PALM SPRINGS — It is one of the most anticipated events of the holiday season in this community — the holiday banner display and the students who will be recognized for their artistic talents.

About 50 students who participated in the 27th annual City of Palm Springs Holiday Banner Program, will be celebrated for their original banner designs that line Palm Canyon Drive during the holiday season. The students will be honored at the annual Banner Program Awards ceremony on Friday, Dec. 6 in the Uptown Design District.

The ceremony, hosted by the city of Palm Springs and program founder Joy Meredith, president of Main Street Palm Springs, will be held at 4 p.m. in Frances Stevens Park, just prior to the 5:15 p.m. lighting of the city’s spectacular 22-foot Holiday Tree.

About 100 banners, hand-painted by students from kindergarten to 12th grade, are displayed along the famed Palm Canyon Drive each year with more than 50 new and original designs added to the collection annually. Almost 900 area students submitted original drawings this season.

The theme for this year’s holiday banner showpiece is “Winter Holidays, Palm Springs Style” with a special emphasis on Palm Springs landmarks. In addition, a popular People’s Choice Award is decided by the most “likes” on the Main Street Palm Springs Holiday Banner Facebook page.

Voting is now underway.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible efforts of these talented students who bring our residents and visitors so much joy every year with their uniquely original designs during the holiday season,” Meredith said in a prepared statement. “These artistic banners are truly a part of the magic that makes Palm Springs like no place else. I invite everyone in the Coachella Valley to visit downtown this holiday season to see them for yourselves.”

Image Sources

  • Santa hat by pool: Shutterstock