The DJ works the turntables at the White Party Palm Springs’ Military Ball in 2019. Photo: Iggy Lopez.
PALM SPRINGS — The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend and White Party Palm Springs have been postponed after the Riverside County Health Department issued an advisory to cancel public gatherings of 250 people or more related to concerns about the novel coronavirus.
White Party Palm Springs
White Party Palm Springs, a gay circuit party, will take place from October 30 to November 2. It was scheduled to be held from April 26 to 29.
With the rescheduled date, the White Party is being labeled a “Halloween Festival.”
Earlier in the week, White Party producer Jeffrey Sanker posted on social media that the show would go on as planned. Two days later, Sanker posted an about face.
“We’re saddened by the situation with COVID-19 and urge everyone to stay safe and to follow the guidelines provided by local health and city officials,” Sanker said a statement Thursday.
White Party tickets that had been purchased are not refundable, but can be transferred to the Halloween Festival or White Party 2021, which will take place from April 23 to 26.
Living Out Palm Springs, LGBTQ senior housing in resort-style community
Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend
Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, which bills itself as the “largest and most famous lesbian/queer girl party music festival in the world,” was scheduled for Apr. 1-6. The rescheduled date is from September 16 to 20.
Mariah Hanson, founder of Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, said the new date will be a “huge improvement,” according to media reports.
She said that the weather is “perfect for a pool party…We can create a superior experience in September.”
Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend purchased tickets also are nonrefundable, but can be transferred to the September event or 2021, Hanson said.
On Thursday, LA Pride postponed all events related to its 50th anniversary celebration. Rescheduled dates have not yet been announced.
Riverside County advisory
The order was issued Thursday by Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser and follows a state advisory that was issued hours earlier.
“These restrictions may seem harsh, given the relatively low number of coronavirus cases in Riverside County, but they are necessary if we are going to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Kasier said in a statement.
“I do not take these restrictions lightly and clearly they will impact many in organizations and individuals in the community,” Kaiser continued. “We’re in this together and I believe they’re necessary to slow and eventually stop the spread of COVID-19.”
California Health Department advisory
The California Department of Public Health advisory issued shortly before midnight Wednesday said gatherings of 250 people or more should be postponed or canceled, and gatherings of people at higher risk for severe illness from the viral COVID-19 disease should be limited to less than 10 people.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued sweeping, statewide “guidance” in response to the COVD-19, asking Californians to postpone all non-essential gatherings through the end of March, including small social gatherings in places where people can’t remain at least six feet apart.
What’s a gathering?
The state advisory defines a “gathering” as anything “that brings together people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, or any other indoor or outdoor space.”
“This applies to all non-essential professional, social, and community gatherings regardless of their sponsor,” the guidance said.
The goals are to delay the spread of COVID-19 and death associated with it by reducing the number of people who contract the virus before an effective treatment or vaccine is available. The health department also wants to protect the elderly and chronically ill, and to preserve and protect the health care system’s capacity to respond, the guidance said.
