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Wednesday, April 22 | ☀️ 78°/55°
Happy Wednesday and Happy Earth Day, where we’ve got a freebie to tell you about that will help you celebrate the planet and also lift your spirits. The Palm Springs Library at Rimrock Shopping Center is celebrating the day by giving you a free plant or seed packet — flowers or vegetables — just stop by during open hours (10 a.m. until 8 p.m.) while supplies last!
🎶 Setting the mood: "Silver Raven" by Gene Clark
Leading Off
An overhead shot of the main terminal at Palm Springs International Airport. The airport will see a number of changes prior to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. (File photo)
Airport expansion timeline comes into focus as officials weigh costs, demand
Palm Springs International Airport is targeting completion of a new rental car center and international arrivals facility by the end of 2027, as a long-planned expansion program enters what officials call an “active phase.”
Driving the news: The timeline emerged from reports reviewed Monday by the airport's Budget and Finance Committee, which also examined the airport's fiscal year 2026-27 budget and long-term capital plan.
Officials have cited the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a key driver of urgency.
How it would work: Airport officials outlined the next steps for what they’re calling the North Complex Expansion. Moving some administration to an off-site location will free up space in the main terminal for USO and U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities.
Demolition of Hangar 1 would then clear the way for a rental car facility, followed by an international arrivals facility.
Yes, but: The airport faces financial constraints. Consultants outlined roughly $350 million in funding capacity through 2031, much of it already committed to required infrastructure. New internal costs — including pension obligations, energy expenses and administrative charges — could add roughly $7 million annually to the operating budget.
Officials say those constraints are typical for airports like Palm Springs, which phase projects based on demand and funding to avoid overbuilding or raising costs for airlines and travelers.
By the numbers: The airport recorded a 2.3% decline in passenger traffic in early 2026 compared to the same period a year earlier, following a record 3.3 million passengers in 2025. Officials say that dip reflects short-term factors — including weather impacts in January — rather than a broader change in demand.
February set an all-time monthly record, and the airport is projecting about 7% seat growth this summer.
Zoom in: Currently scheduled projects include escalator replacements in the Sonny Bono Concourse this summer, with completion expected by early fall, a $93 million baggage handling system modernization project — $58 million of it federally funded — scheduled for completion in December 2028, and restroom upgrades.
What's next: Executive Director Harry Barrett Jr. will leave next month to take a position overseeing multiple airports in Sacramento. Deputy Director of Aviation, Marketing & Air Service Daniel Meier is also departing for a role at Tulsa International Airport.
Assistant Director of Aviation Victoria Carpenter will serve as interim director while the city conducts a national search for Barrett’s permanent replacement.
Briefly
🏛️ Council to discuss mayoral position, federal grant allocations, and more at tonight’s meeting
The Palm Springs City Council holds its regular meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. Councilmembers will hold another discussion regarding the city’s mayoral position, followed by critical votes on federal block grant funding and neighborhood safety improvements.
The Council will hear a report from the Mayoral Position Ad Hoc Subcommittee regarding ongoing discussion of a district vs. at-large mayor position. Also planned is a public hearing to approve the 2026-2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan. The plan proposes a $337,285 budget for programs such as tenant/landlord legal assistance and a major home repair grant for low-to-moderate-income homeowners.
Details: The Council will also consider a $30,000 traffic calming project for the Toledo Avenue area and a $60,000 amendment for the Demuth Park pickleball expansion to address unforeseen utility issues. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. with an update on the Blue Zones Palm Springs Project. Tune in live on YouTube or submit public comments to the City Clerk’s office by email. Find the agenda here.
🐾 Animal Shelter shifts to summer hours
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter has switched to summer hours, staying open later on weekdays to give more potential adopters the chance to visit after work. The shelter at 4575 East Mesquite Ave. made the change yesterday.
Officials say more animals — especially larger dogs — have been staying at the shelter longer than they should, and that many people who want to adopt can't arrive before closing time during the week.
Details: Under the new schedule, the shelter is open Tuesday through Friday from 1–7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed Mondays. The summer hours will remain in effect during Daylight Saving Time, with a return to regular hours when the time change ends.
A MESSAGE FROM
PALM SPRINGS WINDMILL TOURS
Whether you take our self-driving tour or a guided golf cart tour, our expert guides will easily be able to describe the inner workings of wind turbines and how it contributes to our energy grid. From the novice tour participant to engineers-types, everyone will be able to leave the tour with a better understanding of how this renewable energy part of our energy solution.
📆 Featured Events
Blue Zones Project Palm Springs Celebration
10 a.m. | Native Foods
Native Foods celebrates its Blue Zones Project Palm Springs approval with plant-forward tastings, exclusive specials, prizes, and a mini pop-up farmer's market featuring local produce from Aziz Farms.
Ernest Shackelton Loves Me
2 p.m. and 7 p.m. | Coachella Valley Repertory
This musical comedy is in previews today ahead of opening night tomorrow. Follow a sleep-deprived single mom who is contacted across time by polar explorer Ernest Shackleton via her cell phone. A romantic, funny adventure inspired by her video game music compositions. ($70)
Game Night with Sam
4 p.m. | Starbase 505
Drop in at to play from a library of board games ranging from classics to indie gems. Sam is on hand to teach rules or join a table; all experience levels welcome.
Live Music Wednesdays
4 p.m. | The Social Cafe & Lounge
This week Nouveau, a dynamic vocal duo, will deliver their sophisticated blend of Jazz, R&B, and dance hits. A setting perfect for catching up with friends, a romantic evening, or a solo night out.
Cocktails & Cabaret with Francesca Amari & Jeff Lantz
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
An evening of mod pop, yacht rock, Broadway show tunes, and Rat Pack classics hosted by Francesca Amari and Jeff Lantz with special guests. Expect audience interaction and silly stories. ($20)
Palm Springs City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The meeting is viewable live on YouTube, check out the agenda here.
The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
A staged reading of Jane Wagner's Tony Award-winning play, directed by Kudra Wagner with an ensemble cast. ($12)
📌 Save the Date
Dining Out For Life on Thursday at multiple area restaurants, bars and coffee shops
Barbra: The Birthday Concert on Friday at the Annenberg Theater at Palm Springs Art Museum
Palm Springs Gay Men's Chorus: Rhinestones & Rainbows from Friday through Sunday at the Plaza Theatre
Earth and Arbor Day Festival at Ruth Hardy Park on Saturday
PSUSD Inaugural Honor Band Concert on Saturday at Richards Center for the Arts at PSHS
FuturePS: AI Tech & Creative event at Agua Caliente Cultural Center on April 28
SoundJourneyPiano — ‘Silent’ Piano Concert with Brent Alan Huffman on April 28 at Ruth Hardy park
Fred Bronson's Star Trek Journey on April 29 at Mizell Center
From Book to Stage pops concert on May 3 at Jewish Community Center
🚠 And Finally …
An off-season architecture tour is just one event planned for a 12-day summer festival titled XOXO Palm Springs. (File photo)
Palm Springs has a new name for its summer calendar. XOXO Palm Springs, a 12-day citywide festival, is planned for June 11 through 22, bundling existing and new arts, culture, and music events under a single umbrella — part programming, part tourism pitch aimed at drawing visitors during the desert's notoriously slow summer season.
Driving the news: XOXO Palm Springs pulls together events already woven into the city's regular schedule — VillageFest, free admission nights at the Palm Springs Art Museum, and Latin Nights at Cascade Lounge among them — alongside newer productions and one-off performances organized specifically for the festival run.
The lineup spans drag brunches, jazz tributes, architecture tours, comedy shows, classic film screenings, and art walks, spread across venues including the Plaza Theatre, Cascade Lounge at Agua Caliente Casino, the Palm Springs Cultural Center, and the Ace Hotel.
Worth noting: We year-round residents know summer is a tough sell in the Coachella Valley, when triple-digit temperatures thin the crowds and shutter some businesses. XOXO Palm Springs represent a deliberate effort by the city and its tourism partners to reframe the off-season as a destination draw rather than something to endure.
What's next: A full schedule, organized by venue, date, or category, is available on the XOXO Palm Springs website.
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