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A Palm Springs holiday guide needs room for more than Christmas dinner. I want a walk under the palms, a hike before lunch, time for golf, and something pretty to wear when the lights come on. My holiday photos show the part I love: Christmas trees beside palms, glowing reindeer next to cactus, and a mountain view from a rooftop.
This Palm Springs holiday guide brings those original scenes together with current places to hike, play golf and eat, plus a mixed packing edit. The photos are from a past holiday visit, not a promise of this year’s hotel decorations. The restaurant and activity ideas below are researched suggestions; I am not claiming I visited every place pictured in the planning links. Product availability was checked October 11, 2026. Sizes and stock can change; select the named color on the linked product page, since some pages open on a different default color. Only product-only photos are used for the shopping edit.
Palm Springs holiday guide: start with the right dates
The city’s official holiday season runs November 15, 2026, through January 3, 2027. If the parade is part of your trip, put Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5:45 p.m. on the calendar. The Festival of Lights Parade FAQ confirms that date and time. A Christmas-week stay will miss the parade, so plan around the actual dates rather than treating every holiday event as a daily attraction.
I would leave one evening without a dinner deadline for a slow Palm Canyon Drive stroll. The photos here are the mood, not an event calendar. Check the official holiday page for the shows and activities that line up with your stay. I am not carrying last year’s WildLights dates into a 2026 itinerary: use The Living Desert’s current calendar for announcements before buying tickets or building a night around it.
A relaxed holiday weekend, without doing everything
On arrival day, settle in, walk downtown and save your energy for dinner. On the next morning, choose a canyon hike or a golf round rather than trying to squeeze both in before lunch. Keep the afternoon for Palm Canyon Drive browsing and the holiday lights, with time to rest between plans. A second full day gives the activity you skipped its own morning. This is a pacing suggestion, not a booked itinerary or a guarantee that a restaurant has a table.
Dark Moss Dagne Dover Medium Landon carryall
The dark green Medium Landon gives the drive a soft-sided weekend bag rather than another folding tote. I would keep a change for dinner in it and the trail water in a separate daypack. Its neoprene shape has earned a detailed positive review from Business Insider; it is luggage, not a technical hiking pack.
Shop the Dark Moss Dagne Dover Medium Landon carryall
White Pierre Veja Rio Branco II sneakers
The White Pierre colorway keeps the town outfit light, with a suede-and-mesh running-inspired shape. The current women’s listing has sizes 5 through 11 and eight reviews, averaging four stars. These are for browsing Palm Canyon Drive and a casual lunch, not for a rocky canyon hike. Select White Pierre on the linked page rather than its default beige option.
Shop the White Pierre Veja Rio Branco II sneakers
Choose a canyon morning, not a race to the waterfall
The Indian Canyons are ancestral lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Their posted fall-to-spring hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the last vehicle admitted at 4 p.m. Adult admission is currently $12. Hours and prices can change, and the page warns of busy periods and entry waits. Choose a route that suits the people walking, stay on marked trails and respect the land. No animals are allowed. For the specific walk, I would choose the Andreas Canyon Loop: a short canyon route with the palms and stream as the point of the morning, rather than a generic desert hike. Read the current trail notes and check the canyon conditions before setting out.
Tahquitz Canyon is another option, with cultural exhibits at its visitor center and a canyon known for a 60-foot waterfall. Waterfall flow is not something I would promise for a particular visit. Its posted winter hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last hiker starting at 3:30 p.m.; current adult admission is $15. Water is required on the trail, no animals are allowed, and children under 18 must be with an adult. Check the current conditions before leaving, even in the holiday season. The named route is the Tahquitz Canyon Loop, listed at two miles with a 4.7-star average from 6,940 reviews. Reviewers call out the views but also the heat, exposed sections and steps. That makes an early start and an honest check of walking ability more useful than a waterfall promise.
For either morning, I would pack water, a sun layer, a hat, sunglasses, snacks and a charged phone, then choose the turnaround before setting off. A cool breakfast is not proof the whole walk will stay cool. Trail clothes should work for movement and coverage; dinner clothes can wait at the hotel.
Vermillion Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX hiking shoes
The coral-red Vermillion pair puts the trail shoe in its own part of the suitcase. This is the lighter Moab Speed 2 GTX, not the Moab 3 used in another guide. The current product has a 4.3-star average from 65 reviews, and independent testing discusses the Speed 2’s trail comfort. Try it with your hiking socks and break it in before the trip.
Shop the Vermillion Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX hiking shoes
Dusty Teal Smartwool Hike Low Ankle socks
The low-ankle merino-blend hiking sock is a cool blue-green accent beside the coral shoe. The current product has 206 reviews and a 4.8-star average. Test the height and fit inside the shoe before packing, and bring a spare pair. A well-reviewed sock still needs to fit your foot and the shoes you will actually wear.
Shop the Dusty Teal Smartwool Hike Low Ankle socks
Dyno White Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily hoody
The light-colored technical hoody is a simple layer for walking and a cool start. This Capilene Cool Daily style is not being presented as a UPF-rated sun hoodie. I would still use sunscreen, a hat and sensible timing. The linked Dyno White listing currently has Medium; check the size before building the outfit around it.
Shop the Dyno White Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily hoody
Dark Sand Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants
These light stretch hiking trousers are the neutral base for the coral shoes and pale hoody. GearJunkie’s women’s Ferrosi review supports the choice as a trail pant rather than a fashion trouser pressed into service. The Dark Sand option has several current sizes. Choose the fit and length for movement, and pack a warmer layer when the forecast calls for it.
Shop the Dark Sand Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants
Rockwall REI Co-op Flash 18 daypack
The compact Rockwall pack keeps snacks, spare clothing and water together for a shorter canyon morning. It currently has a 4.4-star average from 277 reviews, with a separate GearJunkie field review. Eighteen liters is not a promise that every route’s water plan will fit. Pack for the actual conditions and choose a more supportive pack when your load needs one.
Shop the Rockwall REI Co-op Flash 18 daypack
Sea Spray Klean Kanteen 32-ounce TKWide bottle
The Sea Spray insulated bottle with a Twist Cap brings a quiet green to the daypack. The 32-ounce TKWide has a detailed independent review, rather than being here only because the color looks good. One bottle is not the whole water plan for every canyon walk. Bring additional water when needed and do not assume a refill will be available.
Shop the Sea Spray Klean Kanteen 32-ounce TKWide bottle
Supergoop PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50
This 5.5-ounce face-and-body sunscreen is the shared bathroom-bag item for golf and the canyon morning. The current listing has more than 2,500 reviews, averaging 4.5 stars, and SELF has reviewed PLAY Everyday Lotion. Follow the label for application and reapplication. Sunscreen does not replace clothing, shade, water or choosing a reasonable start time.
Shop the Supergoop PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50
Golf: give the round its own morning
Escena Golf Club is a public, 18-hole Nicklaus Design course with mountain views and several tee choices. It is the option I would research for a golf morning followed by a meal at Escena Grill. Choose the tees for your game rather than the longest yardage, and check the live booking page for your date. A public course does not mean a holiday tee time will be waiting. GolfPass player reviews average 4.8 stars from more than 1,200 reviews. Check the latest reports for conditions and pace of play alongside the tee-time total.
Indian Canyons Golf Resort offers North and South courses on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. Its site describes a South clubhouse serving breakfast and lunch, plus rental sets and demo clubs through the golf shops. If you do not want to travel with clubs, confirm rental availability and the current tee-time total before booking. I would not treat a general posted rate as a guaranteed Christmas-week price. I would start the comparison with the South Course, rated 4.7 stars by more than 2,100 players. Recent reports are not uniformly glowing about the greens, so read the newest conditions reviews before choosing a date.
For the golf suitcase, start with the course’s dress code, a collared top or suitable golf dress, a layer for the first holes and proper golf shoes. This edit mixes white, navy, cherry rose and dark green across brands. The accessories are optional additions, not a shopping list you need to buy in full.
Warm White and Deep Navy Puma Cloudspun Rugby polo
The warm-white polo with navy detailing gives the golf outfit a clean starting point. Its Cloudspun fabric is the reason to consider it for movement, not a claim that this exact new Rugby style has years of reviews. The current color has XS through XXL. Check the course dress rules and your fit before the trip; the linked page may open on a different color.
Shop the Warm White and Deep Navy Puma Cloudspun Rugby polo
White Glow Puma Cloudspun Lana 16-inch skirt
The White Glow skirt is a light base for the navy-detail polo, with a 16-inch length. The current white option has several sizes available. I would check fit and coverage before the trip rather than assume every golf skirt works the same way. This is the coordinated two-piece option; the cherry-rose dress below is the alternative, not an extra outfit you need to buy.
Shop the White Glow Puma Cloudspun Lana 16-inch skirt
White and Navy FootJoy Traditions cap-toe spikeless golf shoes
The white-and-navy cap-toe pair keeps the golf outfit polished without borrowing a hiking shoe for the course. Traditions is the golf-shoe family behind this pick; fit and traction matter more than the photograph. The current women’s listing has sizes including 7 and 8. Try them before the round and choose the width that suits your foot.
Shop the White and Navy FootJoy Traditions cap-toe spikeless golf shoes
Navy Peter Millar Perth golf layer
The navy Perth layer belongs over the golf outfit for the first holes and a cool ride home. The current women’s listing has XS through XXL. I would keep the color quiet beside the white polo and skirt, then let the cherry-rose dress be the brighter alternative. This is a golf layer, not a substitute for a coat when the desert evening turns cold.
Shop the Navy Peter Millar Perth golf layer
White FootJoy StaSof women’s golf glove
The white StaSof is a straightforward equipment choice from FootJoy’s established glove line. Choose the hand and size for your grip, not the hand shown in the picture. Check the linked stock options before ordering. A glove should feel right during a swing; a familiar model name does not make every size a fit.
Shop the White FootJoy StaSof women’s golf glove
Cherry Rose Tail Suella 34-inch golf dress
The quarter-zip collar and double back flounce make the Suella the one-piece golf alternative. Tail lists matching shorties and moisture-wicking Flex Jersey, with a 34-inch length measured in Medium. The dress has a 4.5-star average from 27 reviews. Only XS and Small were available when checked, so this is a limited-size option rather than a full size run.
Shop the Cherry Rose Tail Suella 34-inch golf dress
White Titleist TruFeel 2026 golf balls
The white TruFeel is for the golfer who prefers a soft-feeling ball and a simple, familiar color. Titleist positions this model around soft feel, not a promise to lower anyone’s score. The current white dozen is available. Use the ball you enjoy playing, bring enough for the round, and keep the equipment choices separate from the outfit.
Shop the White Titleist TruFeel 2026 golf balls
Midnight Green Sunday Golf Ryder 14 bag
The dark-green Ryder 14 is a full-size golf bag designed to hold 14 clubs. The brand marks it as a best seller, which gives it a stronger reason to be here than its color alone. If you plan to rent clubs, confirm what comes with the rental before bringing another bag. A weekend in Palm Springs does not require new golf luggage.
Shop the Midnight Green Sunday Golf Ryder 14 bag
Where I would eat: choose the night, then the outfit
Bar Cecil is my pick for the dinner that feels like an occasion. The current menu includes deviled eggs, an onion tart, steak frites and lemon tart; those are the dishes I would look at when making a plan. Its official site says online reservations open 14 days ahead, parties are limited to five or fewer, and bar walk-ins depend on availability. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. within its 5 to 10 p.m. hours. Set the reminder for the date you want, rather than count on a holiday walk-in. Eater’s recent review is a useful sense of the room and the reservation competition.
Workshop Kitchen is the other dinner I would research, particularly when I want seasonal California cooking in a strong architectural setting. Its current menu lists yellowtail crudo, little gems and wood-grilled dishes, with dinner posted from 5 to 10 p.m. The menu can change before the holidays; use it as a direction, not a promise that a summer ingredient will be on a December plate. Neither suggestion is a checked reservation or a claim that I have eaten this exact current menu. A detailed dining review praises the food and setting, which is why it stays on the dinner list rather than filling a restaurant slot.
Black Rails Franca mixed-media midi dress
The black Franca is the dinner change: a sleeveless mixed-media midi rather than a golf dress asked to do double duty. Current department-store customer reviews support researching the fit, and the linked black style has XXS through XL available. I would add the ivory cardigan or black scarf for the walk back after dinner, with a warmer coat when needed.
Shop the Black Rails Franca mixed-media midi dress
Ivory Jenni Kayne Cropped Cashmere Cocoon cardigan
The cropped Cocoon cardigan adds a light cashmere layer over the black dress or a simple town outfit. This is the cropped style in Ivory, not the brown option that can appear in a preview. The current listing has XXS through 3X. I would keep it within reach at breakfast, but a cardigan is not enough for every cold desert night.
Shop the Ivory Jenni Kayne Cropped Cashmere Cocoon cardigan
Olive Grass and Bronze Sunski Dipsea sunglasses
The Olive Grass frame and bronze lenses bring a softer green to the town outfit. OutdoorGearLab has independently tested the Dipsea model, so this is more than a color pick. Check the fit and coverage for your face. I would use them for a bright town afternoon and still choose proper sun protection for the canyon morning.
Shop the Olive Grass and Bronze Sunski Dipsea sunglasses
Black Rails Emmie linen trousers
The black Emmie trousers are the easy town alternative to a dress, in 100 percent linen. The current linked listing has XXS through XXL, and Rent the Runway has a substantial customer-review history for the model. Pair them with a plain top and the ivory cardigan. Check the forecast before making linen your only trouser for a winter visit.
Shop the Black Rails Emmie linen trousers
Leave space for the hotel, too
The holiday photos include both grey skies at the pool and a clear mountain-view rooftop. That is the reminder I need when packing: a palm tree is not a weather forecast. Bring a swimsuit you already like if your hotel has a pool, but confirm heating, access and opening hours with the property. I have not named the hotel from its appearance or promised its facilities to readers.
Black Cuyana recycled-cashmere scarf
The black scarf gives the dinner outfit a soft layer without adding another statement color. Cuyana describes this scarf as 90 percent recycled cashmere, and it has appeared in cashmere-scarf editor selections. The black option is currently available. Keep it out of the trail kit and add real outerwear when the temperature needs more than a scarf.
Shop the Black Cuyana recycled-cashmere scarf
My Palm Springs holiday packing checklist
- For hiking: tested shoes, hiking socks, sun layer, hat, sunglasses, water, snacks and a daypack.
- For golf: a course-appropriate outfit, golf shoes, a warm layer and the equipment you actually need.
- For town: comfortable sneakers, easy trousers, a top and a travel tote.
- For dinner: one dress or a trouser outfit, a cardigan or wrap and a warmer layer if needed.
- For the hotel: an existing swimsuit, sleepwear, chargers, medication and your booking details.
The useful suitcase is the one that lets the day change shape. Do the canyon walk in real trail clothes, give the golf round its own time, and change for dinner. Keep the holiday evening loose enough to enjoy the lights instead of spending the whole visit rushing between plans.
More desert and active-weekend ideas
Golf Outfits for Women: Clothes, Shoes and Accessories
Miraval Arizona Weekend: What to Do, Wear and Pack
Joshua Tree travel guide: what to do, eat and wear
