Festival of Lights Parade Set for Dec. 6

Official Holiday Tree Lighting and Festival of Lights Parade set for Dec. 5 & 6 with Star-Studded Lineup of Grand Marshals

PALM SPRINGS — It’s the moment so many wait for all year: the city’s signature holiday event, the 33rd Annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6. This event will light up Downtown Palm Springs at 5:45 p.m. sharp, so mark your calendars.

Adding to the magic this year, the parade will feature a special kickoff 50th Anniversary Sunrise Park float, honoring a beloved community landmark and five decades of Palm Springs tradition.

This year’s star-studded lineup of Grand Marshals includes Palm Springs High School graduate Jada McLean, our hometown sweetheart turned “America’s Sweetheart” who stars in the Netflix show about the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. McLean fought and won a 400% pay increase for the squad. Plus, Palm Springs part-time resident Scheana Shay, the star of Bravo-TV favorite Vanderpump Rules and NYT Bestselling author, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Matt Sorum, of Guns ‘N Roses, actress, part-time resident Mädchen Amick, best known for her role in “Riverdale”, and local icon Nelda Linsk, our First Lady of Modernism Week famously immortalized in the iconic Slim Aarons photograph “Poolside Gossip.” Plus, Grammy Award–winning singer Thelma Houston will join the parade as a Special Guest Star, adding extraordinary star power to this year’s celebration.

That’s not all.

Picture dazzling floats twinkling with holiday magic, marching bands from Portland, Oregon, Arizona, Napa, and throughout Southern California, plus giant inflatable balloons of beloved characters like Smurfette, Daniel Tiger, the Cat in the Hat, and Mr. Potato Head. Kids will cheer as favorites like The Smurfs, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Arthur and Friends come to life, topped off with a visit from Santa Claus.

Special performances include: The Changels Choir from Adopt the Arts, the Coachella Valley High School EXLP Dancers, the Cathedral City High School Ballet Folklorico, and even more marching bands.

For those who can’t make it in person, you can catch all the action live on NBC Palm Springs with a special appearance by the “Full House” actor, singer and producer John Stamos starting at 6 p.m.

The fun kicks off on Friday, Dec. 5, with Mayor Ron deHarte and City Councilmembers, parade Grand Marshals and Santa Claus  to light up the city’s stunning 22-foot Holiday Tree at 5:15 p.m. in Frances Stevens Park. The evening includes a meet-and-greet with Santa, free cookies and cocoa, plus arts and crafts for the little ones.

The 33rd Palm Springs Holiday Banner Art Awards Ceremony will showcase the 50 winning student designs, selected from more than 700 entries created by Palm Springs K–12 students. These award-winning banners will hang throughout downtown for the holiday season. The ceremony takes place at 4 p.m., immediately before the annual tree lighting.

“The holiday season shines even brighter in Palm Springs with the Festival of Lights Parade, a dazzling tradition that captures the true spirit and sparkle of the holidays,” said Mayor Ron deHarte. “We’re thrilled to welcome our incredible Grand Marshals and invite residents and visitors from across the Coachella Valley to experience the magic along Palm Canyon Drive. It’s a joyful, vibrant and uniquely Palm Springs celebration.”