A historic renaissance is underway in Palm Springs, according to Palm Springs Communications Director Amy Blaisdell.

To celebrate the rebirth, the City of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with P.S. Resorts, welcome the Coachella Valley residents to a special grand opening ribbon-cutting and time capsule dedication for the Downtown Revitalization public improvements along with a free Community Concert and Fireworks Spectacular on Thursday, Dec. 14 during Village Fest.

The festivities kick off at 4 p.m. with the public dedication ribbon-cutting and time capsule ceremony on the new street facing the Palm Springs Art Museum, followed by free bundt cakes until they last and a Community Concert, presented in partnership with the Board of Directors of Academy of Musical Performance, (AMP), an innovative camp for local student musicians in the Coachella Valley and Goldenvoice, the producer of the Coachella Music & Arts Festival.

Student band “Minor Emergency,” managed by Mikael Jacobson, will take the stage at 5 p.m. followed by well-known local Coachella Fest bands, “The Flusters” at 6 p.m. and headliner the “YIP YOPS” at 8 p.m.

FireworksA spectacular 30-minute fireworks show will take place at 7:30 p.m., presented by local resident Harold Matzner.

In addition, student filmmakers from Palm Springs Unified School District’s Digicom Learning, will also be on hand producing a video about the historic day, which will premiere at a later date.

“It is incredibly exciting to see this part of downtown finally refreshed,” said Nona Watson, CEO of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. “Now it’s time for our community to take stock and celebrate all that has been accomplished over the past several years by our residents, businesses, tourism and hospitality partners, who have worked together with the City Council to make the downtown revitalization a reality. We are excited to invite everyone in the Coachella Valley and beyond for what will be a historic event celebrating the Palm Springs renaissance.”

Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel

(Photo courtesy of city of Palm Springs)

“With the new opening of Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs hotel and Starbucks Reserve, the Downtown Revitalization Project is coming to fruition and the renaissance underway in the City is now in full-swing as an ultra-cool destination like no place else,” Mary Jo Ginther, director of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism said in a prepared statement. The Palm Springs brand continues to reinvent itself for current and future generations of residents and visitors, she added.

“Partnering with AMP and Goldenvoice for this exciting Community Concert perfectly fits with our downtown vibe and the revitalization underway while helping us continue to tap into a new generation of millennials who want to experience Palm Springs, the capital of cool,” according to Ginther.