(This story has been updated with new information following the postponement of the Coachella Valley Filipino Festival.)
The Coachella Valley Filipino Festival will return Saturday, Nov. 22, to celebrate the local Filipino-American community’s culture and heritage.
The event launched in 2023 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center with dozens of vendors, international acts like Junior New System and Ruby Ibarra, traditional dance performances and Filipino martial arts demonstrations. After taking a year off to regroup and grow, the festival will return with more food, music and other opportunities.
The family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Visit cvfilipinofest.org for more information.
Here’s what you need to know.
When is the Coachella Valley Filipino Festival?
The festival will be held 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 22 at its new home at Downtown Park, right beside the Forever Marilyn statue in downtown Palm Springs.
“We are so excited to bring this celebration back to the Coachella Valley after the success of our 2023 event,” festival organizer Michael Milan said in a statement. “It was truly special to see generations come together in shared cultural pride, and this year we look forward to welcoming the community with exciting entertainment, delicious food, and meaningful connections in the heart of Palm Springs.”
What to expect at the 2025 festival
The event promises to be a day full of tasty food, fun activities and educational opportunities. Attendees can expect:
Cultural displays and installations will include a fully restored 1964 Sarao Jeepney, along with interactive workshops and historical exhibits highlighting the Filipino labor history of the Coachella Valley. The festival will also feature a community input station for the upcoming Filipino American mural project in Palm Springs, inviting attendees to share ideas and stories that will help shape the artwork.
Cultural dances, DJs will provide entertainment
The festival brings a diverse lineup of live music and cultural dance all day long. Performers include Gingee, Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, Ancestral Vision Movement and the cast of Ubae Drag Brunch.
The festival will also feature an appearance by Manny the Movie Guy, martial arts demonstrations by Pamana Kali and a fashion showcase by the global fashion and advocacy brand House of Musa.
The 5548FM Stage, located beside the beer garden, will feature a lineup of DJs and artists curated by Rhythm and Brunch, offering an eclectic mix of sounds that showcase today’s FilAm music scene. Manila Sound, the LA-based DJ collective, will bring its signature blend of Original Pilipino Music and disco to the desert, spinning between sets and closing the night as the event’s headliner with a dance party under the stars.
Attendees encouraged to RSVP
Though the festival is free and open to the public, attendees are encouraged to RSVP at cvfilipinofest.org.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella Valley Filipino Festival returns after hiatus with live music, food, market
Reporting by Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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