The biggest lesbian party in the world - get the lowdon from Founder Mariah Hanson

To round up our feature of the month on International Women's Festivals we spoke to Mariah Hanson, founder of The Original Dinah Shore Weekend (aka The Dinah) shortly after the amazing 24th event, the biggest lesbian party in the world attracting in the regional of 15,000 women. 
Read about our experience at the 2014 party.

Planet London (PL): 24 years is a long time to run a festival; for anyone who hasn’t been – what should they expect and how has it evolved over the years?
Mariah Hanson (MH): It's the wildest and certainly the most fun filled five days imaginable. You can expect meeting thousands of women from all over the globe, as excited as you are to have the time of their lives. Expect top notch entertainment, seeing your favorite artists close up and personal and then don’t be surprised when after the concert they come on to the dance floor and party all night. Many have and we expect will keep on living up to the tradition that 'What happens at The Dinah, stays at The Dinah ;)
PL: No other event gets 15,000+ lesbians in one place every year, How do you keep the event fresh & growing? 
MH: I stay on top of the latest trends in music and we don't toy too much with the basic structure of the event. Basically we are five days of the most amazing girl parties imaginable.

PL: The introduction of the film festival has been popular, will the continue and will you be adding more similar events to the schedule?
MH: We are still growing the film festival and like to focus on our new endeavors before we add new options. That said, we have also added celebrity poker.
 
PL: This year was a stellar line up, with the L Word reunion, plus first timers Mary Lambert and Tegan & Sarah to name a few – how did it feel to have such top level entertainment? 
MH: We have top level entertainment every year. Past alumni have included Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, India.Arie, Salt and Pepa, Ke$ha, Natasha Bedingfield, Dev and The Cataracs, Colbie Caillat. At The Dinah, you can always expect amazing acts ;)
 
PL: So how on earth are you going to make the 25th Dinah Shore bigger and better? You’ve set quite a bar this year… 
MH: I'm thinking ... I'm thinking.

The Dinah 2014 - it's HUGE!

TEGAN & SARA, MARY LAMBERT, EVE AND
IGGY AZALEA HEADLINE THE EPIC

CLUB SKIRTS DINAH SHORE WEEKEND 

THE BIGGEST LESBIAN EVENT OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD!

More than 15,000 women from all over the world are once again expected to gather in Palm Springs, CA, to attend the biggest lesbian event of its kind in the world, Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend -  the original Dinah Shore Weekend - slated for April 2 to April 6, 2014 (www.thedinah.com).

Celebrating this year its milestone 24th Anniversary, The Dinah is a one-of-a-kind destination where women of all ages, interests, ability, relationship status, cultural background and profession come together for one big giant celebration of the community.  A life changing experience offering lesbians the opportunity to express themselves, to be who they truly and gain a tremendous amount of self worth. 

The Dinah is also a unique five-day affair of lesbionic luxury and fun complete with epic pool parties, unique high-profile nightlife events, celebrity appearances, live performances, a famous celebrity Dodgeball game, a film festival, a Celebrity Poker Tournament, philanthropy, the hottest women, the best DJs, and so much more.

Turning this year again the city of Palm Springs into the ultimate entertainment hub, the 2014 Dinah Entertainment Roster delivers an epic slate of Top Ten Billboard headliners that make up one hell of a line up - one of the greatest in The Dinah's history.

Headlining this year is Lesbian cult favorites Tegan and Sara. The pop sensation duo will bring their “Heartthrob” world tour to The Dinah with an exclusive concert on Saturday, April 5 at "The Black Party" at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The twin sisters have been on an unstoppable meteoric rise since the release of their 7^th studio album “Heartthrob” and the massive success of their lead single "Closer". Their Dinah performance marks the first time the pop stars perform at an all lesbian event.

 

Also headlining the "Black Party" is female rap titan Eve. The Grammy-Award winning rapper will perform her slew of music anthems including "Satisfaction," “Who’s That Girl”, "Gangsta Lovin’”, and "Let Me Blow Your Mind". Also set to top the bill at the epic lesbian party is hip-hop’s biggest revelation Iggy Azalea who will take center stage at the iconic "White Party", Friday, April 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

The Dinah 2014 will also be rocked with special performances from 2014 Grammy nominee Mary Lambert, the voice behind Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ VMA award-winning pro-equality  “Same Love”; Grammy Award-Winning R&B diva, Evelyn "Champagne" King known for her multi-million selling classic old-school smashes  “Shame” and ”Love Come Down”; Thea Austin, the legendary voice of "Rhythm is a Dancer" by Snap!; and power, pop/punk band and stars of “The Real L Word” Season 3, Hunter Valentine, to name a few.

On the comedy front, “The Dinah Comedy Night” hosted by Suzanne Westenhoefer will be headlined by Fortune Feimster of E! "Chelsea Lately". The loveable Southern comic will be joined by Last Comic Standing alumni, British comic Gina Yashere and stand up’s fastest rising star, Erin Foley.

Returning this year is the “Celebrity Poker Tournament” with all proceeds going to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Celebrities joining the poker tables include Jill Bennett ("Second Shot"), Chef K (ABC "The Taste"), Guinevere Turner ("American Psycho"), Ari Fitz ("MTV The Real World Ex-Plosion"), Gloria Bigelow ("Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious"), Tracy Ryerson ("The Real L Word"), and Brittany Wiener (Bravo "Millionaire Matchmaker") among many others.

Also coming back is The Dinah Film Festival presented by OML, held on Friday, April 4, at 8:00 p.m at the Hilton Hotel. Produced by award-winning filmmaker JD DiSalvatore  (the producer of Shelter, Marine Story and Elena undone, to name a few), the Dinah film Festival will showcase a variety of quality lesbian films including “Little Horribles”  "Nikki & Nora", "Kiss Her I'm Famous", "Dyke Central", and the short film "Secrets & Toys", among others.  

New this year is the "Battle of the DJs" hosted by Dinah's resident DJs Lezlee, Asha, Lisa Pittman, Saratonin and Amara. The competition held over two-days will feature some of the best DJs on the West Coast!

If that weren’t hot enough, did we mention the exclusive L Word Pool Party? 

Hosted in association with Showtime, The L Word Pool party will be held on Saturday April 5 at the Hilton Hotel. 

L Word iconic stars, Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig will, respectively, step back one more time into their famed Alice Pieszecki and Shane McCutcheon shoes for an exclusive meet and greet hosted from 2:30pm to 5:00pm in the grand Ballroom.  

Joining the Dinah’s exclusive L Word cast member reunion is Laurel Holloman, aka Tina Kennard, who will be showing and selling her prints of a series entitled “Written on the Body”, poolside at the Palm Springs Hilton Hotel, all day, Saturday, April 5 during the L Word Pool Party and Sunday April 6 during the “Wet & Wild Pool Party”.

Holloman’s appearance at the Dinah will mark her second exclusive private showing for Club Skirts, something she wanted to give to her fans and art lovers for their continuous support. Dinah attendees will be able to purchase posters of her pieces and meet with The L Word star that will be on hand to personally sign each copy.

As this year marks the 10^th Anniversary of the official television debut of The L Word, Club Skirts and SHOWTIME are proudly commemorating the nostalgia of a memorable era in lesbian culture that celebrated out loud our “girls in tight dresses who drag with mustaches”!

The epic five-day world-renown weekend is already making a lot of noise and is well on its way to be the biggest Dinah EVER. 

You'd never seen anything like it yet … this is going to be an unforgettable year!

 

Celebrity Line Up Announcements for The Original Dinah Shore Weekend

Celebrity Acts Announced for The Dinah 2014

We'll be updating this article as the exciting celebrity acts are announced for The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend 2014. 

Spot Planet London's Katie in this video (hint - Dodgeball scene)


***Getting to The Dinah***

We'd already secured you an EXCLUSIVE 25% off Platinum tickets AND 20% off VIP tickets to this major event in the lesbian calendar and now we're delighted to offer you a chance to WIN 2 free VIP tickets when you book your Dinah Shore Travel and Accommodation Package with us and Diva Destination.
- Go straight to booking!

Read about our experience at The Dinah 2013 - amazing acts, parties, film & WOMEN. 
Further details about the ClubSkirts Original Dinah Shore Weekend and interview with Mariah Hanson

Celebrity Poker Table Hosts announced - whooppeee our buddy Jill Bennett, plus loads of other hot celebs including Tracy Ryerson, Rolla Selbak, Nicole Pacent & More... The Poker Tournament raises money for LGBT rights organisation, HRC.

Just announced - and we are sooo excited....

CLUB SKIRTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH SHOWTIME^® PRESENTS “THE L WORD^®” DINAH POOL PARTY WITH AN EXCLUSIVE MEET & GREET WITH STARS

KATE MOENNIG & LEISHA HAILEY

On Saturday, April 5, 2014, The L Word stars Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig will, respectively, step back one more time into their famed Alice Pieszecki and Shane McCutcheon shoes for an exclusive meet and greet hosted from 2:30pm to 5:00pm at The Hilton Hotel. Fans will also be able to catch them on the red carpet at the Dinah's "Black Party" held later on Saturday night at the Palm Springs Convention Center. 

Dinah attendees will have the once in a lifetime chance to take photos and get their favorite L Word memorabilia autographed by two of the most popular characters of the beloved, critically-acclaimed television series. In addition, limited edition The L Word swag will exclusively be given away throughout the event courtesy of SHOWTIME.

As this year marks the 10^th Anniversary of the official television debut of The L Word, Club Skirts and SHOWTIME are proudly commemorating the nostalgia of a memorable era in lesbian culture that celebrated out loud our “girls in tight dresses who drag with mustaches”!

SHOWTIME has been a long-time supporter of the LGBT community with programs like The L Word and The Real L Word^®, and has developed over the years a close relationship with Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend. The Dinah served as the focal location for both series.

We all remember Shane, Alice, Jenny, and Dana eventful roadtrip to The Dinah, the biggest lesbian event in the world, in Season One. Likewise, The Real L Word shot episodes of Season One and Two at Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend and notably dedicated two back-to-back full episodes to the event in its third season.

An amazing HEADLINE ACT for The Original Dinah Shore Weekend 2014!
Popular lesbian favourite TEGAN AND SARA will play the Saturday night concert at the Palm Springs Convention Centre. Topping off a genuinely exciting line up for the 2014 event. 

Reminiscent of its 2009 phenomenal line-up of performances by international mega-superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend hits a home run again this year with a huge concert- program featuring one of today’s biggest music stars: pop sensation Tegan and Sara.

The iconic world-renown lesbian event – the original Dinah Shore Weekend – is celebrating its 24^th Anniversary by upping up the volume more than a notch, and scoring a sizzling coup for its high-profiled party on Saturday night.

Keeping the festivities at the Palm Springs Convention Center – the desert’s largest concert venue – twin sisters Tegan and Sara will headline the famed soiree on Saturday, April 5, 2014.

Continuing their mission to become the biggest pop sensation out of Canada since Justin Bieber, Tegan and Sara have been on an unstoppable meteoric rise since the release of their 7^th studio album dubbed “Heartthrob”, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200. The band’s lead single “Closer” has broken into the Top 20 on the Pop Charts, is currently on rotation on over 150 Top 40 radio nationwide, and week after week keeps a solid spot on the VH1’s Top 20 Countdown.

Canadian-born Tegan and Sara Quin have been lesbian cult favorites ever since they first grabbed attention as 15-year-olds. They are sisters, they are twins, they are both lesbian, and they make outstanding music. It’s no surprise they recently have been invited to perform “Closer” with Taylor Swift at one of her August Staples Center shows, were featured on NBC’s The Today Show on September 30th, and were handpicked by Dinah alumnus, Katy Perry, to perform at the “We Can Survive” benefit concert on October 23 at the Hollywood Bowl.

More acts announced: Souful Divas bring old skool acts to The Dinah
Hip Hop Superstar EVE on Saturday at the Saturday night party.

Friday will kick things off with the Annual TGIDF (Thank God It’s Dinah Friday) Pool Party at the Hilton hotel with an exclusive live performance by Evelyn “Champagne” King.  Keeping the party going and Palm Springs rocking until the very last day of the festival, Thea Austin – the former lead singer of the 90s hit making machine/Euro dance project Snap! – will take the stage at Zeldaz Nightclub for The Dinah’s official Closing Party.

HIP-HOP’S BIGGEST REVELATION

IGGY AZALEA

ANNOUNCED AS ONE OF THE HEADLINERS

AT THE 2014 CLUB SKIRTS DINAH SHORE WEEKEND

 

Iggy Azalea, one of the most hyped MCs/female rapper in American hip-hop, is set to headline The Dinah’s Friday night “White Party” at the Palm Springs Convention Center on April 4, 2014.

Azalea whizzed into Internet fame as the white girl (now L.A. based) with a raw, no-nonsense delivery, a penchant for dirty talk, and a string of stylized, provocative music videos. 

Being an MTV Artist to Watch, snatching a major record deal with Island Def Jam, touring with Beyoncé in Australia, and preparing her debut album “The New Classic” (due out early next year), Azalea has established herself as an unmistakable member of rap music’s next generation. She broke through a long-standing barrier within hip-hop by becoming the first female MC named to XXL Magazine’s “Freshmen Class” list of rap’s fastest-rising young stars.

Rock Band & Stars of The Real L Word Season 3: Hunter Valentine   
To Take Center Stage at Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend’s World-Renowned Pool Party

MARY LAMBERT PERFORMING AT THE DINAH ON SUNDAY NIGHT

Rising star, You tube sensation and openly "femme lesbian" Lambert, will be performing to guests in her first spot at The Dinah. 

THE VOICE & SONGWRITER BEHIND MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS’ PRO-EQUALITY HIT SONG "SAME LOVE"

Mary Lambert, the featured vocalist and songwriter on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ VMA award-winning pro-equality anthem “Same Love”, is confirmed to be performing at the original Dinah Shore Weekend in Palm Springs.

The Dinah Shore event is renowned for booking stars on the rise, and previous performers include Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Ke$ha. Let's hope similar success will be in store for Lambert following her spot, as  the Seattle-based singer-songwriter and spoken word artist, takes the stage on Sunday, April 6, 2014 at the Hilton Hotel for the grand finale of the Dinah’s legendary series of pool parties.

Lambert has single-handedly captured the attention of the entire nation and the LGBT community with her incredible breakout role in Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ single “Same Love”. The song, a heartfelt plea for tolerance and gay rights, on which she wrote and sings its hauntingly catchy chorus, has allowed Lambert’s voice to reach millions.  It was recorded during the campaign for Washington State Referendum 74, which resulted in legalized same-sex marriages.

As one of the biggest music revelations of 2013, Lambert went from juggling several jobs to playing in front of thousands of people, touring across the country, and performing live on national television on such hugely popular primetime and late night shows.

Lambert recently expanded on the chorus of her marriage equality anthem releasing the very personal song, "She Keeps Me Warm," about being in love with a woman. The song's video has attracted more than 2 million views on VEVO and YouTube since the single dropped in the summer. Now stepping out on her own, Lambert is currently working on her first full-length album, which is set to drop in 2014.

 

THE DINAH COMEDY NIGHT

Featuring Chelsea Lately’s Fortune Feimster

With Last Comic Standing’s Gina Yashere & Erin Foley

 

The Dinah Comedy Night brings together three of the most acclaimed female stand up comics, Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 8:00pm at The Palm Springs Convention Center, in what is poised to be an unforgettable evening of hilarious stand-up comedy.

Fortune Feimster, who landed her writer/performer spot with "Chelsea Lately" six months after her appearance on "Last Comic Standing" where she was a semifinalist, will be joined by another Last Comic Standing alumni, British comic Gina Yashere, and stand up’s fastest rising star, Erin Foley.

Guaranteeing a laugh-fest, Feimster, Foley, and Yashere offer the perfect explosive mix of comedy! This high-energy, uniquely creative, hysterical trio will deliver a diverse range of topics, styles, and flavors, giving something for everyone of all ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds to enjoy.

The loveable Southern comic, Fortune Feimster is a full-time writer and performer on E!'s popular late night talk show "Chelsea Lately" with Chelsea Handler . When not giving funny commentary on the latest news in pop culture, she can be seen imitating the likes of Khloe Kardashian, Christina Aguilera, Honey Boo Boo, and Mama June.

Her co-star, Gina Yashere has been a stand up and TV star in the UK for several years.  She broke onto the American comedy scene with her appearances on NBC’s Last Comic Standing  (where she made it to the final 10) and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC), as Madame Yashere, The Surly Psychic. The Hollywood Reporter recently named her "one of the top 10 rising talents". Her bombastic delivery, infectious personality and cheeky observations have wowed audiences not just in the UK and the US, but also around the world.

Without a doubt one of the lesbian community’s favorite rising stars, Erin Foley is a hugely talented comedian with a style and wit that has earned her a strong and respectable following. She’s also a gifted actress whose impeccable comedic timing and ease in front of the camera has placed her alongside the most sought-after funny ladies working in entertainment today. From New York City’s comedy club circuit to her Gays R Us show at the Hollywood Improv, Foley is on a roll and everywhere.