Happy Wednesday, desert dwellers. Welcome to the very first edition of The Desert Rundown. Three times a week, we bring you everything worth knowing about the Coachella Valley in about five minutes. Grab your iced coffee and let's get into it.
TOP STORY
The Lakers Are Coming to the Desert
It's official: the Los Angeles Lakers are relocating their NBA G League team to the Coachella Valley starting with the 2026-27 season. The newly named Coachella Valley Lakers will play all home games at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, joining the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL hockey) at the 11,000-seat venue.
This means year-round professional sports in the valley. Basketball season picks up right where hockey leaves off. Season ticket deposits are open now at coachellavalleylakers.com, starting at $100 per account (fully refundable at seat selection). Between the Firebirds, the Lakers, and the never-ending concert calendar, Acrisure Arena is quietly becoming one of the best entertainment venues in Southern California.
THIS WEEK IN THE DESERT: 5 Things to Do Before Monday
The Merry Widow at Palm Canyon Theatre Friday, May 22 | 538 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs | 7:30 PM | $46 Coachella Valley Classical Voices brings this romantic comedy opera to life with costumes, choreography, and comedic plot twists. Runs through Sunday (2 PM matinee). Student tickets just $20 with ID.
Desertopia Memorial Weekend Friday - Sunday, May 22-24 | The Sonoran & 4707 Events, Palm Springs | Various times Three days of music, DJs, and poolside energy featuring Horse Meat Disco, X3Butterfly, Father Figure, and more. Two club nights plus a daytime pool party. The biggest LGBTQ+ event of the summer season.
Memorial Day Flower Drop at PS Air Museum Sunday, May 25 | 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs | 1:00 PM | Free with admission A B-52 bomber flies overhead and releases 3,000 red and white carnations in tribute to fallen service members. Vintage warbird flights, live music, food vendors, and family activities. The ceremony and Missing Man Formation happen between 1:45 and 2:00 PM. One of the most moving events in the valley each year.
Mana at Acrisure Arena (Second Show Added) Saturday, May 31 | Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert | Evening Due to overwhelming demand, legendary rock band Mana added a second desert date on their Vivir Sin Aire Tour. If you missed the first one, this is your shot.
XOXO Palm Springs Arts & Music Festival This Summer | Various locations, Palm Springs | All summer A brand new citywide arts, culture, and music festival launching this summer. Details are still rolling out, but Palm Springs is betting big on becoming a summer destination instead of shutting down when it gets hot.
NEW & NOTABLE: What's Opening, Closing, and Changing
McCallum Theatre Drops 2026-27 Season Lineup: Broadway, concerts, dance, and community events. The full schedule is stacked. Season subscriptions are the move if you go even a few times a year. Browse the lineup at mccallumtheatre.org.
New Greek Restaurant at The River: A new Greek spot is opening at The River in Rancho Mirage. Details are still coming together, but the valley dining scene continues to level up heading into summer.
Al Jardine (Beach Boys) at the Plaza Theatre, June 6: Founding Beach Boys member Al Jardine performs with The Pet Sounds Band. "Good Vibrations" in an intimate venue like the Plaza is going to hit different. Tickets at palmspringsplazatheatre.com.
THE LOCAL SCOOP: Why This Summer Might Be Different
For as long as anyone can remember, the desert clears out after Memorial Day. Snowbirds fly home, restaurants cut hours, and half the valley goes into hibernation until October. But something is shifting.
Between XOXO Palm Springs (a brand new summer arts festival), Acrisure Arena running events year-round, the Palm Springs 70mm Film Festival returning for its second year, and the Lakers G League announcement driving year-round sports interest, there are more reasons than ever to stick around when the thermometer hits triple digits.
The old saying was "nothing happens here in summer." That's starting to not be true anymore. And we'll be here covering all of it.
QUICK HITS
Clear skies and mid-90s all week. Pool weather, not hiking weather. Stay hydrated out there.
Desert Hot Springs Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Park, 9 AM Monday. A smaller, community-focused event worth attending.
The Palm Springs Certified Farmers' Market wraps its outdoor season this weekend at the Cultural Center on Baristo Road. Saturday mornings, 8 AM to 1 PM.
Firebirds playoff updates: follow the Coachella Valley Firebirds at coachellavalleyfirebirds.com for the latest schedule and results.
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