Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade

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For More Information

Web: PSFestivalOf Lights.com

Email: Ray Pulver, Parade Producer
Phone: 408-629-2520

OR
Email: Jasmine Sullivan-Waits, Special Events Manager
Mail: Palm Springs Parks and Recreation, 401 S. Pavilion Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: 760-323-8276

If you're interested in entering your band in the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, please request an application from Ray Pulver at the contact info above.

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The Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is a magical event featuring a dazzling display of giant helium balloons, spirited marching bands, imaginative floats and other captivating entertainment units. It's a spectacle that promises to leave a lasting impression on your students and create cherished memories for a lifetime.

The Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is broadcast live by both NBC Palm Springs and Univision Palm Springs, captivating the hearts of over 300,000 households. Additionally, the parade route is lined with nearly 100,000 enthusiastic spectators who come to revel in the holiday spirit.

Celebrating its 33rd year in 2025, the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is consistently rated one of the best events in Southern California and one of the "top" holiday parades in the USA. Marching bands are an important part of the parade and often match the spirit of the nighttime spectacle by performing holiday music and adorning their uniforms with lights.

The 1.25-mile parade route travels up Palm Canyon Drive from Ramon Road to Tamarisk Road.

• Brawley Union High School Wildcat Marching Band, Brawley, CA
• Coachella Valley Mighty Marching Arabs, Thermal, CA
• Compton Early College Phoenix Battalion, Compton, CA
• Desert Hot Springs High School, Desert Hot Springs, CA
• Desert Mirage HS Mighty Scarlet Regiment Ram Band & Pageantry, Thermal, CA
• El Modena High School Marching Band and Color Guard, Orange, CA
• Indio High School Pride of the Desert Marching Band and Color Guard, Indio, CA
• John Kelley Elementary ASES/EXLP After School Program, Thermal, CA
• Jurupa Valley High School Silver Brigade, Jurupal Valley, CA
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School Drumline, Indio, CA
• Palm Desert Charter Middle School Marching Panthers, Palm Desert, CA
• Palm Springs Air Museum Pipe Band, Palm Springs, CA
• Palm Springs High School Spirit of the Sands Marching Band and Visual Corps, Palm Desert, CA
• Pittsburg High School Marching Show Band, Pittsburg, CA
• Rancho Mirage High School Rattler Regiment, Rancho Mirage, CA
• Raymond Cree Middle School Desert Treasure Marching Band, Palm Desert, CA
• Riverside Polytechnic High School Band & Color Guard, Riverside, CA
• SkyHawks Marching Regiment, Fontana, CA
• Stockton Unified School District Bands, Stockton, CA
• Valle Del Sol Elementary School ASES, Coachella, CA

Bands traveling to Palm Springs for the Festival of Lights Parade can take advantage of educational and entertaining opportunities including:

• Palm Springs Tramway
• Downtown Palm Springs
• Palm Springs Walk of Stars
• VillageFest
• Living Desert Zoo
• Natural wonders including Joshua Tree National Park, Salton Sea, Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley National Park
• Major attractions including Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Legoland, Hollywood and San Diego Zoo

Greater Palm Springs is surrounded by four picturesque mountain ranges and is known for its blue skies, inspiring scenery and sense of adventure. Since the 1920s, Palm Springs has been Hollywood's desert playground for celebrities. The legendary "Two-Hour Rule" of Hollywood studios put Palm Springs on the map for actors who had to be available within two hours for last-minute film/photo shoots.

Saturday, December 6, 2025
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Saturday, December 4, 2027
(Always held the first Saturday of December)

Web: PSFestivalOfLights.com

Email: Ray Pulver, Parade Producer
Phone: 408-629-2520

OR
Email: Jasmine Sullivan-Waits, Special Events Manager
Mail: Palm Springs Parks and Recreation, 401 S. Pavilion Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: 760-323-8276

If you're interested in entering your band in the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, please request an application from Ray Pulver at the contact info above.