I know, high season is over — but nobody’s allowed to say they’re bored this week.
There’s plenty to do for both locals and tourists, from free outdoor film screenings in beautiful gardens to a four-nights-only production of “Chicago” hosted in a museum, so this week’s event roundup includes something for everyone.
So, here’s our picks for the top 15 things to do in the Coachella Valley and surrounding area Monday, May 12 through Sunday, May 18. (And if you’d like to submit an upcoming event of your own for a future roundup, see the bottom of this article for directions.)
Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation presents ‘Desert Images’
Coachella Valley residents and visitors will be able to celebrate local photojournalism at this exhibition and sale at the Impell Gallery in Palm Springs, which features a collection of powerful images created by local journalists. The work on display — which is also for sale, with proceeds going to the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation to create a new photojournalism internship — are photographs taken here in the desert of everything from BNP Paribas Open stars to presidents and presidential candidates.
When: On view 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, May 12 through Friday, May 16
Where: Impell Gallery, 610 S. Belardo Road, Palm Springs (in the Lofts Art District behind the Sun Center shopping complex)
Cost: Free admission
More info: cvjf.org
Musical Theatre University presents ‘Chicago: Teen Edition’
David Green’s Musical Theatre University and Palm Springs Art Museum are partnering up to provide a bold intersection of the visual and performing arts this month. MTU will stage “Chicago,” the longest-running musical in Broadway history, inside the museum’s main gallery for four one-of-a-kind performances. As the event description says, the show “hilariously explores the themes of fame, greed, and the justice system through the story of two women, Roxie Hart, and Velma Kellym.” The musical will feature Broadway favorites like “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle,” “When You’re Good to Mama,” “Cell Block Tango,” and many more, all performed by 16 talented MTU students in a fully staged production inside the gallery. Note: The museum’s atrium will also be transformed into a 1920s speakeasy for these performances, so get there early.
When: 7 p.m. Monday, May 12 through Friday, May 16
Where: Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 N. Museum Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: $99 for general admission, $149 for VIP
More info: psmuseum.org/events
Desert X Art Club Student Exhibition
Come celebrate local students and their original artwork this month in Palm Desert. The Desert X Art Club Student Exhibition is a public presentation of artworks created by students in the 2024/2025 after school Expanded Learning Opportunities Program in Desert Sands Unified School District, as well as in the classroom and out in the field in all three Coachella Valley public school districts. The exhibit showcases a wide range of solo and group pieces in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, site-specific installation, video and photography, so come check it out this week.
When: On view through May 21 (10 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays, noon-5 p.m. on weekends)
Where: Melissa Morgan Fine Art, 73-660 El Paseo, Palm Desert
Cost: Free admission
More info: desertx.org
Palm Canyon Theatre presents ‘Forever Plaid’
Don’t let this show’s tragic opening fool you, Palm Canyon Theatre’s latest show is a hysterical musical revue. The website describes the show as follows: “On the way to their first big gig, the Plaids are broadsided by a school bus and killed instantly. It is at the moment when their lives end that the story of ‘Forever Plaid’ begins with the Plaids returning from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory. Audiences delight in the Plaid’s playful patter and their famous harmonizing of great nostalgic songs of the 1950s.”
When: Now through Sunday, May 18
Where: Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: $17-$38
More info: palmcanyontheatre.net
Spielberg: Between the Frames screening of ‘Empire of the Sun’
See director Steven Spielberg’s war epic “Empire of the Sun” on the self-described largest screen in the Coachella Valley this week. This film is, as the event description calls it, a “haunting coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of war, with a young Christian Bale delivering a breakout performance. Spielberg crafts a visual elegy to childhood innocence shattered by global conflict — dreamlike, devastating, and often overlooked.” Insider tip: Pre-order on Eventbrite and save $4 on two drinks with the Cultural Center’s exclusive pre-show drink special.
When: 7-9:30 p.m. Monday, May 12
Where: Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs
Cost: $13.65
More info: eventbrite.com
20th Annual John J. Benoit Behavioral Health Art Show & Creative Writing Contest
This free community event being held during Mental Health Awareness Month supports the talents of local artists living with mental health diagnoses by showcasing their amazing writing and artwork. Come see all of the beautiful paintings, drawings, jewelry and more art pieces on sale in Indio.
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, May 13
Where: Taj Mahal Building, Riverside County Fairgrounds, 46-350 Arabia St, Indio (enter at Gate 4 off Arabia Street)
Cost: Free admission, with art available for purchase
More info: facebook.com/RUHSbh
The Bent presents ‘The Inheritance Part I’
The Bent presented the regional premiere of “The Inheritance Part I,” the acclaimed, Tony Award-winning play by Matthew Lopez, earlier this month, and it’s still playing through Sunday, May 25. Inspired by E.M.Forster’s “Howards End,” this “sweeping and deeply moving epic story explores love, legacy and the lives of gay men in 21st-century New York, decades after the height of the AIDS crisis,” as the press release states.
When: Now through May 25 (check website below for specific showtimes)
Where: Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs
Cost: $42
More info: thebent.org/buy-tickets
‘Hybrid Realities: A Group Exhibition Exploring the Fusion of Identity, Technology, and Abstraction’
Art All Ways Projects’ latest show, “Hybrid Realities,” is a group exhibition featuring six contemporary artists: Justin Bower, Gary Lang, Sébastien Léon, Nyame Brown, Carlos Ramirez, and Nedo. The exhibit showcases 20 unique pieces, including everything from paintings and drawings to sculptures and mixed media, and it “explores the intersection of hybrid identities, technological evolution, and abstract expression,” as its website says.
When: On view now through June 10 (gallery hours 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday by appointment)
Where: Pop-up venue located at 68-845 Perez Road, Building H, Suite 6-7, Cathedral City
Cost: Free admission, with art available for purchase
More info: artallwaysprojects.com/projects
Movies In The Park screening of ‘The Fifth Element’
Movies in the Park, Palm Springs’ free outdoor film series presented by the Palm Springs Cultural Center, continues this week, so grab your friends, a blanket and some snacks and head downtown for a screening of “The Fifth Element.” Go early to grab dinner downtown, or to grab takeout for a cozy picnic in the park. Note: Start times vary per week according to sundown.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 13
Where: Downtown Park, 101 N. Museum Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: Free admission
More info: eventbrite.com
‘The Soul of the Desert: A Retrospective of Terry Masters’
This community-organized tribute to beloved Coachella Valley painter Terry Masters brings together paintings from private collectors, the artist’s estate and personal holdings. The exhibition honors Masters’ deep connection to the desert landscape and celebrates his legacy as a mentor and plein air painter. Joining this tribute are works by fellow artists and members of prestigious California Art Club, Clark Mitchell and Mehdi Fallahian, both known for their own compelling desert interpretations and years of artistic camaraderie with Masters.
When: 12:30-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday now through June 15
Where: Mehdi/Mitchell Fine Art, 401 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs (next door to the Tac/Quila restaurant)
Cost: Free admission
More info: Call 760-799-3989
Joshua Tree Music Festival 2025
Founded in 2003, the bi-annual (held every May and October) Joshua Tree Music Festival is both a music festival and a celebration of personal growth featuring “multidisciplinary workshops such as yoga and movement, visual arts, music, and myth,” as the website says. In March, the Joshua Tree Music Festival was voted No. 1 in USA TODAY’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice for Best Music Festival, topping renowned and prominent events such as the Newport Jazz Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and others.
When: Thursday, May 15-Sunday, May 18
Where: Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree
Cost: $45 for a Thursday day pass; $115 for a Friday or Saturday day pass; $75 for a Sunday day pass; $295 for a four-day pass (kid pricing also available, see website)
More info: joshuatreemusicfestival.com
Sunnylands’ Films in the Gardens screening of ‘The Goonies’
The beloved Films in the Garden series returns to Sunnylands Center and Gardens this May with “a trio of films that transport viewers to wondrous new worlds,” as the press release says. This week, organizers will screen the popular film “The Goonies,” which follows a “group of young misfits (who) discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate’s long-lost treasure,” as IMDB says.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 16
Where: Sunnylands Center and Gardens, 37-977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage
Cost: Free admission
More info: sunnylands.org
College of the Desert Performing Arts presents ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
“What’s the Buzz?” College of the Desert’s Performing Arts Department is staging the iconic rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” this week. Told entirely through song, the production (as the press release states) “explores the complex relationships between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and the Roman Empire — framed through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.” The show’s groundbreaking 1970s-style rock score continues to make the show as accessible in 2025 as it was five decades ago, so come see why it was nominated for five Tony Awards.
When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 16; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 17; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18
Where: McCallum Theatre, 73-000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert
Cost: From $40
More info: mccallumtheatre.org/productions
Down Syndrome International Film Festival
This third annual film festival will feature a keynote delivered by Zack Gottsagen, best known for his co-starring role with Shia LaBeouf in the 2019 feature film “The Peanut Butter Falcon” and became the first person with Down syndrome to present an Academy Award at the Oscars. Gottsagen appears most recently in the film “God Save the Queens,” showing Friday after his keynote. In addition to several screenings, the festival will feature conversations with actors, Q&As with film directors, and opening and closing night parties.
When: Friday, May 16-Sunday, May 18 (check full screening schedule at website below)
Where: Mary Pickford is D’Place Theater, 36-850 Pickfair St., Cathedral City
Cost: $28.52
More info: eventbrite.com
Mark Karan’s Budz
Mark Karan, best known for performing with the extended Grateful Dead family, is a musician who also tours with an array of amazing musicians in his own band dubbed Mark Karan’s Buds. Come hear them for yourself at this concert, which will feature an array of both originals and covers, and will show off Karan’s blues-based vocal stylings and inspired guitar work alongside his instrumentalist friend’s skilled musicianship — all in the name of their unique, psychedelicized Americana sound.
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 16
Where: Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs
Cost: $48.47
More info: eventbrite.com
To submit an event for The Desert Sun’s consideration in future 10 things to do stories, send an email to niki.kottmann@desertsun.com with the time, date, location and price of admission for your event, as well as a brief event description. Photos are not required, but are highly encouraged as part of the submission.
Tip: Send your submission as early as possible to make sure we have it in time, and to make sure your event jumps out in our inbox, put “10 things to do submission” in the email subject line.
(This story was updated to add information.)
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 15 things to do in the Coachella Valley this week, May 12-18
Reporting by Niki Kottmann, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
