Thursday, Nov. 30 in Frances Stevens Park. HGTV “Desert Flippers” Eric & Lindsey Bennett Named Official Tree Lighters! Palm Springs truly is like no place else during the holidays!
More than 500 residents and visitors are expected to come ring in the holiday season on Thursday, Nov. 30 in Frances Stevens Park at the Official City of Palm Springs Holiday Tree Lighting, featuring celebrity tree lighters Eric and Lindsey Bennett, the stars of HGTV’s “Desert Flippers,” along with Santa Claus and the Palm Springs City Council.
The festivities kick off at 4:30 p.m. prior to VillageFest and will feature free cookies and hot cocoa, traditional caroling from the Palm Springs High School Madrigal Singers and Symphonic Orchestra, children’s craft activities followed by a visit from Santa Claus of course! Then it’s time for the lighting of the city’s magnificent 22-foot “green” Holiday Tree adorned in thousands of energy efficient lights. It all takes place at 5:15 p.m. sharp!
“The City of Palm Springs Holiday Tree Lighting has become a much loved tradition and kick off to our signature holiday event, the Festival of Lights Parade,” according to Mary Jo Ginther, Director of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism. “Bring the whole family and come celebrate the holidays Palm Springs style! You won’t want to miss the fun.”
City of Palm Springs Holiday Banner Awards Slated for Thursday, Nov. 30
Just Prior to Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
About 50 students who participated in the 25th annual City of Palm Springs Holiday Banner Program will be celebrated for their uniquely original designs lining Palm Canyon Drive during the holiday season at the annual Banner Awards on Nov. 30 in the Uptown Design District.
The ceremony, hosted by Mayor Robert Moon and Main Street Palm Springs President Joy Meredith, the co-founder of the program, will be held at 4 p.m. in Frances Stevens Park, just prior to the 5:15 p.m. lighting of the City’s spectacular 22-foot Holiday Tree.
About 100 banners, hand painted by students from Kindergarten to 12th Grade, are displayed along Palm Canyon Drive each year with over 50 new and original designs added to the collection annually. Almost 900 area students have submitted original drawings this season. The theme is “Winter Holidays, Palm Springs Style” with a special emphasis on Palm Springs landmarks. In addition, a popular People’s Choice Award is decided by the most “likes” on the Main Street Palm Springs Holiday Banner Facebook page. Voting is underway now.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible efforts of these talented students who bring our residents and visitors so much joy every year with their uniquely original designs during the holiday season,” said Meredith. “These artistic banners are truly a part of the magic that makes Palm Springs like no place else and I invite everyone in the Coachella Valley to visit downtown this holiday season to see them for yourselves.”
