Dreamboats Push Amphitheater to Historic Milestone

Record-Breaking Night: Cathedral City Community Amphitheater Reaches Historic Milestone

CATHEDRAL CITY — It seemed only fitting that a quartet of Canadian boys who call themselves the “Dreamboats” would help make a dream come true for this working-class city that one day dreamed of having an entertainment venue to call its own and fill it to capacity. On Feb. 25, Cathedral City reached a historic milestone as the Community Amphitheater welcomed its largest crowd since opening in 2022. An unprecedented 2,000+ attendees filled the venue for the Tastes & Sounds of Cathedral City featuring The Dreamboats, shattering all previous attendance records.

“What we witnessed last night was truly remarkable,” said Ryan Hunt, Communications & Events Manager. “Seeing our community come together in such numbers speaks volumes about the growing popularity of our events and the special place the amphitheater has become in Cathedral City.”

The electric atmosphere was palpable as The Dreamboats delivered a high-energy performance that had the crowd dancing throughout the evening. Their classic sound and smooth harmonies proved to be the perfect draw for attendees of all ages.

Local food vendors El Reaper Chicken and E & E Pel’s kept the crowd fueled with their popular offerings, while Mary Pickford Theatre provided concessions throughout the evening. The newly implemented BYOB policy also allowed guests to fully enjoy the festival like atmosphere.

The record attendance demonstrates the amphitheater’s growing reputation as a premier entertainment venue in the Coachella Valley since its opening in 2022. Coming off the heels of LeAnn Rimes’ headline performance at the 10th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival, this event further establishes the venue’s drawing power. City officials are optimistic this momentum will continue with upcoming performances in the series.

Yes, the popular, award-winning tunes inspired by the 50s & 60s music the Dreamboats played a role in the historic milestone, but it all started with an idea and the path was not always smooth. This was no accident. This was the result of a City Council with a vision that made it happen.

City Council members who were once called Team 2014 decided to go forward with making the downtown an arts and entertainment district that would include an outdoor amphitheater. Team 2014 included the late Mayor Gregory S. Pettis,; former Council members Stan Henry, Shelley Kaplan, and John Aguilar; and current Councilmember and Mark Carnevale.

“We started with little events, but we saw that they grew fast,” Carnevale told Uken Report. “Within one to two years, we started with the Balloon Festival that just turned into something really huge, then the Taste of Jalisco. It just kept getting bigger. It’s always been the Council’s No. 1 priority to give back to the city, give back to the city for enjoyment, play, fun, education, anything we could do that amphitheater could bring. It brings in health for yoga, it brings in entertainment. I’m very proud of the autism event that will be held there,”

“It was a real, real challenge. We came across some issues and engineering and costs and everything, but we forced through it. We didn’t look back. We said, ‘Hey, we got to keep moving forward.” And now with this event, there’s boxing matches there. The police-fire, put in boxing matches for youth and adults, firefighters, police officers. So, we saw that there’s a need for this.”

Carnevale also said he would me remiss if he did not give kudos to Communication & Events coordinator who has worked tirelessly fo the past two years to attract new events — and Chris Parman, Hunt’s predecessor.

“We wanted to let everyone know when we named this that it’s a community place for enjoyment and fun, “Carnevale said. “It’s just going to keep growing, Cindy. It’s not going to stop. We’re going to see if we can build onto the property behind it, to see what we can do to build onto it for bigger and better events. But I’m completely honored to have a fingerprint on that, getting it going.”

“There’s an old saying” he said. “First, you got to dream it, then you’ve got to want it, and then you got to get it.” And that’s what we did. We dreamed it, we wanted it, and we got it. And for the community.”

“I’m speaking for myself. I knew we had to complete this journey for Greg Pettis and all he did get it started as well,” Carnevale said.  They say, ‘You build it, they will come,’ Well, that’s not necessarily true. You’ve got to work at it. You’ve got to get them there. And we’ve done a great job building it and getting the people to come and enjoy it.

Just recently at last council, Ryan Hunt was speaking about new bands and stuff, and I says, “Hey Ryan, you could use that for comedy shows, children’s shows, comedy acts, magicians coming up there.” I mean, there’s so many, many things we can continue to do, and that’s what’s exciting. The part about it’s just the more we put into it, the bigger it’s going to get. So, we’re really broadening the thoughts on what kind of entertainment we get there for the local community.”

Parman said his role was to support city staff in completing the amphitheater’s construction and launching its event programming.

“The amphitheater has become a cornerstone of our downtown, providing a dynamic space for the city’s signature events — including the Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival, Taste of Jalisco, and Cathedral City LGBT+ Days — as well as a variety of festivals and private events hosted by third parties,” Parman said. “Its thoughtful design accommodates a wide range of activities, from concerts and art festivals to food truck gatherings and yoga classes. The City Council’s vision for our downtown truly came to life, and it’s been incredible to see the community embrace and enjoy this vibrant new space.”

Hunt has taken the amphitheater under his wing, nurturing it every step of the way, touting its highlights and milestones with unbridled passion.

Since opening in 2022, the Community Amphitheater has transformed into a cornerstone of community entertainment, helping to cement and increase Cathedral City’s reputation as an events hub in the Coachella Valley. What began with seven major events in our inaugural year has expanded to 11 events in 2023 and now 13 events in 2024 – representing a 71% increase in just two years. More significantly, our programming has expanded from single-day events to multi-week series that activate the venue for extended periods (20 weeks out of 52 annual calendar weeks featured some form of amphitheater activity in 2024), Hunt said.

The Taste & Sounds of Cathedral City series has been particularly transformative for the venue. This 8-week series has consistently brought hundreds of visitors per week to our downtown, which also creates substantial economic impact for surrounding businesses.

Another milestone was hosting our first major headliner concert with Emily West and LeAnn Rimes during the 10th Anniversary Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival in November 2024. This represented a significant step forward in positioning the Community Amphitheater as a premier entertainment destination capable of attracting world-class talent. “What was particularly gratifying was hearing from LeAnn’s Tour Manager and team about how impressed they were with our Communications & Events staff, A/V capabilities, and the overall talent of our lean, but mighty city staff. Their positive feedback validates that we can deliver professional-caliber experiences despite not having the resources of larger venues,” Hunt said.

“What makes the Community Amphitheater so important to both the city and me personally is seeing how it fulfills its original vision as a community gathering space that brings people together while driving economic activity,” Hunt said. “By offering free and accessible programming like the Parks & Community Events Commission’s weekly yoga sessions alongside ticketed signature events, we’ve created a venue that serves all segments of our community while attracting visitors from throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond.

“Our dedication to diversity and inclusivity is exemplified by Cathedral City LGBT+ Days, which has become a signature event celebrating our LGBTQ+ community and reinforcing Cathedral City’s reputation as one of the most welcoming cities in the valley. We’re also especially proud of our commitment to inclusive programming through events like the Color the Spectrum Autism Arts Festival and the Autism Society Inland Empire’s Autism Walk & Festival. These events align perfectly with Cathedral City’s recent Autism Certification, demonstrating our dedication to creating welcoming and accessible spaces for all community members.”

The venue’s recognition as a finalist for The Desert Sun’s Community Choice Awards for Best Event Venue in the Coachella Valley validates the hard work our team has invested. We’re particularly proud of new events like Coachella Valley Bully Fest, Coachella Valley Barber Fest, 8th Annual Palm Springs Police Association Memorial Ride, and Mi Chavela Fest that showcase the diverse interests of our community while attracting new audiences to Cathedral City.

The popularity of the Cathedral City Community Amphitheatre extends beyond evening concerts, as the Tuesday morning yoga program also broke attendance records with 207 participants. This combination of morning yoga and evening Tastes & Sounds events is creating a full day of free activities for residents and visitors to enjoy at the amphitheater. City officials are optimistic this momentum will continue with upcoming performances in the series.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to attend the remaining performances in the Tastes & Sounds of Cathedral City series:

• March 4 – Cathedral City LGBT+ Days Kick-Off with Uncle D’s Smokehouse BBQ & Grill
• March 11 – Giselle Woo & The Night Owls with FatBoy Tacos
• March 18 – Radio Ready with TKB Food Truck
• March 25 – CCHS Band & Choir Showcase with Meester Zebra Restaurant (No BYOB at this event)
• April 1 – ABBAFAB with TKB Food Truck
• April 8 – Leanna & Miguel on Congas with Nick’s Bistro

E & E Pel’s in Cathedral City will also join the city on March 4, March 11 & April 1 selling their famous fresh fruit all natural Italian ice drinks. Nice Hass also will be joining the city March 4 and 11, offering their locally sourced, avocado-centric cuisine.

All events run from 5:30-7:30pm with doors opening around 4:45-5pm. As always, admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to arrive early. Limited picnic tables are available, but guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets for seating.

For more information, please visit tastesandsounds.discovercathedralcity.com.