Palm Springs Village Fest board approves vendor lineup, asks two applicants to return and adds transgender health programming

The Palm Springs Village Fest Board on Jan. 13 approved a slate of vendors and performers for the 2026 season, declined two applications pending follow-up, and voted to add transgender health and wellness programming to the event.

Board chair Roberts opened the meeting and confirmed a quorum. The board approved the posted agenda and minutes, then moved into vendor presentations and votes. After brief presentations and sampling, the board approved several food and craft vendors and performers, including Handles (an ice-cream truck operated by Colin Fox), Humblebee Sourdough, singer–songwriter Phil Paige, ceramics maker Hugh Nimar, tie-dye vendor Denuda McCarthy and local author John Stark. Staff clarified that the city determines vendor placement on the street and that certain operational details (for instance, whether a vendor sells pints or uses cones) can be adjusted through staff approval after initial board authorization.

Two applications were declined conditionally. Amber Denton, who presented handmade tallow skincare, was asked to return with original, clearly labeled packaging and to remove or disallow medical claims on product labels. As staff told the board, “We cannot allow you to make those statements,” in reference to medicinal claims for conditions such as psoriasis and eczema; the board voted to disapprove the application for now and invited Denton to reapply after addressing packaging and labeling concerns.

A second applicant, Elena Calimanas, described a newly formed 501(c)(3) that she said provides rapid, small-dollar assistance for people experiencing homelessness (for example, paying for a permit or vehicle registration). Board members pressed for documentation, governance details and evidence of IRS recognition and community ties; several members said they could not find independent public records for the organization. The board voted to disapprove the request for now and asked Calimanas to return with clearer documentation and third-party verifications before the board would reconsider.

In programming matters, the board unanimously approved adding transgender health and wellness to Village Fest programming after a presentation from Mia Hutchinson, outreach coordinator and navigator at the Transgender Public Women Center, who described services including gender-affirming care, community-health workers and assistance with housing and insurance navigation.

Staff also notified the board that it will hold a special study session on Monday, Jan. 26, starting at 9 a.m., to review proposed changes to the Village Trust rules line-by-line and to hear a presentation from the marketing consultant and student survey results. Nick (staff) said the study session will run in-person in the building to enable streaming and recording, and that the board will refine rule changes there before returning a final package for adoption and onward transmittal to city council.

Votes at a glance - Bling Prints — approve trailer setup (motion passed). (vendor change) - Handles (Colin Fox) — approved to vend with ice-cream truck (motion passed). - Phil Paige — performer approved (motion passed). - Jessica Rodriguez (matcha) — approved to vend beverages (motion passed). - Amber Denton (tallow skincare) — disapproved; board requested return with original packaging and removal of medical claims (motion passed to disapprove and request resubmittal). - Humblebee Sourdough — approved (motion passed). - Denuda McCarthy (tie-dye) — approved (motion passed). - John Stark (author) — approved (motion passed). - Hugh Nimar (ceramics) — approved (motion passed). - Elena Calimanas (new 501(c)(3) soliciting donations) — disapproved pending documentation; asked to return with evidence of IRS recognition and governance (motion passed). - Transgender health and wellness programming — added to Village Fest programming (motion passed).

Board members consistently asked vendors for clarifying operational details such as packaging, labeling, whether goods are made on-site (the arts-and-crafts 75% standard was referenced by staff) and how spoiled or perishable items would be handled. On conditional disapprovals the board emphasized consumer clarity (distinct vendor packaging and accurate ingredient/claim labeling) and nonprofit accountability (documents, board membership and proof of IRS recognition).

Next steps: Applicants asked to return with requested documentation or packaging changes. Staff will present vendor-survey data and the marketing consultant’s work at the Jan. 26 study session, where the board will also review the Village Trust rules line-by-line before moving a final rules package to city council.

(Reporting note: attributions in this article come from speakers’ self-identifications and on-the-record board and staff statements made during the Jan. 13 meeting.)