Festival of Lights Parade

The Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade kicked off in the early 1990’s along Palm Canyon Drive and has been held every year since on the first Saturday in December — becoming a much-loved holiday tradition in downtown Palm Springs! The parade allows residents and visitors to celebrate the spirit and joy of the holiday season while at the same time creating a unique tourism event, which over the years has brought in an estimated 100,000 people annually to the downtown. Over the past 22 years, the parade has featured a host of marching bands, performing groups as well as the Budweiser Clydesdales, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Snoopy and the Gang — and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Yet more than anything else, it is the parade’s signature floats adorned in thousands of colorful holiday lights and huge Macy’s-style balloons that keeps the crowds coming back for more!

The 27th annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade will take place on Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs. It begins at Ramon Road and Palm Canyon Drive and heads northbound on Palm Canyon Drive to Tamarisk Road where it ends. The parade route is approximately 1.25 miles long. The parade will last between 90 minutes and 2 hours from start to finish. Come early to get a seat to watch the parade as this is one of the most popular events in the Coachella Valley.