Events & What’s Happening
A week-long culinary event where Palm Springs restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus, allowing families to explore the city's diverse dining scene at reduced prices.
💡Many participating restaurants offer kids' menu specials during the event; great opportunity to try upscale spots that are usually pricier.
One of the largest Pride celebrations in the Southwest, featuring a colorful parade down Palm Canyon Drive, live entertainment, a street fair, and family-friendly activities.
💡The parade is very family-welcoming; stake out a spot along Palm Canyon Drive early in the morning for the best views.
Seasonal holiday celebration at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway featuring festive decorations, holiday music, special dining, and snow activities at the 8,516-foot Mountain Station.
💡Dress in warm layers — it can be 30 to 40 degrees colder at the top than in the valley; kids love playing in real snow while the desert is visible below.
One of the largest film festivals in North America, screening hundreds of films from around the world with a celebrated awards gala attracting major Hollywood talent.
💡Look for family-friendly and animated film screenings in the program; the outdoor areas and galas are great for teens interested in film.
A celebrated 11-day festival honoring mid-century modern architecture, design, art, and culture through tours, lectures, films, and special events throughout Palm Springs.
💡The double-decker bus architecture tours are a hit with kids; book tickets well in advance as they sell out quickly.
A traditional Native American Pow Wow hosted by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians featuring traditional dancing, drumming, artisan vendors, and authentic food.
💡An incredibly educational and culturally enriching experience for children; the colorful regalia and live drumming captivate kids of all ages.
World-famous outdoor music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in nearby Indio, featuring hundreds of artists across multiple stages along with large-scale art installations.
💡Older teens enjoy the experience; younger children may find the crowds and heat overwhelming — plan for early arrivals and bring ear protection.
A beloved weekly Thursday night street fair along Palm Canyon Drive featuring local artisans, food vendors, live entertainment, and unique collectibles spanning several city blocks.
💡Kids enjoy the street performers and carnival-style food; the earlier evening hours in summer are cooler and less crowded — arrive right at opening.
Weekly story time sessions at the Palm Springs Public Library designed for young children featuring read-alouds, songs, and simple crafts led by library staff.
💡Best for children ages 2 to 6; arrive a few minutes early to get a good spot and let kids browse the picture book section beforehand.
A Saturday morning farmers market in the heart of Palm Springs offering fresh local produce, artisan goods, prepared foods, and plants, operating during the cooler season.
💡Go early before 10am for the best selection and manageable temperatures; kids enjoy the sample offerings from local growers.
Sunday visits to the historic Moorten Botanical Garden, the world's first cactarium, where families can explore over 3,000 desert plant species in a peaceful one-acre garden setting.
💡A low-key and affordable outing perfect for curious kids; the peacocks roaming the grounds are a huge hit with younger children.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway offers a 'First Ride' discount — the first tram car departs around 10am on weekdays and the ticket price is reduced for early riders; check the official tram website for current scheduling since hours shift seasonally and the tram closes for maintenance in August every year.
- 💡The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert opens at 7am from October through May and offers a 'before 9am' pricing window — arriving at opening means cooler temps and more active animals, since desert wildlife retreats to shade by mid-morning even in mild weather.
- 💡Tahquitz Canyon charges per-entry and is operated by the Agua Caliente Tribe; ranger-led tours to the 60-foot waterfall depart every 2 hours starting at 8am, and the 2-mile round-trip trail is stroller-accessible with a jogging stroller on the lower portion, though the waterfall approach requires careful footing over rocks.
- 💡Joshua Tree National Park is 45 miles northeast via Highway 62 — enter at the Cottonwood Visitor Center on the south side rather than the West Entrance near Twentynine Palms to avoid the longest entry queues on weekends, and pack at least 4 liters of water per person since there are zero water sources inside the park.
- 💡The Thursday night VillageFest on Palm Canyon Drive runs year-round but shifts hours with the season — 6pm to 10pm in winter (October–May) and 7pm to 10pm in summer. Parking in the public garage at Tahquitz Canyon Way is validated free for the event, saving the $2/hour street meter fees.
- 💡Moorten Botanical Garden near the Indian Canyons entrance is a family-owned desert garden open since 1938 and charges only $6 for adults and $3 for children — it takes about 45 minutes to walk the full cactarium and is one of the most affordable and genuinely educational stops in the valley for kids curious about desert plants.
- 💡The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert is actually located in Rancho Mirage (about 8 miles east on Highway 111), not in Palm Springs proper — admission is $15 per person regardless of age above 1, and Tuesday mornings are typically the least crowded window for toddler-aged children.
- 💡Hotel pools in Palm Springs are often open to non-guests at boutique properties during shoulder season (November and early December) through day-pass programs — the Saguaro Hotel and Arrive Palm Springs have historically offered day passes around $25–$40 per person, which can be more economical than paying resort fees at the property you're not staying at.