’t enough to entice you to Palm Springs that weekend, the Dinah has announced that there will be special celebrity guests attending, and we’re all hoping it’s some of the stars from The L Word!
On top of all of that, expect to see incredible Gogo dancers and booming DJs spinning you into a gorgeous Palm Springs sunset.
The Dinah 2019 Comedy Show, Palm Springs Convention Center, 8pm
We are super excited to see John Waters is on the schedule, hosting an intimate evening with live Q & A at the end of the show.
John has given so much to the LGBTQIA+ community with his films and we can expect to enjoy an evening of storytelling as he dazzles the Dinah crowd with a show written exclusively for the event.
The Hollywood Party, Palm Springs Convention Center, 9pm to 2:30am
The Hollywood party is our favorite way to spend a night dancing at the Dinah Shore Weekend. We have always been blown away by the talent of the DJs at the Dinah, we dance for literally five hours!
This year, the Hollywood party will host mystery celebrities on the red carpet at 10:30 pm.
We’re super excited to see who will attend this year!
Day 5 – TWO EVENTS
Sunday Funday Pool Party, Hilton Hotel Pool, 11am to 6pm
If you’ve still got it in you, enjoy the last of the three pool parties by the Hilton Hotel pool.
Sure, the pool will be a little salty by now, but that never stopped anybody enjoying the cool summer vibes, fun conversation, and amazing live music.
Sunday Funday will host performances by Layton Greene, Swsh and Jozzy as well as more celebrity meet and greets, daring acts, competitions and pool games.
The Sunday Pool Party hosts the Battle of the DJs which was truly awesome back in 2017! We saw so much raw talent here from wonderful queer DJs and we lost our voices from cheering so much.
The Dinah’s Official Closing Party, Asia SF, 9pm to 2am
Asia SF will be home to the official closing party this year and there will be an exclusive midnight performance by Madison Paige.
The Sunday closing party is a great way to burn off the rest of your adrenaline by dancing the night away.
More Gogos and live DJs will take you through to the early hours as well as more performances by emerging artists.
Day 6 – Rest, Repair and Recover!
PHEWWW, and breathe.
On the Monday after the festival, it is not uncommon to see many queer women taking over the sun loungers by the many Palm Springs hotel pools while they rest, repair and recover from yet another truly epic Dinah Shore Weekend.
We’d recommend booking an extra night in the hotel to enjoy the peace and Californian sunshine while reflecting on attending the largest LGBTQIA+ all-girl festival in the world.
Exclusive Interview with the Dinah founder, Mariah Hanson
Round The World Magazine managed to grab some time with Mariah to get the low down on the 2020 event and to celebrate 30 years of the Dinah Shore Weekend…
Congratulations on the 30-year milestone, Mariah.
Can you tell us why you started the Dinah weekend and why you named it in honor of Dinah Shore?
I threw the greatest parties in college and that knack morphed into a profession.
I started it cause there were very small events around The Dinah Shore Gold tournament but they were so bare-boned with no vision as to what a perfect combination Palm Springs and festivals are.
So I took it a step further and created our own all women world, with top-notch talent, sponsors, celebrities and a lot of very happy women.
What are the major changes you’ve seen with the event over the last 30 years?
The community is so much more mainstream and our lifestyles so much more accepted and celebrated.
Of course, we still have work to do to gain full and equal rights in all US states, but the climate is much better than it was 30 years ago and for that I am thankful.
We’ve also morphed into a full-blown music festival and that has been exciting.
Have you considered brand expansion? i.e. A social forum on your website or more Dinah Shore weekends/events/cruises around the world?
I have but I think like any company that wants to expand you dilute the magic and more often than not the event or product suffers. I am not willing to risk that.
The event is the emancipation of sorts from all “isms”. Our customers enter the event and we invite them to leave all the BS behind and embrace The Dinah’s inclusive celebratory and expansive vision of how the world could and should be.
It’s a powerful expression and it leaves our attendees changed for the better.
Are men welcome to attend the Dinah? Are there any restrictions/rules with this?
Men are welcome. I work carefully to make sure it’s always a women’s event, and our advertising and our messaging focuses on that but some women have best friends who are male and they should be able to bring them.
Other attendees are trans and they are welcome. Non-binary, etc.
Our world is changing and while we will always be women-centric we also want to be inclusive and tolerant.
I’ve managed to keep it 98% female-centric for 30 years so I think something is working.
What are your policies on cannabis at the event?
Until it’s federally legal, the major hotel chains I work with at the Dinah will not allow it.
Can you give us the lowdown on the VIP experience? What are the main perks compared to General Admission?
VIP guests get access to shorter lines, better viewing for performances, and private seating areas.
We have a team dedicated to our VIP guests so you have a personal concierge all weekend long if you need extra attention.
But truly, we treat all attendees like VIP. Some peeps just pay for a little extra.
Tell us what you hope to achieve in the next 30 years of the Dinah Shore Weekend.
I actually think the event will be around in 30 years but hopefully, I will have retired.
But for now and in the foreseeable future, I’m still having a blast and am honored to present this event to our community.
The Dinah 2021 is going to be one of the largest and celebrated events in the LGBTQIA+ community in 2020.
Buy your tickets now with Eventbrite to avoid disappointment.
Hotels are selling out fast, check availability with Booking.com below:
Dinah Shore Weekend 2021 Ticket Prices
VIP Festival Pass $500.00 +$49.39 Fee
VIP Pass includes admission to all events/shows, priority entrance, priority seating when available, exclusive VIP lounges and bars, bottle service options, and Private VIP receptions Friday and Saturday nights.
Festival Pass $275.00 +$29.82 Fee
Priority admission to the following parties, Thursday’s Opening Party, Friday’s Pool Party, Friday night’s Black and White Ball, Saturday’s Pool Party, Saturday night’s Hollywood Party, Sunday’s Pool Party, and Sunday night’s Closing Party. **COMEDY SHOW NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PASS but is offered at a discount if you purchase the pass before January 1st. Buy the pass first and your discount code will be sent to you via your confirmation letter for the Weekend Pass. Use the code to purchase your comedy ticket separately. Do not share the code with someone who did not purchase a Weekend Pass. We do check all codes and will cancel out any order that is not valid.
Thursday Night Comedy Show //PSCC $40.00 +$5.41 Fee
Dinah Comedy Night at the Palm Springs Convention Center is not to miss! Featuring Dinah Leffert, Gina Yashere and Dana Goldberg. Catch the comedy and then party the night away! **NOT INCLUDED IN THE WEEKEND PASS
Thursday Night Comedy if you bought a festival Pass or any Dinah event ticket. $20.00 +$3.33 Fee
Dinah Comedy Night at the Palm Springs Convention Center is not to miss! Featuring Dinah Leffert, Gina Yashere and Dana Goldberg. Catch the comedy and then party the night away! ONLY PURCHASE THIS IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED THE WEEKEND PASS.
Pool Party // Friday $60.00 +$7.48 Fee
The pool party that kicks off the weekend! Exclusively at the Palm Springs Hilton. Join thousands of other women poolside and experience the sounds of the best DJs in the nation. Best to get there on the early side. Beat the traffic. Join the crowd.
Pool Party // Saturday $80.00 +$9.56 Fee
The most famous Dinah Shore Weekend Pool Party! Exclusively at the Palm Springs Hilton. Saturday is a not to miss … It’s the best party for celebrity sightings all weekend.
Pool Party // Sunday $60.00 +$7.48 Fee
Exclusively at the Palm Springs Hilton. The final pool heats up on the last day of The Dinah. Surprise guests. Concerts.
Opening Party // Thursday Night $40.00 +$5.41 Fee
Kick off the Dinah with us at Asia SF! Hot DJs, sexy gogos, and a midnight performer!
The Black and White Ball // Friday Night $80.00 +$9.56 Fee
The Black and White Ball is a star-studded, action-packed party with some of the most well-known DJs in the nation. Dress to impress and dazzle them in your black and white attire. Don’t miss this hot event that is quickly becoming a Dinah signature. Palm Springs Convention Center. Dress code: Black and white attire recommended. Express yourself!
Hollywood Gold Party Saturday Night $80.00 +$9.56 Fee
Our most glamorous party of the weekend, taking place at the Palm Springs Convention Center. This is a star-studded, action-packed party with some of the most well-known DJs in the nation. Another signature Dinah event, this is a not to miss.
Closing Party // Sunday Night $35.00 +$4.89 Fee
Come close out Dinah with us! This is a Die Hard Dinah tradition and one wild closing party! Dance the night away and hang out with all your new Dinah friends one more time!
Sat Nite! John Waters Does The Dinah! General Admission – only purchase if you have purchased a Festival Pass or any Dinah event ticket $20.00 +$3.33 Fee
Only buy this pass if you have already bought a Weekend Pass. The Dinah’s favorite Lezbro, who has brought us so many unforgettable films and cinematic moments in films, is bringing an intimate exclusive show to The Dinah tailored just for us.
Sat Nite! John Waters Does The Dinah! $30.00 +$4.37 Fee
The Dinah’s favorite Lezbro, who has brought us so many unforgettable films and cinematic moments in films, is bringing an intimate exclusive show to The Dinah tailored just for us.
Sat Nite! John Waters Does The Dinah, plus meet and Greet and autograph signing $75.00 +$9.05 Fee
The Dinah’s favorite Lezbro, who has brought us so many unforgettable films and cinematic moments in films, is bringing an intimate exclusive show to The Dinah tailored just for us. VIP Guests will receive one of his books and will have a chance to have a meet and greet and have it autographed by him after the show.
Sat Nite! John Waters plus meet and Greet and autograph signing – only purchase if you have purchased a Weekend Pass $40.00 +$5.41 Fee
Sat Nite! John Waters plus meet and Greet and autograph signing – only purchase if you have purchased a Weekend Pass. The Dinah’s favorite Lezbro, who has brought us so many unforgettable films and cinematic moments in films, is bringing an intimate exclusive show to The Dinah tailored just for the event.
Buy Tickets now at thedinah.com
Round The World Magazine will be bringing you LIVE updates from the Dinah Shore Weekend 2020.
We’d love to see you there!
Check out our Instagram for updates on when the Dinah Shore Weekend will take place in 2021.
Follow The Dinah Shore Weekend on Instagram to connect with festival goers and for opportunities to win tickets to this year’s event!
Image of Mariah Hanson courtesy of LinkedIn. This article contains an affiliate link which means, at no extra cost to you, we may make a small commission from any hotel bookings with Booking.com.
