DESERT HOLIDAYS - Downtown Palm Springs was shoulder-to-shoulder last night as thousands of people lined Palm Canyon Drive for the 33rd Annual Festival of Lights Parade, the city’s signature kickoff to the holiday season.
Under clear desert skies and the glow of San Jacinto in the background, the 1.25-mile route from Ramon Road to Tamarisk filled with illuminated floats, marching bands, giant character balloons, and a star-studded lineup of grand marshals.
A Parade People Plan Their Year Around
Well before the 5:45 p.m. start time, crowds had already taken their places—many of them families who make the parade their annual holiday reunion.
One longtime attendee, Rebecca Mendez, explained the beloved tradition this way:
“We get here at six in the morning every year, setting up food, everything, and just kind of add people as they come in. It started with my dad almost 25 years ago, and now we have 30 or 40 people who come for the kids and grandkids.”
Another local, Charlton Quinn, shared a similar routine:
“We’ve been coming to this spot for ten years. We bring food with us and about 20 guests, and we just enjoy.”
For many Valley residents, the Festival of Lights isn’t just an event—it’s a seasonal anchor around which family, friendship, and tradition revolve.
Star Power on Palm Canyon
This year’s parade brought an unusually high-profile roster of grand marshals, including:
- Jada McLean, Palm Springs High School graduate and breakout star of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders docuseries
- Scheana Shay, from Vanderpump Rules and a part-time Palm Springs resident
- Matt Sorum, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and former Guns N’ Roses drummer
- Mädchen Amick, actress known for Riverdale, also a part-time local
- Nelda Linsk, widely known as the “First Lady of Modernism Week” and the woman in the iconic Poolside Gossip photograph
Grammy winner Thelma Houston also made a special appearance, adding even more energy to the night.
Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte summed up the event in advance as “a dazzling tradition that captures the true spirit and sparkle of the holidays… a joyful, vibrant, and uniquely Palm Springs celebration.”
Sunrise Park, Santa, and 100,000 Lights
The parade opened with a special float celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Sunrise Park, honoring one of the city’s most important community destinations.
From there, the night erupted into a glowing procession:
- Marching bands from California, Arizona, and Oregon
- Local school bands including Palm Springs High School’s Spirit of the Sands
- Ballet Folklorico groups, youth dance teams, cheer squads, and community organizations
- Giant inflatables—Smurfette, Daniel Tiger, the Cat in the Hat, Mr. Potato Head, and more
Santa Claus closed the parade, as he does every year, greeted by cheers from children and adults alike.
A Return to Celebration After a Difficult Year
This year’s parade carried a sense of renewed focus after last December’s incident involving a police motorcycle that injured several spectators and led to reviews of safety protocols.
In response, Palm Springs implemented stronger safety measures, including strict speed limits for parade vehicles and a new special events supervisor overseeing route operations.
The result: a smooth, joyful evening where attention stayed on the floats, performers, and families—not emergency lights.
Community Stories in the Glow of the Floats
Among the more emotional entries was the float from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, which received last-minute approval to participate. After the church had recently canceled its pilgrimage walk due to safety concerns, the opportunity to bring their saint through the streets felt deeply meaningful.
Organizer Desi Gonzalez expressed what many felt:
“People are going to be happy to see her in the street walking between us. I feel happy… I want to cry, but it’s a good feeling.”
A Tradition That Keeps Growing
Launched in the early 1990s as a way to bring holiday spirit and foot traffic downtown, the Festival of Lights Parade has grown into one of the leading holiday parades in the country, drawing up to 100,000 spectators in some years and earning a place as one of the region’s most beloved traditions.
Last night’s edition embraced that legacy fully: crowded sidewalks, kids on shoulders, neighbors sharing food and stories, and a sparkling parade of lights rolling through the heart of Palm Springs.
If the evening had a single theme—beyond the holiday glow—it was continuity.
Even after a challenging year, the city turned out in full. The floats shined brighter than ever. And Palm Canyon Drive looked, once again, like the Main Street of a desert community that knows how to celebrate.
Palm Springs lit up the night—and lit up the season once again.
