From Food Festivals to Palm Springs Pride, These Events Are Sure to Add Some Fun to Your Fall Calendar
As the temperature cools and the holiday season approaches, there’s no doubt that your calendar is starting to fill up—but that shouldn’t stop you from adding a few more fun events to your plans! While known for its desert setting and its nods to midcentury architecture, there’s so much more to Greater Palm Springs than meets the eye. This November, the area is offering an exciting lineup of happenings that everyone will love, from foodies and gourmands to music lovers and non-stop dancers. Open up that calendar app—here are 12 November events in Greater Palm Springs that you won’t want to miss!
Horizons Jazz Series
When: Every Wednesday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Ace Hotel, Palm Springs
Wednesdays are undoubtedly the toughest days of the week, so why not celebrate its end at Ace Hotel with a beautiful open-air jazz performance, dinner and a much-deserved cocktail? The property’s Horizons Jazz Series is a weekly event you won’t want to miss, and you definitely won’t want to skip on the reservations—especially if you want a spot near the performers!
Local Insight: The Horizons Jazz Series isn’t the only weekly event Ace Hotel is hosting this fall. Visit the Amigo Room on Friday nights and the pool on Saturday afternoons for Second Summer, with weekly, carefully curated music selections by Mixed Company.
KISS: End of the Road Tour
When: Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert
Recognized as the top Gold Record Award-winning group in American music history, KISS is an iconic band of Rock N Roll Hall of Famers. After 44 albums, groundbreaking world tours and a lasting legacy within its KISS Army fanbase, KISS’ illustrious career is going out with a bang. If you don’t want to miss the finale of their farewell tour, grab a ticket for the End of the Road Tour at Acrisure Arena, which will be the band’s second-to-last performance in California.
2nd Annual Bow Wow Ball
When: Nov. 3 at 5 p.m.
Where: Boozehounds, Palm Springs
For those of us planning out our Pride festivities, you won’t want to miss Boozehound’s 2nd Annual Bow Wow Ball—a fabulous party hosted by Sabryna Williams that celebrates everything we love about the NYC ball culture and our favorite four-legged friends. Get ready for drinks, Dogs in Drag, adoptions and more—all for the benefit of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.
Local Insight: You may take a new friend home with you—all dog adoption fees will be covered by Boozehounds and Bobo Palm Springs at this event.
Palm Springs Pride
When: Nov 3-5
Where: Throughout Palm Springs
This year’s Pride events will include Latin Pride in the Arenas District (Nov. 2, 5–10 p.m.), the Arenas District Block Party (Nov. 3, 6–11 p.m.), Festival Marketplace and Entertainment (Nov. 4, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and Nov. 5, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and, of course, the Parade (Nov. 5, 10 a.m.), which will stretch along Palm Canyon Dr. Although tickets are not required for the event, they’re a great way to give back to the nonprofit Pride organization.
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Run with Los Muertos
When: Nov. 4 at 4 p.m.
Where: Old Town Coachella
Come for the run, stay for the food and entertainment! Run with Los Muertos brings community groups, artists, runners and performers from across the US, Mexico and Canada together to celebrate wellness, music and culture in Old Town Coachella. After plenty of workshops and workouts, the Old Town block party will be hosting a ton of family-friendly events, including the 5k run, a procession, a car show, an art walk and live entertainment across three stages. The event is free to join and connects attendees with talent from the local area, as well as Oaxaca, Michoacan, and Mexicali.
Rancho Mirage Festival of the Arts
When: Nov. 4-5
Where: Rancho Mirage Community Park and Amphitheater
Every year at the Rancho Mirage Community Park and Amphitheater, the Rancho Mirage Festival of the Arts offers attendees a boutique experience with a carefully curated selection of craftsmanship and experimentation. Known for bringing museum-quality work by handpicked artists to a beautiful outdoor setting, the event will also feature delicious food and beverage vendors, musical performances, art workshops and interactive art performances. There’s so much to see, try and experience, so we definitely recommend blocking off the entire weekend to enjoy the festival fully.
Feel Good Festival
When: Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, Desert Hot Springs
Founded by desert locals Jenn Kubat with a mission to celebrate everything they love about Desert Hot Springs, the Feel Good Festival will launch its inaugural event this November. The festival will showcase vendors offering health, wellness, vintage and sustainable goods, and the timing couldn’t be better! It’s a great way to relax before the upcoming whirlwind of holidays and a beautiful way to spend your 11/11 (the angel number for synchronicity and manifestation, of course!).
The Palm Springs Food and Wine Festival
When: Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Nov. 12 from 12-4 p.m.
Where: Palm Springs Stadium Pavilion
If you have a foodie or a wine aficionado in your life, you’ll find them at the Palm Springs Food and Wine Festival this November. This international event will offer attendees the opportunity to taste different wines, try food from local restaurants and vendors and engage with celebrity chefs during live food demonstrations and cooking classes. General admission tickets include a souvenir wine glass, access to all demonstrations and unlimited tastings within the Grand Tasting Pavilion, and the VIP Experience will include pre-admission, access to a VIP tent with premium wine tasting from boutique wineries and exclusive seating at the celebrity chef demonstrations.
Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival & Food Truck Fiesta
When: Nov. 17-19
Where: Cathedral City
The Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival & Food Truck Fiesta is returning for its ninth year with three days full of fun and excitement. On Friday and Sunday, over 20 hot air balloons will launch at sunrise from Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, while Saturday’s launch will happen from The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa. Spectators can enjoy it for free, but should you want to partake and ride along, tickets will be available through Fantasy Balloon Flights. Once on the ground, the festivities will continue with the Food Truck Fiesta, which will be full of delicious food, live music, a kid’s zone, an artisan market, tethered balloon rides and more. A special three-day VIP pass is available and includes an event gift and a balloon ride.
Props and Hops Craft Beer Fest
When: Nov. 18 from 1-5 p.m.
Where: Palm Springs Air Museum
For anyone who’s ever wanted to combine their love of craft beer with the marvel of aviation, we have the event for you. At the 11th Annual Props and Hops Craft Beer Fest, attendees can snack on local treats like fries, pizza and burgers while sipping on beer from over 20 breweries and enjoying tunes from Desert Sol and The John Stanley King Band while roaming around the Palm Springs Air Museum. Want to take it one step further? Book a Props and Hops Warbird ride for an unforgettable flight above the valley.
WildLights
When: Nov. 22-Dec. 30
Where: The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert
Cozy up—The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens WildLights event is back and better than ever! A long-standing tradition for families in the Greater Palm Springs area, WildLights is returning for its 31st season with plenty of crowd-pleasing favorites, such as the Tunnel of Lights, decorated G-scale model trains, a holiday carousel, a s’mores station and more. This year will feature several new and reimagined light exhibits, including animal-themed displays and a 30-foot-tall holiday tree.
Local Insight: A special adults-only (21+) night will be held on Dec. 14.
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Christmas Nights at 123 Farm
When: Nov. 9-Jan. 7
Where: 123 Farms, Cherry Valley
While not in the Greater Palm Springs Area, 123 Farms is definitely worth the hour-long drive! Wear your warmest and most photo-worthy winter fits and prepare for a night of dazzling lights, festive drinks and food, a s’mores pit, tractor wagon rides and tons of adorable photo ops. Santa will be available for photos at his workshop, and guests will love seeing the acres of lavender fields and groves of trees illuminated with over one million lights. Be sure not to miss the scavenger hunt, the holiday maze or Elvesville!
Born and raised near the Pacific Coast, Jordan Nishkian is a California girl through and through. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a BA in Creative Writing and a BA in Anthropology, and her favorite place to be is curled up in a comfy chair with a book in her hand and a pen in her hair.
