Venue: Empire Polo Club 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA 92201
Date: January 6, 7, 8, 9, .
(323) 727-0136
The Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) is an international organization for families who own and enjoy the recreational use of motorhomes. With approximately 109,000 active member families, FMCA is the world's largest motorhome owners group.
The Family Motor Coach Association's annual Western Region Rally is held in January at the Riverside County Fairgrounds with 2,000 motor coaches converging on Indio for a four-day event.
Venue: Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival Fairgrounds 82-503 Highway 111, Indio, CA 92201
Date: January 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 .
(800) 543-3622
www.fmca.com
Sand Storm Lacrosse festival is a two-day event, organized by Synapse Sports and held at the fabulous Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It has become the preeminent club tournament on the West Coast. |
Venue: Empire Polo Club I 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA 92201
Date: January 15, 16 .
(410) 573-1414
www.synapsesports.com
Venue: 39000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA. 39000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA.
Date: January 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 .
(888) 672 4673 -672-4673
www.bhcc.com
SOUTHWEST ARTS FESTIVAL
Organized by the Indio Chamber of Commerce, the Southwest Arts Festival features over 270 acclaimed artists showing traditional, contemporary and abstract fine works of art and quality crafts including Southwestern art, bronze sculpture, glass, jewelry, basketry, pottery and wearable art . The 23-year old Festival is a major, internationally recognized cultural Event and has earned a well-deserved reputation as the largest outdoor marketplace in the Coachella Valley area. The Southwest Arts Festival is one of North America's premier art shows and Sunshine Artist, America's Premier Art and Craft Show Magazine, has listed it in their Top 100 “Best Predominately Fine Art & Design Shows.” .
Fans of the festival annually look forward to enjoying the desert's warm winter weather, a scrumptious variety of food, full-service cocktail areas and sounds of Native American flutes and romantic New Age music. The festival's reputation continues to grow due to the caliber of acclaimed artists, such as Jane Seymour, actress and philanthropist, and Santa Fe, New Mexico artist Amado M. Pena, Jr. (internationally renowned for his angular profile images of people of Spanish and Indian heritage). The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, along with the Chamber, has sponsored the posters since 1995.
Venue: Empire Polo Club
Date: January 28, 29, 30 . 10am – 5pm
(760) 347-0676
www.southwestartsfest.com
Thermal is the new west coast home for Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS), which moved from Indio. The new Thermal Desert Circuit Horse Show offers 12 Grand Prix classes, with purses ranging from $30,000 to $150,000. Spectators witness the world's most famous equestrian riders and magnificent horses jump the highest jumps at the fastest speeds. As many as 3,000 horses and their auxiliary staff descend upon the Valley for six to seven weeks for the duration of this famous hunter-jumper event, the economy feels the impact, with bustling hotel rooms and restaurants in the east end of the Valley and booming retail business.
Venue: HITS Desert Horse Park 85-555 Airport Blvd. | Thermal, CA 92274
Date: January 25 – March 13 .
(760) 775-7731
www.hitsshows.com
RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR & NATIONAL DATE FESTIVAL
The "City of Festivals" has been home to the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival for more than 60 years. It is one of the oldest and most unique fairs in the West. The event was held in 1947 to celebrate the successful date crop. The Coachella Valley still ranks as one of the largest producers of dates in the world. The 10-day event always opens on the Friday before Presidents Day and features more than 7,000 fair exhibits and exotic date festivities. A colorful parade is held on Presidents Day, which is always a Monday. The fair attracts more than 270,000 visitors of all ages and interests. Notable features of the event include: the Nightly Arabian Nights Pageant (started in 1948, the first pageant was held on the outdoor Pageant Stage, which is still the centerpiece of the fairgrounds today); ostrich and camel races; Presidents Day Parade; 7,000 exhibits; blessing of the dates ceremony; contests; tasty date treats; top- name entertainment and a carnival.
Come and enjoy Southern California's most exotic winter event with a thousand-and-one sights, a magical experience for the entire family!
Venue: Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival Fairgrounds 82-503 Highway 111, Indio, CA 92201
Date: February 18 - 27,
(760) 863-8247
www.datefest.org
MARCH BNP Paribas Open While the desert owes much of its global presence to golf, for two weeks in March tennis reigns supreme. The BNP Paribas Open held at Indian Wells Tennis Garden won this year's Best of the Best Professional Sporting Event in a landslide. Informally known as the West Coast Slam, this prestigious tennis event draws the world's top players to Indian Wells to compete in one of only a handful of tournaments featuring male and female professionals. Last year's attendance of approximately 340,000 made it the first tournament outside of the Grand Slams to pass the 300,000 mark. Tennis lovers came out in droves to watch winners Ivan Ljubicic and Jelena Jankovic battle a field of fierce competitors that included Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, and Caroline Wozniack.
Venue: Indian Wells Tennis Garden 78200 Miles Ave. Indian Wells, CA 92210 778200DD Date: March 7 – 20, (760) 200 8000 www.bnpparibasopen.org
HERITAGE DAY - CV HISTORICAL MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER
Venue: Date: March 27,
U92.7 BIRTHDAY BASH Venue: Riverside County Fairgrounds Date: March 27,
April COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL Venue: Empire Polo Club 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA 92201 Date: April 15, 16, 17 (760) xxxxxxx COACHELLA VALLEY STAGECOACH COUNTRY FESTIVAL USA Today said Stagecoach has “found a national identity…on the same polo field as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.” And the Orange County Register added, “Stagecoach…should be considered a smashing success. Indeed, years from now this second outing may be viewed as the turning point for the budding Americana monolith…The achievement of this year's three-day and more rock-embracing Stagecoach, however, is much more significant. It has proven that a refined, downscaled (yet in other ways expanded) version of that concept can become every bit as much an eagerly anticipated cornucopia as its sister festival has been for years.” This country festival, a two-day event in April, hopes to draw more than 110,000 fans.
Venue: Empire Polo Club 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA 92201 Date: April 30 – May 1,
May Joshua Tree Music Festival
Venue: Joshua Tree Lake Campground, Sunburst Road, Joshua Tree Date: May 13, 14, 15 (877) 327 6265
October Joshua Tree Roots Festival
Venue: Joshua Tree Lake Campground, Sunburst Road, Joshua Tree Date: October 8, 9 (877) 327 6265
NOVEMBER RIVERSIDE COUNTY SQUARE & ROUND DANCE FESTIVAL This year will be the 15th anniversary of the festival held at the county fairgrounds in Indio. Over 1,000 Square and Round Dancers from 7 states converge on the fairgrounds in Indio, CA, to dance at RIVCO, the Riverside County Square & Round Dance Festival each November, making it one of the largest festivals in the world. Square dancing was offered at the Plus, A1, A2, and C1 levels. Rounds were available at Phase II thru V. The square dance callers were Tony Oxendine (NC), Wade Driver (TX), Marshall Flippo (AZ), Mike Sikorsky (AZ), Johnny Preston (CA), Gary Shoemake (TN), and Ken Bower (CA). The round dance cuers were Chuck & Sandi Weiss (AZ), and Bob & Eileen Silvia (CA).
Venue: National Date Festival Fairgrounds, 6350 Arabia Street, Indio, CA Date: November 10 – 13, (865) 453 9382
POLO Horse lovers are thrilled by the speed, power and grace of the magnificent horses at the Empire Polo Club and Eldorado Polo Club, two of the finest polo clubs in the country. From November through April, world-class polo draws top riders and horses from all over the globe for a winter season of championship events amid a spectacular backdrop of desert and mountain beauty. Because it is home to two of America's finest polo facilities, Indio is known as the Polo Capital of the West. The Empire Polo Club secured a spot in polo history when it hosted the first 40-goal tournament played in the United States. Eldorado Polo Club, described as “An Oasis of Polo”, dates back more than 50 years and has hosted virtually every major U.S. tournament. The club has attracted international players including Prince Phillip and Prince Charles., horses, and enthusiasts to the region to experience the “Sport of Kings” against the backdrop of desert palms and the Santa Rosa mountains. After playing separately for several years, the two facilities have now combined to form the Pacific Coast Polo Center, the world's largest club, with 12 tournament polo fields and stabling for more than 1,000 horses.
2 VENUES: Eldorado Polo Club Empire Polo Club DATE: November – April 2012
INDIO POWWOW
Venue: FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT & CASINO 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio, CA. Date: November 24 – 27, (760) 238 5770
DECEMBER INTERNATIONAL TAMALE FESTIVALThe Annual Indio International Tamale Festival is held the first weekend of December on the streets of Downtown Indio. It has grown from a half-day event that drew 2,500 people, to an event that now attracts over 125,000 over the two-day event. Approximately 70 tamale vendors selling all types of tamales (traditional, gourmet, dessert such as strawberry, chocolate, date and raisin) will collectively sell over 250,000 tamales during the festival, making Indio the Tamale Capital of the Nation! Activities and entertainment include a carnival, rides, games, inflatable bouncers, rock climbing, a best tamales competition with trophies in several categories and a tamale-eating contest with awards for those who eat the most. There is continuous music and dance throughout the festival on four different stages. A variety of acts are featured that include local and professional dancers, singers and musicians. The festival provides free parking, admission and entertainment for everyone. Parking is available on the streets around the downtown area, various lots in the area and also at the Larson Justice Center, where a free shuttle is available. Come and spend some time with us during the first weekend in December in our warm, winter sunshine. There is plenty of excitement and tamales, tamales, tamales! For more information, call the City of Indio Events Office at 760-391-4175. Venue: Downtown Indio . between Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard and fills-in the streets of Miles, Towne, Smurr & Requa Date: December 3, 4
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RECREATION:
The sky's the limit for local recreational opportunities. Whether it's indoor, outdoor or outback, there's a wealth of activities for all ages.
Located within the golf capital of the world, Indio offers both private and public championship courses. The world-renowned Landmark Golf Club, now the Golf Club at Terra Logo, hosted The Skins Game for several years.
Explore the spectacle of nature's desert beauty on guided jeep tours. You can follow a more personal route cycling and walking along ancient trails. Or simply float above it all on a hot air balloon adventure and gaze down on the emerald courses, topaz pools and terra cotta rooftops.
The equestrian lifestyle abounds in the private ranches and polo fields. Whatever your pleasure, you're sure to find it under the eternal sunshine or soft moonlit nights in Indio.
1. Festivals and Events
2. Casinos
3. Authentic Mexican Restaurants
4. Golf Clubs and Resorts
5. Coachella Valley Museum and Cultural Center
6. Polo and other Equestrian Events
7. Agricultural and other Educational and Scenic Tours
8. Historic Murals
Indio High School
Six lighted courts. 760-775-3550.
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
20 hard courts; six lighted and two clay courts. 760-200-8200.
Horse lovers are thrilled by the speed, power and grace of the magnificent horses at the Empire Polo Club and Eldorado Polo Club, two of the finest polo clubs in the country. From November through April, world-class polo draws top riders and horses from all over the globe for a winter season of championship events amid a spectacular backdrop of desert and mountain beauty.
Because it is home to two of America's finest polo facilities, Indio is known as the Polo Capital of the West. The Empire Polo Club, located at Avenue 50 and Monroe Street, secured a spot in polo history when it hosted the first 40-goal tournament played in the United States. Eldorado Polo Club, located at Avenue 50 and Madison Street, dates back more than 50 years and has hosted virtually every major U.S. tournament.
After playing separately for several years, the two facilities have now combined to form the Pacific Coast Polo Center, the world's largest club, with 12 tournament polo fields and stabling for more than 1,000 horses.
Today, although both facilities remain separately owned, polo is played under the Eldorado name. High-goal polo dominates the winter season, but the sharing of fields also enables an expanded schedule to accommodate both professional and amateur players. The public is invited to enjoy polo matches every Sunday.
In addition to polo, the fields of both facilities are used for other major events, ranging from elaborate corporate entertainment extravaganzas to musical concerts that draw crowds of more than 50,000. Since 2001, it has been the home of the Southwest Arts Festival®.
Eldorado Polo Club
50-950 Madison St. 760-342-2223. Local/international, amateur/professional players compete in matches November–April. 14 fields.
Empire Polo Club
81-800 Ave. 51. 760-342-2762. Top-level polo, rodeos, balloon festivals, concerts and more. On-site catering and restaurant.