Don Diego’s Mexican restaurant, on the corner of Cook and Highway 111 in Indian Wells, is offering special discounts to their Facebook friends. Visit their website http://www.dondiegorestaurant.com/ to learn more. And don’t forget to ask about their free meal special offers.
The Red Earth Casino, located on Highway 86 and Norm River Road at Salton Sea Beach offer $50 in free slot play on Free Play Fridays. Every Friday from 6-10pm, two winners will be chosen each hour for the $50 free slot play. Call 760-395-1200 or visit www.redearthcasino.com for more information.
On Friday, February 5th, from 6-8pm, The Desert Art Center cooperative, located at 550 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, will present a new show featuring 100 artists. The exhibit is open to the public and free refreshments will be served. In addition, the Center offers free monthly plein air painting days, artist demonstrations and classes. For additional information, call 760-323-7973 or visit www.desertartcenter.com.
The Seventh Annual Eisenhower Smilow Heart Center Community Heart Conference will be held on Saturday, February 6th from 8am to 1:30pm in Rancho Mirage. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 7am. Admission is free but you need to call 760-837-8626 to make reservations. The conference includes lectures and health information. Visit www.emc.org for more information.
The 2010 Desert Home Show takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 29th, 30th and 31st at the Fantasy Springs Special Event Cener at Golf Center Parkway in Indio. Show hours are Friday 2pm to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm. Admission and parking are free. In addition, a free kitchen slicing knife will be given away to the first 300 attendees on Friday at 2pm, a free food chopper will be given away to the first 100 attendees on Saturday and Sunday at 10am. You can also enter to win a free Kitchen Craft cookware set (No purchase necessary). Daily seminars include: Green Gardening, Solar 101, and Green Living Workshops. Exhibits include kitchens, baths, doors, windows, roofing, room additions, patios, bar-b-ques, pools, ponds, spas, home furnishings and more. For additional information, visit www.homeshowconsultants.com.
Free, one-hour docent-guided walking tours of Palm Desert’s public art collection are held on the second Saturday of each month, from September through June. For more information, visit www.cityofpalmdesert.org. To schedule a free private group tour, email dschwartz@cityofpalmdesert.org. or phone 760-568-1441.
If you want to save on pet products and supplies start by visiting the Petco website for dozens of pet coupons, deals, bargains and, of course, lots of pet freebies. The site is updated often so be sure to check it first before each purchase.
The 14th Annual Palm Desert Greek Festival takes place this year the weekend of February 13th and 14th. A free tour of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church is included with your paid admission.
The Festival is held on the Church Grounds at 74-109 Larrea, in Palm Desert. CA 92260. For complete information, visit www.palmdesertgreekfest.org.
Visit the new Bahama Mama’s Frozen Yogurt in Cathedral City and ask about their buy 1 get 1 free offer and their free samples. The store is located in the Target shopping center at 67-730 E. Palm Canyon Drive, in Cathedral City. Phone 760-324-3210 for details.
Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair offers free jewelry cleaning and inspection. Located in the Westfield Mall at 72840 Highway 111, in Palm Desert, Fast-Fix also offers professional jewelry and watch repairs while you shop.
This year’s Southwest Arts Festival takes place January 29, 30 and 31 at the Empire Polo Club at 81-800 Avenue 51 Monroe and Avenue 51 in Indio. Children 12 and under enter the area’s largest 3-day art show free. The shoe features 270 artists, entertainment and refreshments. For complete information, call 760-342-2762 or visit www.empirepoloevents.com
If you’re looking for a fun, free way to spend the afternoon, the Palm Springs Pipe Band Parade will take place on Saturday, January 23 at 1 p.m. The melodic sound of bagpipes will fill the air as the Palm Springs Pipe Band parades through the streets in celebration of the Scottish poet Robert Burns.The parade will end with a short performance on the Old Town Event Lawn. For more information on the Palm Springs Pipe Band, visit their website at www.palmspringspipeband.com .
A Children And Community Health And Fitness Expo will be held Sunday January 24th from 10:00am until 6:00pm to benefit the Wellness Foundation Palm Springs. The Expo will take place at ACE Hotel and Swim Club on 701 East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs and is sponsored by Windermere Real Estate Coachella Valley.
Presenters and exhibitors will include Zoo Yoga, Animal Samaritans, Action All-Star Cheer, Action Gymnastics, Urban Yoga Center, My Gym, Desert Recreation District, Sisters Cupcakes by Design, Helene’s Learn to Swim, Arbonne, Ren Yogamaya, Safe House of the Desert, Desert Recreation District, Datura Art Studio, Action Gymnastics, Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, Enchanted Memories, Desert Arc, Windermere Real Estate and others. For more information about this event contact Michael Paduano, at 760-831-3761 or e-mail mpaduano@windermere.com. Wellness Foundation Palm Springs is a non-profit 501-c3 Tax ID #2604397952. www.WellnessFoundationPalmSprings.org.
Earn a free movie ticket, which can be used at a local theater, from Fandango by trying one of their advertiser offers. All you do is try or purchase one advertiser offer and receive a Promotion Code for 1 Movie Ticket (up to $13.50) from Fandango. Fandango Convenience Charge not included. Code must be used in 90 days. Visit their website for complete details.
The Desert Art Center and Palm Springs Unified School (Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs High School) are hosting the First Annual Juried High School Student Art Show January 16th through January 23rd. Open daily from 10am to 4pm, admission is free and the public is invited to support the talented, upcoming young artists. The Desert Art Center Auditorium is located at 550 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Phone 760-323-7973 for more information or visit www.desertartcenter.com.
The LifeStream Blood Bank is hosting a blood donation drive at the Palm Desert Civic Center on January 19 from 1pm to 5pm. If you donate blood at the event you will be entered into a drawing to win two free tickets to any location Southwest Airlines flies. The Civic Center is located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. Call 909-386-6877 or visit www.lifestream.org for complete information.
On January 26th, at 9am, the Indio Senior Center will be sponsoring a free trip to the Ralph’s Health IQ Challenge. The event will be held at the Ralph’s market at 42-150 Washington Street in Bermuda Dunes. The 45-minute event will cover topics such as food and drug interaction, heart health and illness prevention. Attendees will receive free gifts and special offers. Call 760-391-4170 to sign up for the event and car pooling.
On Friday, January 15th, from 10am to noon, The Braille Institute, located at 70-251 Ramon Road in Rancho Mirage is hosting a free Macular Degeneration seminar. Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in those over the age of 65. Call 760-321-1111 to RSVP or for additional information about the institute’s other free services and programs.
This year’s Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival will be held February 12th through the 21st. In its 64th year, the Fair is a ten-day event that will feature a series of headliner entertainers, Monster Truck Show(s), Big Air Motorcycles, Cooking Shows, a Livestock Auction, over 200 exhibitors, and much more.
The Riverside County Fair also offers many freebies to help save you money. On Opening Day, Friday, February 12th, admission is FREE from 10am-3pm. Wednesday, February 17th is “Kids Day”; with every paying adult a child, ages 5-12, gets in FREE. “Fantasy $5 Friday” is returning on February 19th. Everyone is admitted at the reduced price of $5!
For the price of admission, the fair provides spectacular headliner entertainment at no additional cost. This year’s entertainment lineup includes Kansas, Graciela Beltran, Night Ranger & Rodney Atkins. The crowd favorite, Super Fiesta, will be back on the closing Sunday with Banda Limon as the feature act.
Parking – Vehicle $7 per day, Bus Tours FREE, R.V Overnight $10
Location: Riverside County Fairgrounds, 82-503 Hwy 111, Indio, CA 92201
Fair Dates – Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 21, 2010
Fair Hours – Weekdays 10am-10pm. Weekends Carnival open till midnight
Fair Admission – Adults (13 – 54) $8, Seniors (55+) $7, Advanced Groups/Bus Tours $6, Youth (5-12) $6, Children (under 5) FREE, Unlimited Carnival Rides $25, Season Pass $30, Parking $7 per day. Prices subject to change.
The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival is sponsored by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. For additional information, visit www.datefest.org .
On January 14th and February 11th, between 10:30 and noon, Ears-Hearing Healthcare will be offering free hearing tests at the Indio Senior Center. Call 760-391-4170 to make an appointment.
If you’re a golfer you’ll want to save the date and plan to attend Pete Carlson’s 6th Annual Golf Expo being held this year on Friday and Saturday, February 12th and 13th at the Palm Desert Golf Academy at Desert Willow Golf Club from 9am to 4pm.
Admission is free and you’ll receive free club demo, free demo golf balls to hit, free golf clinics, free custom club fitting, special pricing and discounts on the biggest names in golf equipment including Adams, Bobby Jones, Bridgestone Golf, Callaway Golf, Cleveland, Cobra, Heavey Putter, Mizuna,Nike, Odyssey, Ping, Rife Putters, Taylor Made, Titleist and others. Plus, you can trade in your Golf Clubs to Palm Desert Golf Academy or the Junior Golf Foundation of the Desert and Rrceive a charitable donation.
Directions: Desert Willow Driving Range at the Palm Desert Golf Academy. The Portola Avenue entrance just North of Country Club Drive in Palm Desert. Visit www.petecarlsonsgolf.com/golf_expo.html for further informaiton.
2010 is the 45th Anniversary of the Hi-Desert Nature Museum. Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 am to 5pm, admission is free.
Located in the nearby town of Yucca Valley, the Hi-Desert Nature Museum is offering a free Winter Lecture Series. The November to March, Winter Lecture Series, takes place one Thursday per month.
The Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail Lecture will be held on Thursday, January 21st, starting at Noon. The lecture is FREE and beverages will be served.
Almost two years in the making, the Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail map is now available at various locations in and around the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin. Kurt Leuschner, Associate Professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, will discuss this project he recently completed.
The Hi-Desert Nature Museum offers a variety of natural history programs related to the High Desert’s unique natural elements. Field trips are available and free of charge for students in grades K-4. Home schoolers, scout troops and others are welcome. Class size is restricted to twenty students. Please call the museum at (760) 369-7212 for reservations. Visit their website for address, directions, hour and more information www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org .
Dine at La Quinta restaurants and you could earn 2 for 1 tickets to the upcoming Bob Hope Classic Golf Tournament. Enjoy a “Classically” prepared beverage or food item from one of La Quinta’s participating restaurants. Visit six restaurants between now and January 23rd and receive a 2-for-1 ticket or badge to the Bob Hope Classic, taking place from January 18th-24th.
Be sure to have the restaurant stamp your passport and then bring your completed Passport to the Bob Hope Classic Store in Old Town La Quinta to obtain your tickets. List of participating restaurants:
Adobe Grill
www.laquintaresort.com
Amoré Ristorante Italiano
www.amore-dining.com
Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant
www.arnoldpalmersrestaurant.com
Cliffhouse, La Quinta
www.laquintacliffhouse.com
Devane’s Old Town
www.devanesoldtown.com
Harry’s Smokehouse BBQ
www.harrysbbq.com
La Quinta Beer Hunter Sports Pub and Grill
www.laquintabeerhunter.com
Las Casuelas Quinta
www.LasCasuelasQuinta.com
LG’s Prime Steakhouse
www.lgsprimesteakhouse.com
Rosati’s of La Quinta
www.rosatipizza.com
SilverRock Grill
www.silverrock.org
Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill
www.stuftpizza.com/laquinta
Viva Cantina
760) 777-6625
Visit http://bobhopeclassic.com/passport/ for complete details.
The Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs is giving away a 2010 Mini Cooper as the Grand Prize in their current free drawing. Prize drawings will be held January 31st every hour from noon to 5pm. In addition to the Mini Cooper Grand Prize, the casino is also giving away more than $$20,000 in cash, free play. You can stop by the casino to pick up free entires every day and get bonus entries for every 1,000 points earned. Must be 21 years of age and a member of the Paradise Rewards Club to enter. Must be present to win on January 31, 2010.Visit www.sparesortcasino.com for complete rules, restrictions and other information.
The 5th Annual Modernism Week, being held from February 12 through the 21st, will include a number of events this year that are free to the public. A few of the 10-day, 2010 Modernism Week highlights include: A special tribute to renowned modernist architect Albert Frey, a vintage fashion show, an architecture and design film series, an exhibition of vintage travel trailers, a slide show of retro Americana, a vintage car show, architecture tours and other activities that will be held in various venues throughout the City of Palm Springs Get your tickets early at www.modernismweek.com, or contact info@modernismweek.com for additional information.
One of the free events is a slide lecture presented by PSPF the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, Wednesday, February 17, 2010, from 8:30am to 10am, at the Cahuilla Room in the Spa Resort Casino, at 100 N. Indian Canyon.
The Slide Lecture, titled “Lost, Saved and Endangered: Modernist Architecture in Palm Springs” will be given by PSPF board member Gary Johns. Complimentary continental breakfast provided. Lecture is FREE, however, due to limited seating please email info@pspreservationfoundation.org to make reservations. Visit www.modernismweek.com for information about other free events.
Save the date. The First Annual Palm Springs WestFest is free to the public, and the rodeo is reasonably priced. Portions of the proceeds from WestFest go to a variety of charitable foundations in the desert area.
The festival is dedicated to the late Cowboy Mayor Frank M. Bogert who helped bring Hollywood celebrities, heads of state and cowboys of all ages to our resort town. The event features a Rodeo, Music Festival, Taste of the West, Cowboy Ball and Dance Hall, BBQ/Chili Competition, Mounted Shooting Competition, Cowboy Carnival, Golf and Poker Tournaments and more.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: (Line up subject to change, times are approximate.)
Thursday, March 11
7:30 pm – 12 am Frank Bogert Memorial Dinner (by invitation only)
Friday, March 12
Noon- 6 pm WestFest Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
1-6 pm Music Festival Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
6 pm Rodeo performance Avenida Caballeros Rodeo Arena
7:30 – 11 pm Cowboy Ball to benefit Mounted Police Margarita’s Restaurant
Saturday, March 13
10 am -6 pm WestFest Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
11 am-6 pm Music Festival Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
2 pm Rodeo performance Avenida Caballeros Rodeo Arena
8 – 11 pm After Party Margarita’s Restaurant
Sunday March 14
9 am Cowboy Church Avenida Caballeros Rodeo Arena
10 am-6 pm WestFest Avenida Caballeros
11 am-6 pm Music Festival Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
2 pm Rodeo (Fiesta del Charro) Avenida Caballeros Rodeo Arena
6-9 pm After Party Margarita’s Restaurant
The fest will take place adjacent to the Palm Springs Convention Center. For more information and Rodeo pricing visit www.palmspringswestfest.com
The Palm Desert Visitor Center website offers free hiking, mountain biking and horseback trail maps to locals and visitors.
Start your hike or ride on the Hopalong Cassidy Trail, named for the infamous role of one the most well-known residents in Palm Desert’s history, Western actor William Boyd. This trail features an easy climb or ride, plus plenty of scenic spots to stop along the way. For a more vigorous climb, check out the Art Smith Trail where you can choose from shorter or longer hikes and rides among several palm oases. Or head a bit further into the wild and take a trek in the beautiful Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
Road Biking Trips – If your interested in a more scenic bike ride you can download the free Palm Desert road biking trip map on their website. Most of the rides are easy and family-friendly, but you’ll also find plenty of longer tours along area highways and scenic routes that are perfect for the avid cyclist. Don’t forget your helmets and other safety gear.
You can also sign up on the website for a guided group ride through a number of local cycling companies, so you can tour the Coachella Valley and surrounding hills with others. For details contact the Palm Desert Visitor Center at www.palm-desert.org .
To download your free hiking or biking maps visit www.palm-desert.org/things-to-do/outdoor-activities.
Twentynine Palms is located 48 miles from Palm Springs and makes a great day trip. It’s also next door to the Joshua Tree National Park (entrance fee $15 per car) and it offers one of the most interesting free things to do in and around our desert area. Known as the home of the world’s largest Marine base, Twentynine Palms is also home to 21 of the most beautiful outdoor murals you’ll ever see. You can tour the murals online at www.oasisofmurals.com. The website offers the history of each mural, information about the artists and addresses and locations to help you plan your free, self-guided tour. Start by taking a drive up and down Adobe Road, from 29 Palms Highway to the base and back and you’ll spot many of the murals along the way, without ever leaving your car.
The Family Motor Coaching Association (FMCA) Western Area Rally will be held January 6th to the 10th at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio, California.
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.
Seminars:Thursday, January 7, 1:30-3pm, Gem & Mineral B — Topic:“Improve Handling & Mileage by Reducing Resistance”
Friday, January 8, 8:30-9:30AM, Gem & Mineral B — Topic: “Brakes & Safety”
The registration deadline has passed. Please register at the gate. Contacts: Co-Rally Masters: Bobby Donald, 805-479-4483 or Rick Ricordati, 909-496-9010. Groups & Caravans: Jack Calhoun, 702-496-8744. Seminars: John & Joanie Riddle, 714-337-0298. Display Coaches: Dave Brooks, 760-799-5038 or wmhacoachdisplay@aol.
Holding area opens at noon on Sunday, January 3rd, at $15 per night, dry camping, payable on entry. Rally parking starts on Wednesday, January 6th, at 8:30 a.m. All motorhome owners are welcome. Rally Fees – US funds only. Children under 12 FREE.
On Tuesday, January 5th, between 5 and 6:30pm, the Palm Springs Library will host historian Ernest Siva as he shares Native American songs and stories of the Southern California Indian Nations. The program is also sponsored by the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park. (The park is located 33 miles from Palm Springs.) Siva serves as tribal historian and cultural advisor for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. He is also on the board of the California Inidan Stoy Telling Association, the Board of the Riverside Arts Council and the Board of Trustees of Idyllwild Arts.
This free program is open to the public but seating is limited, so call ahead for reservations 760-322-READ or visit www.palmspringslibrary.org. The library is located at 300 S. Sunrise Way.
This one falls under the category of almost free. But even though it’s not a true freebie, it’s too great a giveaway not to mention here. The 2010 Desert Arc Palm Springs Dream Home Raffle is $100 to enter, but you could walk away with a half a million dollar dream home, which is close enough to free.
The 2010 Home Raffle Grand Prize is a brand new 3-bedroom, 3 ½-bath 2400 square-foot luxury home overlooking the sixth tee of the Arnold Palmer course at PGA West in La Quinta, CA. Or you can take $500,000 cash instead. It’s Winner’s Choice.
There are also special drawings with more than 150 additional prizes worth more than $130,000. Tickets are just $100, with discounts for three-, six- and 10-packs. To order, call (888) 771-7784 toll-free, or visit their website for complete details, rules and information, www.palmspringsdreamhomeraffle.com .
DesertArc’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. Serving more than 600 clients in the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin, DesertArc provides vocational training, job placement and employment, residential services, recreational and social opportunities, independent living support and more. For more information, visit www.desertarc.org .
The fall season of Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance just ended. If you just can’t wait for the next season to start, you have an alternative, right here in town. Wednesday Evening Ballroom Dancing at the Palm Springs Pavillion continues through April.
The location is 401 S. Pavilion in Sunrise Park every Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. from September through April.
Dance to live bands and/or CD music on a 10,000 square foot hardwood dance floor. Admission is $7.00 per person from September through December, and $8.00 per person January through April.
A complimentary group dance lesson is offered at 6:30 p.m. with the purchase of your dance ticket. All levels of dancers are welcome. For more information, visit the Palm Springs Parks and Recreation website or call (760) 323-8272.
Located in the Westfield Mall in Palm Desert, The Record Alley is an independent music store featuring CDs, DVDs, a wide selection of vinyl, music memorabilia and collectibles. Ask them about their buy 4 cds and receive 1 cd free special offer as announced on the radio. Stop by the store at 72840 Highway 111 # 171 in Palm Desert, CA 92260-3393 or phone (760) 341-2017 for more information.
Singing the Birds (Wikitmallem Tahmuwhae): Bird Song and Dance Festival is one of the many Agua Caliente Cultural Museum special cultural events offered each year. Admission is free.
Celebrate traditional bird singing and dancing. Through the ages, bird singing and dancing have been an important part of Native culture for tribes in southern California and other regions of the Southwest. This day-long event features honored bird singing groups and dancers from California and neighboring states.
Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Location: Palm Springs High School Gymnasium at 2401 E. Baristo Road, in Palm Springs.
With more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in the world, it only makes sense that the Palm Springs, Coachella Valley area would also have more local golf freebies and discounts than anywhere else in the world. We’ve discovered many of them at www.Twitter.com/PalmSpGolfGuide . If you’re a golfer, you’ll want to visit this site. You don’t have to be a Twitterer or know how to Tweet. Just click the link. And it’s free.
SOS (Soldiers Organized Services) was founded by Erica Stone. The mission of this all volunteer group is to give free rides to our military men and women from the Palm Springs International Airport back to the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base. With a population of over 10,000, the Twenty Nine Palms Marine Base is the largest Marine Base in the world. To volunteer, donate or for more information, visit the SOS website www.sosride.org .
The 2010 Riverside Dickens Festival will be February 5th, 6th, and 7th in historic downtown Riverside, California. The theme for 2010 is “A Visit to the Old Curiosity Shop”. Exciting activities and events for all ages are planned. Plays, street performers, food vendors, educational workshops, musical performances and exhibits are just a few of the events planned. Riverside Dickens Festival is funded in part by the City of Riverside and the Riverside Arts Foundation.
Their purpose is to enhance a sense of community among citizens of Riverside County and Southern California by creating a series of literary events and to provide educational, family-oriented, literary entertainment and activities such as plays, musical performances, pageants, living history presentations, workshops, lectures, classroom study, exhibits and a street bazaar with free entertainment, vendors and costumed characters.
Visit www.dickensfest.com for a list of free entertainment, activities and events offered during the weekend celebration.
