Check Out These Captivating Events This November

Whether you are a part or full-time resident, or simply enjoying a holiday in the desert, there are so many unique things to check out in the month of November. The welcomed bite of cooler days and evenings draws you outside to enjoy the perfect weather and a host of options to spend the time. If you’re looking for additional opportunities for adventure, outside the usual activities like golf, tennis, hiking, biking, Pickle Ball, and more, we have some of our favorites below. Enjoy!

Día De Los Muertos Celebrations

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Día de Los Muertos across the Coachella Valley! This 2-day holiday originated in Mexico and is celebrated each year to reunite the living and the dead. Día de Los Muertos pays respects to deceased family members and friends with ofrendas (altars) with favorite food and drink, calaveras (sugar or clay skulls) and Aztec marigold flowers, and visiting graves with these gifts for the departed.

Coachella Valley Day of Los Muertos at Sunnylands

November 2^nd to 6^th

8:30am – 4:00pm Each Day

Sunnylands Center & Gardens

You are invited to Sunnylands to celebrate and honor Día de Los Muertos through a one-of-a-kind experience. Check out the ofrendas erected by community groups to represent their organizations as well as nichos (shadow boxes) decorated by local artists. In addition to these fantastic displays, several Día de Los Muertos themed workshops are planned, including screen-printing, paper Catrina and Catrín hats, a free screening of Coco on Friday, November 4^th, and more. Learn more here.

Coachella Valley History Museum Día de Los Muertos Activities

Starting November 4^th

Coachella Valley History Museum

Head to the Coachella Valley History Museum in Indio for some Día de Los Muertos events. Starting on Friday, November 4^th, check out ofrendas created by local artists. These will be displayed throughout the exhibition area of the museum and add a unique twist to the experience. In addition, a one-man art show by linocut artist Jesús Crus, Jr. will be on display in Pioneer Hall. Mr. Cruz’s unique style is celebrated along the West Coast, with exhibitions in California and Washington.

On top of the planned displays starting on November 4^th, the museum is hosting its 10^th Annual Día de Los Muertos Celebration and Fundraiser on Saturday, November 5^th. This sold-out event features dinner and tequila tasting.

For more information on the Coachella Valley History Museum’s Día de Los Muertos celebrations and exhibitions, visit the museum’s website.

Run With Los Muertos

November 5^th, starting at 4pm

Old Town Coachella (1515 6^th Street)

Head to Old Town Coachella on Saturday, November 5^th, for Run With Los Muertos, a nighttime event. In addition to a 5K night run, enjoy a block party, live music, car show, beer garden, a procession, and art walk. Expect an evening of vibrant colors, candles, painted faces, and energetic entertainment to keep the celebration merry and festive.

Check out the Run with Los Muertos website for more information, or register here.

Greater Palm Springs Pride

November 4^th – 6^th

One of the best annual Pride celebrations returns to Palm Springs the weekend of November 4^th through the 6^th. With a theme of, “Say Gay,” Greater Palm Springs Pride boasts a host of incredible events, including an Arenas District Block Party, a 5K run/walk, a Golf Tournament, a Festival, a Parade, and more.

More information on Greater Palm Springs Pride can be found on its app or via the Visit Palm Springs website.

Art Shows Galore!

Various Dates Throughout November

Whether you are a fan of art shows, a collector, or are simply looking to enjoy our perfect fall weather, there are some fantastic art shows taking place this month throughout the desert.

Rancho Mirage Festival of the Arts

November 5^th and 6^th

Formerly known as Rancho Mirage Art Affaire, this reimagined free 2-day festival is a celebration of art and creativity. The festival features a curated selection of 30 artists, displaying their latest works, paired with delightful food and drink options, live entertainment, and more. Saturday night will feature 2 incredible jazz bands, Goodfellas Jazz Band playing at 5:30pm, and Amanda Castro Band, playing at 7pm.

More information can be found on the City of Rancho Mirage website.

La Quinta Art Celebration ENCORE

November 10^th – 13^th

The La Quinta Art Celebration ENCORE takes to the La Quinta Civic Center Campus in Old Town La Quinta November 10^th through the 13^th, boasting 200 artists representing 35 states across the USA and abroad. In addition to the 12 different categories of creative works on display for enjoyment and for purchase, attendees can indulge in delights, such as a champagne bar, gourmet food, a winery experience, margarita island, and wonderful live entertainment. Tickets are $20 per day or a multi-day pass may be purchased for $30. Visit the La Quinta Art Celebration website for the full details and to purchase tickets.

Artwalk at Indian Wells

November 19^th – 20^th

Head to The Village at Indian Wells (74-895 Highway 111, Indian Wells) to enjoy 2 days of exceptional artistry on display. This free art show takes place from 10am to 5pm each day and is a great way to discover the next great piece for your collection. More information on Artwalk at Indian Wells can be found on the West Coast Artists events page.

Desert Art Festival at The River

November 25^th

The other November installment of the West Coast Artists festivals takes place at The River in Rancho Mirage on November 25^th from 10am to 5pm. Enjoy stunning works from hundreds of artists at this free event. Discover additional details on Desert Art Festival at The River on the West Coast Artists events page.

El Gato Classic

November 11^th

Head to the freshly opened La Quinta X Park (on the corner of Dune Palms Road and Westward Ho Drive, across from La Quinta High School) for The El Gato Classic. This annual skateboarding contest is put on by 2-time skateboarding world champion and pioneer Eddie “El Gato” Elguera. Tickets start at $25 for a general admission pass, which includes an Art Show & Legends Talk Friday night and Skatepark access Saturday. In addition to the events available with a general admission pass, there will be an After Party El Gato 60^th Birthday & Concert at Big Rock Pub on Saturday after the contest concludes.

For more information on The El Gato Classic check out the event’s website.

Desert Veterans Day Celebrations

November 11^th

Veterans Day celebrations will take place throughout the Coachella Valley on Friday, November 11^th. Ceremonies and parades are planned from Palm Springs to La Quinta, honoring those who served our nation in the armed forces.

Palm Springs

The 25^th annual Palm Springs Veterans Day Parade rolls through town on Friday, November 11^th starting at 3:30pm. This parade is one of 60 parades nationwide to be designated as a regional site for the observance of Veterans Day by the Veterans Day National Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is also one of the largest in Southern California and draws local military units, marching bands, veterans’ organizations, and more. The route starts at Ramon Road and Palm Canyon Drive, heading northbound on Palm Canyon Drive to Alejo Road, where it concludes with a post-parade patriotic concert and fireworks display. More information on this exceptional event can be found on its website.

Palm Desert

Honor our nation’s veterans and their commitment and sacrifice for our country at the Palm Desert Veteran’s Day Celebration & Resource Expo. Taking place at Civic Center Park at 11am, this event features remarks from City of Palm Desert representatives, inspiring words from veteran and active duty military service members, and a patriotic concert put on by the Heatwave Jazz Band. Get more info on the City of Palm Desert’s website.

La Quinta

The City of La Quinta will be honoring veterans at La Quinta City Hall with a ceremony from 9-10am on Friday, November 11^th. The event is free and the public is welcome to join on a first come, first served basis. Local military heroes will be recognized by dignitaries and have their name, rank, and years of service engraved on the Veteran Acknowledgement Monuments in Civic Center Park. For more information, check out the City of La Quinta’s website.

Alohana

November 13^th

Enjoy the Palm Springs tiki lifestyle at Alohana, taking place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on November 13^th. This celebration of tiki culture is a fun Hawaiian-themed outdoor event and features live music, a DJ, tiki marketplace, tiki talk symposiums, cocktails, and delicious food. Running from 12pm to 5pm, it’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday in Palm Springs and enjoy our pristine weather, cool sights, sounds, and of course all things tiki! Tickets to this exciting event are $5.

For more information and to purchase your tickets, head to the Alohana event page.

Eighth Annual Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival & Food Truck Fiesta

November 18^th-20^th

The Eighth Annual Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival returns for more unforgettable fun November 18^th through the 20^th.  Classic planned events include tethered balloon rides, the famous nighttime balloon glow, live music, a fleet of incredible food trucks, an art show, a Kids’ Zone, and more.

General admission to the event is free for Cathedral City residents, and $10 for non-resident adults and $5 for children. Various experiences, such as tethered flights, are also available for purchase. There are also ticketed events taking place Friday through Sunday, including morning balloon launches, a pancake breakfast on Sunday, and a Balloon Glow Concert Friday night featuring Continuous Signal A Pink Floyd Affair.

More information on the Eighth Annual Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival & Food Truck Fiesta can be found at the festival’s website.

McCormick’s Palm Springs Collector Car Auction

November 18^th – 20^th

Are you an automotive enthusiast, car collector, or enjoy checking out a flawlessly designed vehicle? Then the next McCormick’s Palm Springs Collector Car Auction is for you, taking place November 18^th through the 20^th at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Admission is free on Friday and $15 per day Saturday and Sunday or $25 if you want to attend both days.

There will be 180 cars crossing the auction block on Friday, 225 rolling through on Saturday, and 175 up for bidding on Sunday.

For more details on this annual event, including to preview the auction lots, check out the McCormick’s website.

Tenth Annual Props and Hops Festival

November 19^th

The Tenth Annual Props and Hops Festival takes off at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Saturday, November 19^th. This fantastic annual event combines delicious breweries, aircraft rides, live music, and food for an unforgettable desert day. Aircraft available for flight include the C-47 Skytrain, P-51 Mustang fighter plane, T-28 Trojan, T-6 Texan, and PT-17 Stearman. The breweries pouring onsite include Coachella Valley Brewing, 29 Brews, Babe’s Brewery, Calidad Beer, La Quinta Brewing Company, Coronado Brewing Company, and more. Tickets are $60 for general admission and $75 for VIP tickets, granting early entry. Aircraft rides are sold separately and range in price.

For more information on the Tenth Annual Props and Hops Festival, including lineups for the breweries, food, and live music, as well as to purchase tickets, check out the festival website.

30^th Annual WildLights

November 22^nd – December 30^th

The 30^th Annual WildLights brightens your evening at The Living Desert in Palm Desert, taking place select nights from November 22^nd through December 30^th. The members-only special lighting ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 22^nd, with the wildly popular light display open to the public for the first time on Wednesday, November 23^rd. Wild Lights has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Best Zoo Light Displays by USA Today.

Featuring over a million shining lights, WildLights includes nighttime animal viewing, live music and special events for all ages, including visits with Santa Claus, s’mores making stations, tons of photo ops, and much more. Additionally, the model trains will be decked out for the season, a favorite among guests both young and young at heart.

For more information on the 30^th Annual WildLights, check out The Living Desert’s website.

The Festival of Lights at Mission Inn

November 25^th – January 6^th

The Festival of Lights at Mission Inn in Riverside starts on Friday, November 25^th at one of Southern California’s most beloved historic hotels. This annual holiday tradition has been voted Best Public Lights Display by USA Today, and embodies a festive spirit with a cornucopia of delightful seasonal goodies sure to spread good cheer. Visitors enjoy a dazzling light display boasting over 5 million holiday lights, 200 animated figures, appearances by Santa Claus, the world’s largest man-made mistletoe, freshly fallen snow, horse-drawn carriage rides, delicious holiday treats from Casey’s Cupcakes, and more. Entrance into the light display is free, with other activities and treats available for purchase.

For more information on the Festival of Lights at Mission Inn, check out the hotel’s website.

Fortem Financial Thanksgiving 5K Benefitting Martha’s Village

November 24^th

The Fortem Financial Thanksgiving 5K, benefitting Martha’s Village, runs again in-person on Thursday, November 24^th. This is the best way to burn calories before your Thanksgiving feast. The event returns to an in-person format, running along famed El Paseo in Palm Desert. Gather your family and friends and get out for a great cause. Bennion Deville Homes is a past sponsor of this event, and partners with Martha’s Village throughout the year for numerous causes.

For more information on the Fortem Financial Thanksgiving 5K, and more details on Martha’s Village, visit the race website.

Art on Main Street

November 26^th

Art on Main Street comes back to Old Town La Quinta for the fall and winter season, starting November 26^th from 10am – 4pm. This cherished desert tradition features over 100 artists showing off their creativity through a variety of mediums, including paintings, jewelry, photography, ceramics, mixed media, textiles, sculptures, wood work, and more. Taking place in one of the desert’s most romantic locales, you can enjoy the art show and grab a bite to eat at a surrounding restaurant. As the city says, come for the art and stay for the day!

For more information on Art on Main Street, check out the City of La Quinta’s website.