The City of La Quinta’s free, family-friendly celebration brings food trucks, live music and face painting back for a second year
Fall in La Quinta looks a little different. There are no crunchy leaf piles, and the sweaters can usually stay in the closet, but the Gem of the Desert has found its own way to welcome the season. After a successful debut last year, the City of La Quinta is bringing back the La Quinta Fall Festival, better known as LQ Fall Fest, on Friday, Oct. 16, from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at La Quinta Park.
The festival is free to attend and open to the public, making it an easy pick for families looking to kick off autumn without spending a fortune. Expect live music, photo booths, a balloon artist, face painting and plenty of activities for kids, and the city promises even more on top of that.
Fall Fun Returns for Year Two
The inaugural festival took place Oct. 17, 2025, and drew several hundred residents to the park for live music from The Chico Band, balloon and caricature artists, a themed photo booth, jumpers and face painting. This year’s event kicks off half an hour earlier, giving families extra time to enjoy the park as the evening cools down.
Come Hungry
Food will be available for purchase from local-favorite food trucks, including Cruising Cones LLC and The Dogg Father Catering. Indio-based Cruising Cones is hard to miss thanks to its bright yellow trailer and 15-foot inflatable ice cream cone, and it serves real-dairy soft serve in cones and cups. The Dogg Father Catering, a Coachella-based food truck, is known for its bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and its menu has also featured The Dogg Father Burger and The Paw-Some Loaded Fries.
Bring a Blanket and Stay Awhile
La Quinta Park is the city’s largest park, an 18-acre green space across from La Quinta High School with a playground, skate park, walking path and splash pad. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets, so pack your picnic setup and claim a spot on the grass for the evening’s music.
Make a Weekend of It
If one night of fall fun isn’t enough, head to Old Town La Quinta on Sunday for the Old Town La Quinta Certified Farmers Market, which runs every Sunday from October through May. For more details on LQ Fall Fest and other city events, visit PlayinLaQuinta.com.
Q&A
Q: When and where is LQ Fall Fest?
A: The second annual LQ Fall Fest takes place Friday, Oct. 16, from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at La Quinta Park, on the corner of Blackhawk Way and Adams Street, across from La Quinta High School.
Q: How much does it cost to attend?
A: Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. Food from the food trucks is available for purchase.
Q: What food will be at LQ Fall Fest?
A: Local-favorite food trucks will be on-site, including Cruising Cones LLC, which serves soft-serve ice cream, and The Dogg Father Catering, known for its bacon-wrapped hot dogs.
Q: What activities are planned?
A: Guests can enjoy live music, photo booths, a balloon artist, face painting and activities for kids, with the city promising even more fall fun throughout the evening.
Q: What should I bring?
A: The city encourages guests to bring lawn chairs and blankets so they can settle in on the grass and enjoy the music. For more event details, visit PlayinLaQuinta.com.
La Quinta Park
Corner of Blackhawk Way and Adams Street
La Quinta, CA 92253
760.564.0096
www.playinlaquinta.com
Erik Hale is the visionary and publisher behind LOCALE Magazine. He launched the magazine in 2010, wanting to give the community of OC a premiere lifestyle magazine that knew all the native knowledge behind OC. “Six years ago Ashley and I sat at a table scratching the name LOCALE (among some other names) onto a sheet of paper,” says Erik, “coming up with story ideas and basically dreaming. Everything we imagined has happened and we have been blessed with so much more. I am so grateful as we start another year for my family, my two wonderful children, my health, our amazing writers, designers and photographers, our advertising partners and you.”
