Beyond the pool parties and nightlife, The Dinah in Palm Springs is an experience shaped by the people you meet, the friends you bring and the community you find along the way.
Updated | November 2026
What Is The Dinah in Palm Springs?
Every year, thousands of women descend on Palm Springs for The Dinah, a multi-day celebration of music, pool parties, nightlife and queer community. Founded by Mariah Hanson in 1991, the festival has grown into one of the most recognizable gatherings for queer women, drawing visitors from around the world for a weekend of live performances, DJs and plenty of unapologetic fun.
But The Dinah isn't just about the parties. It's also a rare opportunity to be surrounded by an incredibly diverse community of women, to meet people you might never cross paths with otherwise and to experience Palm Springs in an entirely different way.
I've attended three times, first flying in from Chicago and later returning after moving to Los Angeles. Each visit was completely different. I've gone with a couple, joined a group of strangers and spent the weekend with a houseful of friends. Along the way, I've learned that who you go with, where you stay and how you spend your time can make all the difference.
I'll admit, I was skeptical before my first visit. I imagined a weekend full of drama, cliques and maybe a little too much attitude. Not exactly my idea of a good time. But I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was genuinely welcoming, with women and nonbinary people of different ages, backgrounds, body types and identities all enjoying the same space. It felt far more inclusive and relaxed than I'd expected, and that first impression stayed with me.
Who You Go With Changes Everything
I've been to The Dinah three times, and each experience has been surprisingly different. One thing I've learned is that the people you go with can have just as much influence on your weekend as the event itself.
My first trip was from Chicago with a couple of friends who, frankly, weren't the most exciting travel companions. We'd spend the mornings and early afternoons together at the pool but when they were ready to retreat to the hotel room, I was usually just getting started.
And honestly, I didn't mind.
I've always been an independent traveler. I love the freedom of wandering wherever I want, striking up conversations with strangers and not having to negotiate every meal, activity or departure time. There's a little more pressure when you're on your own, and yes, approaching people can feel awkward at first. But that feeling usually disappears pretty quickly once you start talking.
For my second visit, I took a different approach. I connected with three other women through what I believe were Facebook posts about The Dinah. None of us had our own big group, so we essentially made one. Two of those connections turned into friendships. One was working as a photographer for the festival, which is how I ended up with some of the better photographs from that weekend. I also spent time with another after moving to LA, although we eventually drifted apart.
By my third visit, I'd moved to Los Angeles and attended with a much larger group of relatively new friends. We rented a beautiful house, spent plenty of time together and experienced the festival in a completely different way.
There's something to be said for arriving with your own people but there's also a freedom in showing up without a tightly planned itinerary or a dozen opinions to accommodate. A big group can make the weekend easier but a smaller one can make it easier to connect with people outside your circle.
Neither approach is necessarily better. It depends on what you're hoping to get out of the experience.
Where You Stay Changes the Experience
Where you stay at The Dinah can make a bigger difference than you might expect. I've experienced both the convenience of staying at a host hotel and the comfort of renting a private house, and each comes with its own advantages.
Staying at the host hotel puts you right in the middle of the action, especially when it's hosting one of the pool parties. There's something wonderful about being able to pop upstairs whenever you need to use the bathroom, grab a drink, freshen up or escape the noise for a quick nap. You can come and go without much planning, and with so many attendees staying under one roof, spontaneous conversations are practically unavoidable.
On my third visit, our larger group rented a beautiful house in Palm Springs instead. It was spacious, private and considerably more comfortable than sharing hotel rooms. We spent a lot of time enjoying the house and each other's company, which was lovely in its own way. But we also missed some of the festival's communal atmosphere. It's easy to stay within your own little bubble when you've got a great place to retreat to.
My preference? The host hotel, especially if it's your first time attending or you're hoping to meet new people. A private rental makes sense for a larger group but being immersed in the festival is part of what makes The Dinah such a unique experience.
Pool Parties, Nightlife & Everything in Between
For me, the daytime pool parties have always been the highlight of The Dinah. There's something about the Palm Springs sunshine, music, cocktails and hundreds of women gathered around a pool that makes the whole experience feel like one big celebration. It's also where I found it easiest to meet people, strike up conversations and simply enjoy the atmosphere.
Of course, there's a tipping point. As the afternoon wears on and the drinks keep flowing, things can get a little wild. And by wild, I mean increasingly drunk and occasionally raunchy. I'm all for people having a good time but I've generally found that the earlier part of the day is more my speed.
The evening parties are a different experience. The Dinah attracts some genuinely talented performers, and I still remember seeing Butterscotch, whose beatboxing and musical talent were incredible. But the venues themselves haven't always been my favorite. There's something about a hotel ballroom packed with people that feels a little less intimate than an afternoon spent around the pool.
And honestly, some of the best moments happen outside the scheduled events. Palm Springs is a great place to enjoy a long dinner, explore the city or simply spend time with friends away from the crowds. With so much happening throughout the weekend, it's tempting to try to do everything but I've found that knowing what you enjoy is far more important than attending every party.
The Dinah can be as social, chaotic or relaxed as you want it to be. You just have to find your own rhythm.
More Than a Party
What surprised me most about The Dinah wasn't the size of the parties or the performers. It was how genuinely welcoming the atmosphere felt. I'd arrived with my own assumptions about what a massive gathering of women might be like, and it didn't take long to realize how wrong I'd been.
There were women and nonbinary people of different ages, backgrounds, body types and identities, all sharing the same space without feeling the need to fit a particular mold. Of course, no event is perfect but the sense of openness and acceptance was what made The Dinah memorable for me.
Across my three visits, I met people I probably wouldn't have encountered otherwise. Some became friends I stayed in touch with, others were brief connections and a few were simply good conversations by the pool. Not every encounter needs to become something more to be worthwhile.
If you're curious about The Dinah but hesitant because of what you imagine the crowd or atmosphere might be like, I'd encourage you not to let those assumptions make the decision for you. You don't need a big group, a partner or a particular look to belong.
You can arrive with a houseful of friends or a few strangers you've met online. You can spend the weekend dancing, meeting new people or escaping into Palm Springs whenever the parties become too much. There's no single right way to experience it. Show up with an open mind and make the weekend your own.
I haven't attended since the festival changed ownership, so I can't speak to the experience today. But I hope that same spirit of community continues. Sometimes the best part of a party isn't the party at all.
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