Rose Garcia and Bella Barkow Will Host The Dinah
The new owners will lead the 35th anniversary of the historic Palm Springs music festival this fall.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in LGBTQand
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Rose Garcia and Bella Barkow have acquired The Dinah, the iconic Palm Springs music festival founded by Mariah Hanson in 1991. The 35th anniversary event is scheduled to take place from September 30 through October 4, 2026.
Why it matters
The new owners aim to provide the LGBTQ community with a necessary space for respite. They chose to maintain the fall schedule to avoid direct competition with local major events like Coachella and Stagecoach.
The festival marks its 35th anniversary this year, building on a history that includes performances from stars like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry in 2009. Rose Garcia, a former cast member of The Real L Word, reports having seen 90% of the festival lineup.
The players
Rose Garcia
She is a co-owner of The Dinah and a former cast member of the reality television series The Real L Word.
Bella Barkow
She is a co-owner of The Dinah who previously served as the festival's operations manager starting in 2018.
Mariah Hanson
She founded The Dinah in 1991 and collaborated with the new ownership team to plan the upcoming festival.
The details
Founded at the Palm Springs Art Museum, the event has grown into a major gathering for women, with activities centered at venues like the Hotel Zoso. Founders collaborated with the new owners on planning, while the organizers continue to emphasize direct outreach to manage ticket costs.
Timeline
The Dinah was founded in 1991.
The festival transitioned to its current fall schedule in 2021.
The 35th anniversary event occurs from September 30 through October 4, 2026.
Founder Mariah Hanson hopes to see the festival return to an April schedule by 2027.
Culture Shift
The festival continues to evolve within the landscape of LGBTQ-centered events, navigating the shift from its origins to its current status as a major cultural landmark. This acquisition marks a generational transition for the festival, extending the legacy established by the 1991 founding of The Dinah.
Attendees can expect potential cost management through personalized outreach programs designed to keep the event accessible. Fans should prepare for the fall timeframe, which remains in place to avoid congestion with other major desert festivals.
The takeaway
The transition of The Dinah to new leadership underscores the importance of community-led spaces for LGBTQ women. Attendees should monitor direct communications from the organizers to take advantage of individual discount offers.
What happens next
The 35th anniversary festival will take place from September 30 through October 4, 2026.
Further reading
For more background on the community and local events, visit the Palm Springs LGBTQand section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Desert Sun.
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