Food to Fashion, the Palm Desert Area has It.
If you’re looking for high-class excitement without big city stress, Palm Desert is the perfect place. Our area events offer the finest in food, art, wine, fashion and more – all in a laid-back environment full of lush resorts and outdoor recreation. Find out how this charming city filled with Southern California sunshine sets the perfect backdrop for these exciting events.
View all events in the Palm Desert area or browse our signature events below.
Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall
Winter
January
Palm Springs Film Festival – The 21st Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is scheduled for January 5-18, 2010. Film festival events include the Black Tie Awards Gala, Student Screening Days and more. For more information contact: 800-898-7256.
Desert Cities Horse Show – The 19th Annual HITS Desert Circuit is an eight-week hunter/jumper horse show running from January – March annually. The Desert Circuit is a mainstay of West Coast competition for the past 19 years. For more information: contact 845-246-8833.
Bob Hope Classic - The Bob Hope Classic tournament is scheduled for January 18-24, 2010. For four days, celebrities from all walks of fame join the PGA players on the course for a classic tournament. For more information contact: 800-880-8886.
Southwest Arts Festival – Come and enjoy the largest three-day art show featuring over 260 artists at the beautiful Empire Polo Club scheduled for January 29-31, 2010. For more information contact: 760-347-0676.
Palm Desert Public Art Documentary Film Series - Thursday, January 21, "The Gates." The public is invited to attend the second season of free screenings of public art-themed documentary films. The season kicks off on January 21 with a screening of “The Gates”, followed by a conversation with Craig Watson, executive director of the Arts Council for Long Beach and participant in Christo and Jean-Claude’s “Running Fence” project.
February
Tour de Palm Springs – Enjoy the sunshine, live music, food and fun with thousands of bike riders for a charitable cause. The Tour de Palm Springs has events scheduled on Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13, 2010. For more information: 760-770-4626.
Palm Springs Modernism Show – The 11th Annual Palm Springs Modernism Show is the highlight of Modernism Week. Over 80 premier national and international decorative and fine arts dealers will present designs of the 20th Century movement. The Palm Springs Modernism Show is scheduled for February 12-21, 2010. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit Palm Springs Modernism Show.
Riverside County Fair & Date Festival – The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival is a tradition for families, residents and visitor to the Coachella Valley. Each year the Festival’s date, citrus and community featured exhibits continue to grow. Carnival rides, food and entertainment are all part of the nine- day event scheduled for Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 21, 2010. Fair hours: Weekdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Weekends and Carnival open until midnight. For more information or to order tickets in advance call 800-811-3247.
Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational - The Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational enjoys a rich history as one of the marquee golf and fundraising events in the Palm Springs, California desert. Each year, celebrities, amateur contestants, loyal sponsors and enthusiastic spectators from all over the country look forward to returning to this unique “celebrity friendly” event scheduled for February 18-24, 2010. For more information contact: 760-674-8447.
Palm Desert Public Art Documentary Film Series - Thursday, February 18, “Ellsworth Kelly: Fragments.” The film follows the artist Ellsworth Kelly as he revisits the Paris of his early twenties, and uncovers early influences that became leitmotifs that the artist would reiterate, refine and re-work for decades to come. Following the film, there will be a discussion with Tyler Stallings, Director of the Sweeney Art Gallery at UCR.
Spring
March
BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament – The BNP Open is the fifth most attended tournament next to the Grand Slam and is one of the few major tennis events combining both men and women athletes.
La Quinta Arts Festival – The La Quinta Arts Festival is a favorite of visitors to the Coachella Valley and is nationally recognized by artists as one of the renowned art festivals in the nation.
Fashion Week El Paseo – Fashion Week El Paseo is presented and organized by Palm Springs Life magazine. The weeklong event will take place in the El Paseo shopping district in Palm Desert, and this year features food and wine.
Kraft Nabisco Championship – The Kraft Nabisco Championship is the first “major” tournament of the year on the LPGA tour. This year marks the tournament's 39th anniversary.
Palm Desert Public Art Documentary Film Series - Thursday, March 18, “Herb & Dorothy.” The film tells the extraordinary story of a postal clerk and a librarian who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history by devoting all of Herb’s salary to purchasing art while living off Dorothy’s pay. This film will be followed by a conversation with local collectors Karen Prinzmetal and Jim West.
April
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival - The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day festival held at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California and features many genres of music including alternative rock, hip hop and Electronic music.
Stagecoach - Stagecoach is a two-day annual Country Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley. The event features many country favorites. The festival is scheduled for April 24-25, 2010.
Desertscapes - Palm Desert is dedicating the entire month of April to Desertscapes, a celebration of the early desert painters and the contemporary landscape painters who followed.
Palm Desert Public Art Documentary Film Series - Thursday, April 15, “George Segal: American Still Life.” The film tells the story of George Segal’s search for a unique way to express himself, and in the process, provides a lively history of American culture in the last half of the 20th century. A conversation with Lisa Soccio, Assistant Professor/Gallery Director at College of the Desert will follow the film.
May
Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival – The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, formerly the Palm Springs Film Noir Festival, and will include an eclectic mixture of prestigious and obscure black and white “B” movies from the classic film noir period. The festival is scheduled for May 13-16, 2010. For more information contact: 760-325-6565.
Summer
June
Palm Desert Restaurant Week -Savor the flavor of Palm Desert’s finest restaurants during this weeklong celebration of local cuisine. Palm Desert Restaurant Week features dozens of the city’s finest dining establishments, each offering a special three-course prix fixe menu all week long. With so much to choose from, Palm Desert Restaurant Week is a great way to sample the flavor of Palm Desert. Restaurant Week is scheduled for June 4-13, 2010. Find your new favorite Palm Desert restaurant – visit the Palm Desert Restaurant Week website.
July
4th of July – Civic Center Park – Enjoy an evening of free music and fireworks at the City of Palm Desert’s annual Fourth of July celebration at the Civic Center Park. The festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, with a 90-minute concert. Fireworks will follow the concert at 9 p.m. For more information contact: 760-346-0611.
August
Idyllwild Jazz Festival – Jazz in the Pines supports excellence with talented artists and is a fundraiser for the Idyllwild Arts Academy & Summer Program. The two-day festival is scheduled for August 28 & 29, 2010, at the Idyllwild Arts Campus, 52500 Temecula Drive, Idyllwild, CA. Gates open at 10 a.m. and music begins at 11 a.m. For more information contact: 951-500-4090.
Fall
October
Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade – On Sunday, October 31, 2010, experience the pageantry and fun as whimsically decorated golf carts and bands march down famous El Paseo street for the City’s first major event of the season. The festivities begin at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast and the Parade begins at 1 p.m. For further information contact the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce, 760-346-6111.
Palm Springs Tram Road Bicycle Challenge – The 2010 Tram Road Challenge 6K uphill run & walk date has not been released. For more information contact: 760-324-7069.
November
Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival – Held at the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts on November 13 & 14, 2010, this Festival features a choreography competition in two divisions, educational opportunities such as workshops and residencies and honors those who have made outstanding contributions to dance through a Lifetime Achievement Award. For more information: 760-340-ARTS (2787).
Rancho Mirage Art Affair – This two-day event is a juried fine art and jazz festival featuring 100 participating award-winning visual artist in a variety of artistic mediums. The 2010 dates have not been released. For more information contact: 760-324-4511.
Jacqueline Cochran Air Show - Enjoy a day of browsing, shopping and eating from a variety of food and merchandise at the 6th Annual Jacqueline Cochran Air Show, November 6, 2010, located at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, 56850 Higgins Drive, Thermal, CA. Pancake breakfast fundraiser begins 7 – 9:30 a.m. For further information regarding the Air Show schedule contact: 760-863-8247.
Indian Powwow – The 28th Annual Indio Powwow takes place at the Cabazon Indian Reservation in the Special Events Center located in Indio, California. The 2010 dates have not been released. For further information contact: 760-342-2593.
Indio International Tamale Festival – It all started in 1992, the rich heritage of the tamale and continued community support has created the Festival’s tremendous success. The Food Network-TV ranked the Indio International Tamale Festival in the top 10 “All American Food Festivals” in the nation! The Festival is held in downtown Indio, CA on December 4 & 5, 2010. This two-day event begins each day at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information contact: 760-391-4175.
Palm Desert Public Art Documentary Film Series - Thursday, April 15, “George Segal: American Still Life.” The film tells the story of George Segal’s search for a unique way to express himself, and in the process, provides a lively history of American culture in the last half of the 20th century. A conversation with Lisa Soccio, Assistant Professor/Gallery Director at College of the Desert will follow the film. For more information and reservations click here.
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