Palm Springs Pride Kicks Off With 5K, Pool Party
Hundreds ran the Palm Springs Pride 5K while nearly 1,000 attended a pool party at the Ace Hotel on November 7, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in LGBTQ+
Palm Springs Pride celebrations opened Saturday, November 7, 2026, with a 5K Run and Walk downtown that drew hundreds of participants. Emceed by Olivia Sandusky and Manny the Movie Guy, the race was followed by a pool party at the Ace Hotel hosted by GED Magazine that drew nearly 1,000 people.
Why it matters
The weekend kickoff marks the start of a multi-day Pride calendar that draws visitors and activity to downtown Palm Springs and its hotel venues. Large turnouts at both the race and the pool party show the scale of community participation in the city's Pride season.
The Ace Hotel hosted five Pride weekend gatherings, and nearly 1,000 people attended the GED Magazine pool party on November 7, 2026. Hundreds took part in the 5K Run and Walk, though no exact participant total was reported.
The players
Olivia Sandusky
Olivia Sandusky served as an emcee for the Palm Springs Pride 5K Run and Walk.
Manny the Movie Guy
Manny the Movie Guy served as an emcee alongside Olivia Sandusky at the Palm Springs Pride 5K Run and Walk.
GED Magazine
GED Magazine hosted the pool party at the Ace Hotel that drew nearly 1,000 people.
Ace Hotel
The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs hosted the pool party and five Pride weekend gatherings.
The details
The Palm Springs Pride 5K Run and Walk was held downtown Saturday morning, with Olivia Sandusky and Manny the Movie Guy serving as emcees. Following the race, GED Magazine hosted a pool party at the Ace Hotel, which also hosted five Pride weekend gatherings including a Locker Room after-hours event Saturday night.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Palm Springs Pride 5K Run and Walk and Ace Hotel pool party
Saturday night, November 7, 2026: Locker Room after-hours event at the Ace Hotel
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Refresh Pool Party at the Ace Hotel in the afternoon
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Annual Pride parade and downtown celebrations
Season Trajectory
The kickoff weekend follows the established Palm Springs Pride pattern of pairing a downtown race with hotel-based pool events before the annual parade. The Sunday parade will complete a schedule that has built momentum through multiple Ace Hotel gatherings.
Residents and visitors planning to attend Pride should expect activity downtown and at the Ace Hotel through the weekend. Sunday's parade and pool party offer the next chances to join the celebrations.
The takeaway
Pride weekend in Palm Springs combines athletic events, hotel parties, and a downtown parade, offering several ways to take part over two days. Checking the Ace Hotel's schedule and the parade route ahead of time helps visitors plan their weekend.
What happens next
The Refresh Pool Party is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, November 8, 2026, at the Ace Hotel, followed by the annual Pride parade that day.
Further reading
For more on local queer culture and events, explore LGBTQ+ coverage in Palm Springs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC Palm Springs.
