Holidays Begin Here In Palm Springs: Christmas Tree Lighting, Festival Of Lights

PALM SPRINGS, CA — The favored Palm Springs Festival of Lights starts once again next week for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, city officials say.

The 29th annual holiday festival will start at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, on Palm Canyon Drive and will feature twinkling floats, marching bands, huge holiday balloons and Santa Claus.

This year's Community Grand Marshals are Mariah Hanson, founder of Dinah Shore Weekend, and Linda Barrack, CEO of Martha's Village and Kitchen.

Palm Springs will also host its official Holiday Tree Lighting the night before on Friday, Dec. 3, at Frances Stevens Park, 500 N. Palm Canyon Drive.

The tree lighters will be parade grand marshals Hanson and Barrack.

The tree lighting festivities kick off at 4:30 p.m. in the park on the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Alejo Road on Friday —and will feature free cookies and hot cocoa, traditional holiday caroling, children’s craft activities followed by a visit from Santa Claus of course! Then it’s time for the lighting of the city’s magnificent 22-foot “green” Holiday Tree adorned in thousands of energy-efficient lights.

Be there by 5:15 p.m. to ensure seeing the lighting of the tree!

It will be a full weekend of exciting holiday entertainment, Mayor Christy Holstege says.

"After a long period of pandemic restrictions, the City of Palm Springs is thrilled to once again celebrate the joy of the holiday season with our residents and visitors at the Official City of Palm Springs Holiday Tree Lighting and at the spectacular Festival of Lights Parade," Holstege said.

"We invite the entire Coachella Valley to come to celebrate the magic of the holidays in downtown Palm Springs, truly like no place else!"