Communities throughout the Coachella Valley will host several holiday celebrations beginning this week, marking the start of the season following Thanksgiving.

Coachella

The City of Coachella has scheduled two events in its downtown area. On Wednesday, December 3, city officials will conduct the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in front of City Hall.

The city's Enchanted Holiday Parade follows on Friday, December 5, at 6 p.m. The parade route begins on Cesar Chavez Street and concludes at Veterans Memorial Park. A pet adoption event will take place at the park on the same day. Both events are open to the public at no charge and will be livestreamed on the city's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs will hold its annual Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday, December 6, at 5:45 p.m. along Palm Canyon Drive. The parade will feature floats, marching bands, balloons, and an appearance by Santa Claus.

Grand marshals include Jada McLean, a Netflix personality and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders advocate, along with Grammy Award winner Thelma Houston and actor John Stamos.

Prior to the parade, Frances Stevens Park will host a tree lighting ceremony on Friday, December 5, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The event includes the annual Holiday Banner Awards recognizing local student artists, with the tree lighting scheduled for 5:15 p.m.

Indio

Indio has scheduled a holiday concert at Center Stage Downtown on December 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. The band Radio Ready will perform at the event, which is open to all ages at no cost. The first 100 attendees will receive complimentary burgers from Papa Headz. The venue is located at 82881 Miles Avenue.

The city will also host the 33rd annual International Tamale Festival on December 6-7 at Miles Avenue Park. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days and features tamale vendors competing in three categories: Traditional, Vegetarian, and Sweet. Santa Claus will be present from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to collect unwrapped toys for children ages 5-12 as part of a community toy drive. Additional activities include luchador wrestling, escaramuza horse performances, and live music.

Cathedral City

Cathedral City will hold its first Feliz NaviDOG Costume Contest on December 6 at Esperanza Dog Park, located at 67248 Mia Place. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the contest starting at 9:30 a.m. Dogs of all breeds and sizes may participate in separate categories for small and large dogs. Prizes include paired gift cards: $75 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place in each category. Four bicycles will be raffled during the event.

Holiday Events Begin Across Coachella Valley