Evening Events

EVENING EVENTS

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Palm Springs VillageFest - 6:00 pm — 10:00 pm

Arriving the night before the conference starts? Join thousands of visitors and locals in beautiful downtown Palm Springs on Thursday evening for the valley's finest event. Every Thursday evening, downtown Palm Springs transforms into a bustling venue with a diverse array of artists, artisans, entertainers, and purveyors of fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, jewelry, snacks, and sweets. Add all that to the great shops, restaurants, clubs, and entertainment venues located along world famous Palm Canyon Drive, and the result is one of Southern California's most popular weekly events: VillageFest!

Friday, October 21, 2016

STEM Pool Party and Engineering Challenge - 6:45 pm — 9:30 pm

Palm Springs is all about hanging by the pool! Join CSTA for a fun evening of music, networking, and more around the largest swimming pool in Palm Springs! The Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel pool deck features cabanas, fire pits, and a heated swimming pool. CSTA and the UCR Bourns College of Engineering/MESA program will add a twist to the standard pool party scene with engineering challenges! Register your team for the cardboard boat challenge (teams of 2 to 4) and race across the swimming pool, try to build a stomp rocket that will clear the pool, or just kick back and enjoy the music. Be sure to buy your ticket, only $10, for this fun event. No need to find a place to have dinner in town before the event, your $10 ticket entitles you to $10 worth of food and drinks.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

The Choice Is Yours!

Hang out at the pool, catch a movie, enjoy dinner out with friends, or join a group of fellow conference attendees on a trip to the casino!

Downtown Palm Springs is just a few blocks from the host hotel and convention center. The downtown core features restaurants, bars, and nightclubs galore . Looking for something a little more low-key? Grab a movie at the nearby cinema, or simply relax at the hotel pool or bar.

Dine About Palm Springs

CSTA is pleased to offer conference attendees an opportunity to meet and network with fellow science teachers. We have made reservations at several area restaurants for Saturday, October 22 at 7:00 pm. Each reservation is for a table of six, and the restaurants have all agreed to issue separate checks.

Here is how the program works: Visit the Dine-About Palm Springs sign-up board in the CSTA booth on Saturday until 3:30 pm. There you will find the list of restaurants, sample menus, and a sign-up sheet. If you would like to eat at that restaurant, add your name to the list. Once the sign-up list is full, no more names can be added. On Saturday, October 22, arrive at your restaurant of choice and check in for the reservation being held under the name of CSTA. Then enjoy an evening shared with your fellow science teachers, making new friends, and enjoying a night out on the town.

Casino Night @ Spa Resort Casino - 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Feeling lucky? Want to take your chance at pulling the wheel or your luck of the draw? The Spa Resort Casino is a stone's throw away for those with a gambling spirit or adventure for nightlife. Go on your own or travel with a group. CSTA will lead the group from the lobby of the Palm Springs Convention Center to the Casino at 7:00 pm.

Spa Resort Casino offers an action-packed, 24-hour casino with slots, table games, high-limit gaming and a gorgeous live music lounge in a setting that is stylish, yet comfortable. Spa Resort Casino is also home to the area’s only fully-enclosed, non-smoking slot room.

When it’s time to take a break from the action, a variety of popular restaurants are right off the casino floor. Steps from the fabled Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs, is one of the city's best-kept secrets in fine dining: The Steakhouse at Spa Resort Casino, honored with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Even more awaits Spa Resort Casino guests at the Paradise Rewards Club. Make that the first stop and sign up for membership with a chance to win $5,000 Paradise Cash Play.

Night at the Movies!

Want to catch a movie while you are in Palm Springs for the conference? Regal Cinemas has a 9 screen theater just a few minutes walk from the Hilton and Renaissance hotels.