Your guide to events in and around Palm Springs this holiday season

The holidays are in full swing in the city of Palm Springs, and we’re here to try and help you sort through the multitude of events. We won’t be able to tell you everything festive and fun happening this year, but we’ll certainly try.

Below is what we’re aware of, and we’ll try to curate the list as we pass from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Make sure to check out the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism’s exhaustive “Palm Springs Holidays” section here.

Holiday entertainment

If seeing a show is your thing, there are dozens upon dozens of opportunities for you to that this holiday season. Below are some performances to choose from, with tickets available at a wide variety of price points:

• Christmas With The Crawfords, performed by Desert Theatreworks, runs through Dec. 30.
  
  
• Sweet Soul Christmas, with Greg Adams and East Bay Soul, is Nov. 30.
  
  
• Elf The Musical is at Palm Canyon Theatre from Dec. 1 through 17.
  
  
• Dickens Writes a Christmas Carol is at Revolution Stage Company from Dec. 1 through 23.
  
  
• Modern Men present Comfort And Joy at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.
  
  
• Judy’s Old Fashioned Christmas is being performed at The Purple Room on Dec. 3, Dec. 10, and Dec. 17.
  
  
• Cozy Little Christmas is at Reforma on Dec. 6, 13, and 20.
  
  
• The Holly Street Stompers perform at Agua Caliente Casino’s Jazzville event on Dec. 7.
  
  
• Oy Vey In A Manager is performed at The Purple Room on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9.
  
  
• Levi Kreis performs his Home for the Holidays Tour on Dec. 8 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
  
  
• It’s The Most Miserable Time of the Year is performed at Oscar’s on Dec. 9.
  
  
• The Nutcracker is performed by CK Dance at Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 1 p.m.
  
  
• The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus annual holiday concert — Ring! Swing! Sing! — takes place Dec. 14 through 17 at Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum.
  
  
• Have Yourself a Judy Little Christmas is performed at Quadz on Dec. 20.
  
• “Holiday Oddities 2,” featuring mid-century holiday-themed film artifacts from decades past, will be shown at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on Dec. 20.

Holiday Shop | Through Dec. 30 | 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. | Desert Art Center

Shop for hand-crafted gifts made by local artists every day through the end of the month at Desert Art Center, 550 North Palm Canyon Dr.

Toy Drive benefiting Boys & Girls Club | Nov. 29-Dec. 11 | Saguaro Hotel

Bring an unwrapped gift or gift card to The Saguaro between November 29 and December 11 and receive a raffle ticket for prizes and hotel packages. Donors will also receive the El Jefe Local Loyalty card, which gives locals a discount at the restaurant.

“Sounds of the Holidays” | Select days through Dec. 10 | 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. | Aerial Tramway

Holiday choir season kicks off Nov. 30 at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station, continuing a decades-long tradition. Select Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays through Dec. 10, guests can listen to holiday favorites performed by a different high school choir. Tramway admission is required.

Toy Giveaway | Dec. 7-11 | American Legion

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 519’s annual “Parents As Heroes” toy drive culminates with this giveaway, where parents can shop for their children free of charge. This is an adults only event. Toys can be dropped off at the Legion building at 400 North Belardo road or at The Purple Room Supper Club at 1900 East Palm Canyon Drive. For exact times of the toy giveaway, check here.

Library Holiday Bazaar | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Public Library

Come to the main library and find special ‘gently-used’ treasures to give as gifts for the holidays; art books, cookbooks, DVDs, CDs, ornaments, gift baskets, puzzles and more. Plus, one-of-a-kind Friends of the Palm Springs Library merchandise and great themed gift baskets will all be for sale.

Santa visits Mountain Station | Saturday, Dec. 9 | Aerial Tramway

Santa’s visit to the Pines Café is included in general tram fare admission on this day. Children can share their Christmas lists, pose for photos, and receive a free candy cane. ($18.95-$30.95)

Wine tasting and Hanukkah Celebration | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 4 p.m. | Bouschet

The weekly wine tasting this week celebrates Hanukkah. Tasting includes tasting notes, paired food & discounted wine purchases.

Photos with Santa | Tuesday, Dec. 12 | 4 p.m.-7 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library

Come to the Library to see Santa and have your picture taken. Dress in your holiday best and bring your own camera. This is a family program, and all are invited to attend.

Breakfast with Santa | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 8 a.m. | Pavilion

The annual Palm Springs Parks and Recreation Department event begins at 8 a.m. and includes pancakes, games, crafts, and a photo with Santa. It takes place at the Palm Springs Pavilion at 401 South Pavilion Way.

Muppet Christmas Carol | Dec. 16 | 6 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center

Watch the Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser’s redemption on Christmas Eve. Details available here.

Snowtopia | Dec. 19-23 | 6 p.m.-9 p.m. | Air Museum

Meet Santa and his friends as they visit the Palm Springs Air Museum each evening. Enjoy a playground with 40 tons of real snow, craft making, hot chocolate, s’mores, and more. Kids 3 and under get in free. ($12). Tickets available here.

Elf | Dec. 23 | 6 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center

Watch this holiday classic on the big screen as Buddy (Will Ferrell) is accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Details available here.

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Have an event that you’d like us to consider including in this list? If it’s in Palm Springs, we’d like to know about it. Email us at editor@thepalmspringspost.com for consideration.

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