Art, Music & Golf—A Winning Trio This Spring
Many first-time visitors to PGA WEST® and Greater Palm Springs—aka the Coachella Valley— come for the phenomenal golf and endless outdoor recreation. What they don't always expect? A thriving arts and cultural scene. From early 20th-century plein air painters drawn to the desert's breathtaking landscapes to today's flourishing creative community, the region offers far more than just scenic fairways.
La Quinta, home to PGA WEST, hosts the biannual La Quinta Art Celebration in spring and fall, as well as numerous other cultural activities and events. The city also features the La Quinta Museum, Old Town Artisan Studios, vibrant art galleries, an impressive public art collection, and the Creation Station MakerSpace program at the public library.
Desert X
In 2017, Greater Palm Springs made waves in the global art scene with the debut of Desert X, a site-specific art biennial that quickly became a major cultural event. Featuring acclaimed international artists, the inaugural exhibition drew more than 200,000 visitors. Since then, over 1.7 million art enthusiasts have traveled to the Southern California desert for four biennial exhibitions.
If you haven't experienced Desert X yet, now's your chance. The 2025 edition is open through May 11, with installations spread across the Coachella Valley. This year's exhibition explores the "desert's deep-time evolutions," showcasing extraordinary works by 11 outstanding artists. Admission is free, and visitors can download a map from the website or the Desert X app. For a more immersive experience, private docent-led tours are available with a minimum donation.
Desert X has also expanded its impact beyond the exhibition, launching the Desert X Art Club, an after-school learning program for K-8 students.
April Music Festivals
April brings two legendary music festivals to the Empire Polo Club in Indio: Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival—better known as Coachella—(April 11-13 & 18-20) and Stagecoach, California's Country Music Festival (April 25-27). Coachella has been a cultural phenomenon since 1999, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans each year. In 2023, the festival welcomed over half a million concertgoers. This year's eclectic lineup features powerhouse artists like Lady Gaga, Missy Elliott, Green Day, Charli XCX, Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, and many more.
Stagecoach keeps the party going with a star-studded country lineup. Headliners include Zach Bryan, Brothers Osborne, Lana Del Rey, Jelly Roll, Sturgill Simpson, Nelly, Luke Combs, Midland, Sammy Hagar, and more than 50 other incredible artists.
A limited number of passes are still available for both festivals—don't miss your chance to be part of the action.
Make it the ultimate getaway: Play a round on one of our championship resort courses at PGA WEST, just five miles from the Empire Polo Club, before heading out for an unforgettable afternoons and nights of stunning visual art and live music.
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Photos courtesy of the City of La Quinta and VisitGreaterPalmSprings.com