Alright, listen up. After 34 years of making the desert sweat with pool parties, live music, and legendary queer vibes, Mariah Hanson, the brains and heart behind The Dinah, is stepping away. Yep, the woman who built the world’s biggest and longest-running festival for queer women, non-binary folks, and allies is calling it quits after the 2025 event.
We partnered with The Dinah last year, and it was truly epic to see what Mariah has built. Think thousands of queer women and non-binary poeple coming together to dance, connect, and just be completely themselves in one of the most electric atmospheres you’ll ever find. The kind of weekend where you lose your phone but find your people instead.
Mariah announced that the next festival, September 24–28, 2025 at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs, will be her last time producing The Dinah. She says it’s time to pass the torch – to let a new generation bring their energy and ideas to keep this wild, vibrant, and culture-shaping event alive. Thank god it’s not stopping altogether! Phew.
On that note, we asked Mariah who she hopes will take over her queer baby moving forward. Her answer? Full of heart, as always:
“I hope that whoever takes over The Dinah will honor its 34-year legacy of unabashedly creating community and at the same time have the vision to take this beautiful event to the next level.”
If you didn’t know, The Dinah started in 1991 as a small weekend getaway and has since blown up into a global queer phenomenon. Over the years, Mariah’s been a genius at spotting talent – she’s responsible for putting future stars like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Lizzo, Bebe Rexha, and Doechii on stage before they were massive. So yeah, she’s kind of the OG queer tastemaker.
The Dinah has always been more than just a festival. It’s a space for visibility, community, and that rare kind of freedom you only get when you’re surrounded by thousands of people just like you. Mariah’s final edition promises to be a huge celebration of all that: the music, the culture, the sense of belonging.
One highlight you absolutely don’t want to miss? Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey – aka Shane and Alice from The L Word – are coming back for the Saturday Pool Party. They’ll be signing their new book “So Gay for You” (yes, it’s as good as it sounds), taking photos, and making a red carpet appearance. Only 150 signed copies will be available there, so get ready to hustle if you want one.
Beyond that, the entertainment lineup is shaping up to be next-level, with chart-topping queer artists and surprise guests set to make Mariah’s final Dinah a send-off for the history books. The full lineup drops mid-June, so keep your eyes peeled.
So, how’s Mariah feeling about handing over the reigns after three and a half decades of throwing the most iconic queer weekender on earth?
“I feel mixed, of course. The Dinah has been my life and I am very proud of the event and how we have all come together to create something so magical and beautiful. I’m touched by the lives we’ve changed and the hope we have instilled in our customers. I will miss that. But I also think it’s time to let someone else take what I have built and bring it to greater heights.”
So, whether you’re a Dinah veteran or thinking about finally making the trip, 2025 is your moment. Grab your tickets at thedinah.com, and don’t miss out on being part of queer history in the making.
Lastly, we need to give Mariah a huge shoutout.
Mariah, thanks for 34 years of making magic happen. You built a party for thousands of us to be unapologetically ourselves. We’re beyond grateful for the legacy you’ve created and the doors you’ve opened for queer artists. Here’s to whatever comes next – you’ve earned every bit of rest and joy after changing queer culture forever. We’ll be raising a glass to you at The Dinah and beyond.
See you there,
Team Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
