When the holidays come around once again, some look forward to a Christmas season filled with snow. Others are more drawn to opportunities to head out and enjoy a place that’s packed with sunshine in December and when this sounds like you, Palm Springs, California is certainly the place to be! Boasting daily highs in the 70s through the end of the year, a trip this way over the holidays is one filled with warm weather fun at every turn. That said, it’s also a city that knows how to deck the halls when it comes to setting up fabulous Christmas lights and displays for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. When you’re excited to add some holiday light admiring to your to-do list, make sure the following Palm Springs CA Christmas stops sit at the top of your itinerary.
Enjoy the Exciting Palm Springs Festival of Lights
One of the most highly anticipated annual events around Christmastime in Palm Springs that takes holiday illumination to the next level of excellence is the Palm Springs Festival of Lights. This is an experience that began back in the early 1990s at the hands of former Mayor Will Kleindienst and continues to be a fan-favorite moment on the holiday calendar today. It’s typically hosted on the first Saturday in December and is a unique tourism event downtown featuring a parade with everything from giant balloons and groups of performers to marching bands and signature floats dripping in thousands of holiday lights. The parade often gets underway around 5:45 pm and lasts until around 8:00 pm. The Palm Springs Festival of Lights is designed to inspire holiday spirit in everyone who attends and continues to be a beloved local tradition that brings thousands of attendees to the Coachella Valley in December each year. There’s no cost to attend the Palm Springs Festival of Lights, making it a great addition to your itinerary when you’re in town with the entire family in tow.
El Paseo Comes to Life in Illuminated Style at Christmas
A popular place to take a stroll near Palm Springs when you’re looking to enjoy traditional holiday lights and Christmas displays at their very best is El Paseo in nearby Palm Desert. While this area is a top-rated shopping and dining stop in the area on any day of the year, around Christmas, the storefronts are decked out in illuminated style much to the delight of passerby’s. Even the local palm trees get treated to layers of lights, so when dusk falls, the entire street is aglow for the holidays! It’s a beautiful scene to set your sights on whether you’re dropping by to do some last-minute shopping or you’re exclusively here for the incredible display of holiday décor.
Embrace the Best of the Holiday Spirit Along Candy Cane Lane
Over in nearby Cathedral City, the area fondly referred to as Candy Cane Lane is yet another must-visit location to enjoy when holiday travel plans bring you to Palm Springs. Candy Cane Lane sees Minerva Lane transformed into a full-fledged homage to the holiday spirit as every house on the block is decorated from top to bottom in lights, displays, and whimsical Christmas attire. You’ll find Candy Cane Lane covering a single city block between Avenida La Vista and Tachevah Drive and you’ll want to plan on walking through due to the crowds that head this way after sunset. It’s a great place to enjoy the lights with kids, and it doesn’t take too long to navigate making it great for visitors of all ages.
Experience Wildlights with the Entire Family
Pair wild encounters and holiday fun at the annual Wildlights event in Palm Desert this year alongside family and friends. When you make your way over to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens on select evenings throughout December, you’ll be treated to a dazzling display of lights that cover the venue and provide guests with festive photo opportunities at every turn. The event typically runs from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm and requires a separate ticket from general admission to be purchased in advance. With a ticket in hand, you and your crew can enjoy walking a space saturated in more than three million holiday lights at a time. There are animal-inspired holiday displays to explore and illuminated tunnels and trains to check out as well. When cravings come calling, make time to drop by the s’mores station before taking in some live entertainment.
Book Your Palm Springs Getaway Today
When you’re heading to Palm Springs over the holidays, make sure you have the luxurious accommodations in place you deserve to top off your stay in style by booking through Ryson Vacations. Our impressive portfolio of property options is designed to inspire so take some time to reach out today to learn more and to start planning!
