Glad Tidings: The Holidays in Palm Springs

It’s a great time of year to spend the holidays in Palm Springs. The warmth and sunshine will put you in good cheer.

Colored Lights that Shine So Bright

Palm Springs Arial Tramway

The Palm Springs Arial Tramway kicks off the season with their annual tree lighting.

UFC Hall-of-Famer Cub Swanson will serve as the 2022 celebrity tree lighter for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, December 4. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Tram’s Mountain Station with the Palm Springs High School Madrigals & String Quartet performing holiday favorites. Swanson will follow by lighting the Tram’s landmark 45-foot tree comprised of over 4,000 LED lights, which can be seen throughout the Coachella Valley.

Select Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays through December 11, guests can listen to holiday favorites performed by a different high school choir. For the 2022 holiday season, the Palm Springs Tramway is proud to present the following line-up:

Friday, Dec. 2 – Martin Luther King High School Chamber Singers &; Show Choir

Sunday, Dec. 4 – Palm Springs High School Madrigals &; String Quartet

Thursday, Dec. 8 – Coachella Valley High School Concert Choir

Friday, Dec. 9 – The Lion’s Pride Chamber Singers (Cathedral City High School)

Sunday, Dec. 11 – Encore High School for the Arts Madrigals

Festival of Lights

The Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is marching its way along Palm Canyon Drive, Saturday, December 3.  Elaborate floats mingle with underrated community displays, harmonizing in a caravan of togetherness. All eyes are on the best fest in the west, which is why the Festival of Lights has earned its spot among the most praiseworthy holiday displays in the country. It truly glows beyond the borders of Coachella Valley!

VillageFest

Even after the last float sets sail, Palm Canyon continues to be the epicenter of excellent events. Every Thursday night, VillageFest welcomes local vendors who are overflowing with Christmas cheer. Stock up on tasty treats and artistic keepsakes, all amidst the sprawling crispness of a temperate desert evening. Browse everything from house wares to resort wear and drink in the spirit of the season (and enjoy some actual spirits while you’re here)!

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

If family fun is at the top of your wish list, take a soul-satisfying safari to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. From Dec. 2 – 30, their habitat illuminates in a WildLights display that will dazzle the most diehard decoration hounds. While you’re there, experience the new rhino exhibit. It’s a tusk-see event! Talk about a horn of plenty.

Entertainment for All, and to All a Good Night!

Judy’s Old Fashioned Christmas

Timelessness waltzes with timely entertainment at the Purple Room. Whether it’s Judy’s boozy antics, Elvis jingling his hips, or jazz arrangements in the key of yuletide, this is a dashing destination. Every year, the Purple Room’s holiday roster boasts an array of classic crooners and throwback allure, but be sure to book your seats early because this Rat Pack mainstay is mega popular! Judy’s Old Fashioned Christmas runs Nov. 28 – Dec. 17.

Greg Adams & East Bayt Soul – Holiday Show

It’s a Sweet Soul Christmas at Jazzville with Greg Adams & East Bay Soul returning to Palm Springs for jazz, soul, R&B and Holiday favorites! Their extraordinary combined talents bring incredible energy to the music with heart and soul. East Bay Soul is dedicated to a singular vision of bringing their brand of funk and the magic of their live performance into every note they play.

Greg Adams: trumpet, flugelhorn, and background vocals, Terrell Edwards: lead vocals, Micheal Stever: trumpet, flugelhorn, Johnnie Bamont: alto, tenor and baritone saxes, flute, and background vocals, Ed Wynne: alto, tenor sax, flute and background vocals, Nick Milo: keys and background vocals, Kay-Ta Matsuno: guitar, Del Atkins: bass, Herman Matthews: drums, and background vocals.

Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, Dec. 1., 7 pm   Tickets

Naughty or Nice

Naughty and Nice holiday party with Pulp Vixen. Let’s celebrate the holidays with live music, dancing, mingling and laughing. Bring your best holiday spirit and style.

V Wine Lounge Palm Springs. Dec. 3.  Tickets

BRANDEN & JAMES with special guest Effie Passero from PostModern Jukebox & American Idol, return to the Purple Room after their popular holiday shows last season. Come fill your spirit with the holiday season as the three powerhouse performers present classic Christmas songs such as “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, “O Holy Night”, “White Christmas”, “The Prayer”, as well as some lesser-known carols and feel good hits.

Purple Room, Dec. 16 – 17, 6pm

Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus

PSGMC brings you a production that radiates the magic and wonder of the holiday season, the way we all felt when we were kids and when we all believed in Santa! Get on board the Polar Express with all 100 singers, as we perform traditional and non-traditional holiday favorites including “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” and “O Holy Night,” music from Elf the Musical and Polar Express and songs by David Bowie, Bing Crosby, Meredith Wilson, and Giuseppe Verdi.

Annenberg Theater, Dec. 16- 18.  Tickets

Holiday Jazz – A warm and welcoming dinner event.

It’s that time of year again… the weather is cooler, homes are decorated, friendships and family are celebrated; it’s the Holidays! Join us at the table for a delightful evening filled with an array of holiday jazz music, paired with a secret 4-course winter-inspired menu that is sure to satisfy even the Grinch! Their performers will help light up the night with songs and stories, as each course brings delectable surprises to your palate. Deck the halls, dress for the season, and enjoy a beautiful evening of jazz at PS Underground! Dec. 14., 7 pm   Tickets

Holiday Havoc – A Holiday soiree thrown by Santa’s Elves.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are recovering after a raucous poker game with the Easter Bunny, Father Time, and Cupid, leaving the elves to run the show! They’re a bit mischievous, but these elves have all the best intentions. On this rare occasion, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the real mayhem found in the North Pole! Can our jovial band of misfits pull off this year’s annual “North Pole Holiday Soiree” without the aid of Santa and Mrs. Claus? They’re sure going to give it a valiant effort! PS Underground.  Dec 17., 7 pm    Tickets  

The Pied Piper – A Twisted Holiday Tale

This holiday season, enjoy an all-new retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin through an innovative combination of live music, creative story-telling, and interpretive contemporary dance (featuring theInMovement Dance Company). The performance, a collaboration between the CV Philharmonic, Youth Training Orchestras of America, the Palm Springs Cultural Center, and the Palm Springs Dance Project, brings the classic tale of the consequences of promises broken back to life with a brilliant mix of symphonic classics and contemporary pop hits and fluid, theatrical contemporary dance performed by talented local student dancers.

Palm Springs Cultural Center, Dec. 17 , 5:30 pm   Tickets

Santa Paws 5K

Palm Springs Marathon Runners invites you to join us for our annual SANTA PAWS 5K, a dog-loving, fun, run/walk benefitting Guide Dogs of the Desert and local dog rescues.  Each participant receives a 5-piece Santa suit that can be worn during the event and is then yours for keeps! This includes a jacket, pants, belt, hat and beard.

All participants run, walk or stroll the 5K (3.1mile) route. Strollers and doggies are welcome!
Following the 5K, we offer a 200 meter Kris Kringle Dash for children 10 and under. Entry for the kids’ event is $15 and includes a child sized Santa Suit, finisher medal and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream certificate.

Dec. 17, begins at 9 am. Gather at 332 W. Alejo Road

Razzle Dazzle

Join Bonnie Gilgallon, Chip Prince and special guests: Thom McMann, Kitty Willinsky, and Sharon diHaworth for a holiday Broadway revue!

Bonnie Gilgallon has established a solid reputation as a broadcast journalist and stage performer since arriving in the Coachella Valley from Washington, D.C. 20 years ago. For many years valley residents head her daily news reports on KNWZ radio. She also created and hosted a weekend entertainment show, “The Desert Scene” on the same station.

Chip Prince has had over 30 years of experience playing piano and conducting Broadway shows and tours, 22 years of that in New York City. He served as Associate Conductor on the National Tour of Newsies and can be heard playing piano in the Broadway HD movie.

VIP Lounge at the Palm Springs Cultural Center  Dec.22, 7 pm  Tickets