Happy December! We’re almost through another year, so send off 2023 in the right way–with great entertainment!
The Indio International Tamale Festival returns on Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3, to Miles Avenue Park in downtown Indio. Headliners include corridos masters K-Paz De La Sierra and marimba-focused cumbia band Son Rompe Pera. They’ll share the stage with local music, like the psychedelic, proggy Latin rock of Caña and the powerful pop-rock of Tourists. Don’t forget the tamales, too! The event is free. Miles Avenue Park, 82540 Miles Ave., Indio; indiotamalefestival.com.
Acrisure Arena is serving two doses of legendary women in December. At 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 5, the iconic Stevie Nicks will visit Palm Desert to perform hits from Fleetwood Mac and her solo catalog. Remaining tickets start at $141. The ’70s rock ’n’ roll continues when Heart intends to bring the house down at 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 28. Remaining tickets start at $49.50. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
The McCallum Theatre is certainly in the holiday spirit, as almost every December event is Christmas-themed—and tickets are moving fast! At 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 5, the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane, and one of the stars of Victorious, Liz Gillies, unite for an evening of holiday harmonies. Tickets start at $65. Soft-rock and pop legend Barry Manilow is performing five special concerts, featuring his hits and seasonal favorites, with all proceeds benefiting 25 different Coachella Valley charities. These concerts will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 12; Wednesday, Dec. 13; Friday, Dec. 15; Saturday, Dec. 16; and Sunday, Dec. 17. Tickets start at $69. At 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19, Christmas meets chamber music when Canadian Brass brings their holiday show to town. Tickets start at $30. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs features fantastic entertainment in December. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1, Canadian rock singer and former frontman of The Guess Who, Burton Cummings, will visit Indio. Tickets start at $39. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2, enjoy the style and sounds of two-time Latin Grammy winner Chiquis Rivera. Tickets start at $49. 1990s rock anthem creators Bush head to the Coachella Valley for a special desert show at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8. Tickets start at $59. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, get into the Christmas spirit, and enjoy some timeless hits, by classic performer Gladys Knight. Tickets start at $59. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 has an interesting variety of December entertainment. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1, enjoy musica para bailar with a performance by Grupo Niche. Tickets start at $30. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2, answer the age-old question, “What is Hip?” when funk stars Tower of Power bring the jams—and some holiday hits, too. Tickets start at $26. At 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14, get your Palm Springs-style fix of holiday music all the way in the east valley with the help of A Rat Pack Christmas. The event is free. You must be 21 or older to attend Spotlight 29 shows. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo Casino is offering an assortment of music and comedy. At 8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 11, pop-country outfit Parmalee brings their cowboy boots to the high desert. Tickets start at $20. SoCal power punkers Lit intend to rock at 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14. Tickets start at the oddly specific amount of $9.31. At 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15, Sinaloa-based 19-piece Latin act Banda Los Sebastianes is set to perform. Tickets start at $39. Get in the mood for some sultry vocals from legendary vocal group The Whispers at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16. Available tickets start at $76.At 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 28, game show host, voice actor and funnyman Howie Mandel returns to the desert. Tickets start at $39. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage has events galore! At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2, enjoy some Christmas flair from the new age and rock combo group Mannheim Steamroller. Tickets start at $45. The No. 1 male revue in the world returns yet again at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8, when Australia’s Thunder From Down Under takes over The Show stage. Tickets start at $15. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, enjoy Enanitos Verdes, pop-rock from Argentina. Tickets start at $65. One of the top country artists of the decade, Chris Young, heads to Rancho Mirage at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15. Tickets start at $75. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16,power-pop rocker and actor Rick Springfield will serenade the night away with his radio hits. Tickets start at $40. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
At Agua Caliente Palm Springs, it is residency business as usual. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays welcome local retro-rockers The Dreamboats for a night of holiday hits (Dec. 6), Best of Coachella Valley winners The Gand Band for their “Blues Brothers Holiday Spectacular” (Dec. 13), more local love from stellar vocalist Hope Diamond and Friends, performing “A Bluesy Holiday” (Dec. 20), and Long Beach-based blues, rock and soul from The Broughams (Dec. 27). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $15 to $19, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Jazzville Thursdays feature Americana jazz from Holly Street Stompers (Dec. 7), Margo Rey and the All-Star Latin Jazz Quartet presenting “A Latin Jazz Christmas” (Dec. 14), a mix of ’20s and ’30s vintage swing from Ginger and the Hoosier Daddys (Dec. 21), and the hard-swinging multi-genre Jazzville favorite, NUTTY (Dec. 28). Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $15, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com. Caliente Comedy Fridays offer laughs by David Studebaker (Dec. 1), Audrey Stewart (Dec. 8), John Caparulo (Dec. 15) and Jay Light (Dec. 22). Shows are at 8 p.m., and tickets start at $7.99 to $24.99, available at www.eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.sparesortcasino.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s has the good stuff, as always—but bring a sweater! At 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 3, British rock/soul icon and Palm Desert resident Terry Reid will perform an intimate show close to home. Tickets start at $25. Indie rockers Harbour will light up the indoor stage for a night of loud music and fun at 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14. Tickets start at $18. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15, celebrate Christmas the noisy and punk way when FIDLAR presents “FIDmas” at the Pioneertown Palace. Tickets are $50.99. Up-and-coming hardcore rockers The Bobby Lees intend to heat up the cold desert night at 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16. Tickets start at $20. At 9:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 22, hear an eclectic mix of genres and holiday Christmas tunes from Pearl’s Cosmic Rock ’n’ Roll Holiday Show. Tickets start at $20. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s features some top-notch music and drag events. At 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 5, enjoy “A Holiday Evening” with John Lloyd Young, a Tony- and Grammy-winning Broadway star. Tickets start at $39.95. Broadway star, actor and voice actor Kevin Chamberlin makes his Palm Springs concert debut with an evening of music at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8. Tickets start at $35. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, get drag-ged into Christmas thanks to some hilarious holiday hijinks from queen Jackie Beat. Tickets start at $39.95. Pay homage to Barbra Streisand when Steven Brinberg pulls off “Simply Barbra,” a holiday show dedicated to the legend, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19. Tickets start at $35. You have two chances—at 7 and 9:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21—to catch Lady Bunny presenting “A Very Blue X-Mas,” featuring drag, comedy, holiday tunes and insanity. Tickets start at $55.95. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
The Purple Room in Palm Springs is bringing a lot of favorites back to the legendary venue. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, enjoy the “Dragapella” experience of the musical drag outfit Kinsey Sicks, presenting “Oy Vey in a Manger.” Tickets start at $45. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 15 and 16, renowned jazz vocalist Jane Monheit brings her holiday show to Palm Springs. Available tickets start at $55. Tickets are moving fast for vocal and cello duo Branden and James, with some tickets left for their performance at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 22. Tickets start at $45. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
