By Craig Michaels
There’s magic in the air — and on the mountainside — this holiday season in the Coachella Valley. On Sunday, December 7, 2025, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will host its much-anticipated Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, and locals are in for a treat. This year’s “celebrity tree lighter” is none other than Lance Bass — former member of the legendary boy band NSYNC — with Patrick Evans of KESQ and host of “Eye on the Desert,” returning as emcee.
Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Tramway’s Mountain Station. The evening opens with a performance by the Palm Springs High School Madrigal Choir, bringing holiday classics to life high above the valley. Immediately following their performance, Lance Bass will illuminate the Tramway’s iconic 45-foot tree, adorned with more than 4,000 LED lights, a radiant symbol visible across the Coachella Valley.
From small-town Mississippi to global pop sensation — Lance Bass has spent more than 25 years entertaining the world. As a member of NSYNC, he helped define early-2000s pop music. Their second studio album, No Strings Attached, sold a record-breaking 2.4 million copies in its first week and eventually contributed to over 70 million records sold worldwide, cementing NSYNC’s legacy among the best-selling boy bands of all time.
In 2023, the group reunited to release Better Place — their first new song in over two decades — demonstrating that even after time off, their appeal remains strong.
But Bass’s talents and passions go far beyond the stage. After NSYNC, he carved a versatile path: hosting radio shows, producing films and television, launching podcasts, appearing on Broadway, and championing causes close to his heart. He’s a devoted LGBTQ+ advocate, a voice for diabetes awareness, and a board member of the Environmental Media Association, among other philanthropic efforts. Off-stage, Bass and his husband, artist Michael Turchin, welcomed twins in 2021 — a milestone that inspired his children’s book, Trick or Treat on Scary Street, which became a New York Times Bestseller.
For locals and holiday travelers alike, the Tramway tree lighting offers a unique festive experience — part nostalgic throwback, part mountain-top magic, and all-around community joy. The event is free with regular Tram admission, making it accessible to families, friends, and fans of all ages.
If you’re looking for something special to do this December, consider riding the Tramway up to the Mountain Station, enjoying the crisp desert air, a choral serenade, and the bright glow of a holiday tree — lit by one of pop’s most iconic voices.
As someone deeply connected to both real estate and design in the Greater Palm Springs area — and a longtime desert resident — I’m always thrilled when local events bring together community, culture, and spectacle. This year’s tree lighting promises all three, with a side of musical nostalgia and holiday spirit.
