Happy December! Enjoy what the valley’s entertainment scene has to offer as we say goodbye to 2024.
The McCallum Theatre features a Christmas-heavy lineup of music and fun! At 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, the Annual Gala will take place, featuring a special, intimate performance from Josh Groban. Tickets start at $208, with proceeds going toward the McCallum’s many education programs. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, The Midtown Men bring their Broadway experience to the holidays, performing a set of holiday and rock hits. Tickets start at $53. At 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, Mariachi Herencia de México bring the Navidad vibes to town, mariachi-style. Tickets start at $33. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21, The Irish Tenors will perform Irish music in a show that is both entertaining and educational! Tickets start at $78. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs has the goofs and the tunes. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, The Black Crowes will rock Indio four decades after forming. Tickets start at $82.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, soprano superstar Sarah Brightman will host “A Christmas Symphony” featuring a choir, orchestra and fantastic vocal performances. Tickets start at $82.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28, game-show host, voice actor and funnyman Howie Mandel returns to the desert. Tickets start at $52.50. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 is hosting two Christmas soirées. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, the face of the clarinet, Kenny G, heads to Coachella to blissfully play holiday hits. Tickets start at $43.95. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, late ’90s R&B outfit Dru Hill will add Christmas songs to their already impressive mix of soul, hip hop and gospel. Tickets start at $38.80. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo Casino features drag and norteño. At 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, drag superstar Bianca Del Rio, the Season 6 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, will fill an evening with irreverent humor and music. Tickets start at $46.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, Latin star Javier Rosas will showcase the beauty of Mexican norteño music. Tickets start at $57.25. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage is hosting a boatload of music legends. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, Stephen Pearcy, of metal maniacs RATT and Quiet Riot, brings a high-energy set to the desert. Tickets start at $43.10. At 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, celebrate a great group of classic rockers with a performance by REO Speedwagon. Tickets start at $84.90. Elvis’ wife, Priscilla Presley, is headed to town for an interesting evening at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13. Tickets start at $28.14. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, ’70s/’80s funkers Kool and the Gang will bring the boogie to town. Tickets start at $53.94. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31, KC and the Sunshine Band return yet again for another funky New Year’s Eve bash! Tickets start at $68.90. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Residencies at Agua Caliente in Palm Springs are rockin’ … around the Christmas tree. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays host the star-studded synagogue benefit Jews Do the Blues (Dec. 4), a holiday tribute to the Blues Brothers from The Gand Band (Dec. 11), and retro Christmas rock from The Dreamboats (Dec. 18). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $17.85 to $28.52, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel Thursdays include 1930s France vibes from Joie de Vivre Cabaret with Chloe Perrier and Mark Kopitzke (Dec. 5), classic Peanuts holiday tunes at The Duck Soup Trio’s Charlie Brown Christmas (Dec. 12), jazz wizardry from The Azar Lawrence Experience (Dec. 19) and a night of holiday tunes and tributes dubbed A Klezmer Hanukkah Barry Sisters Tribute (Dec. 26). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $17.85, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.sparesortcasino.com.
Here are a few highlights from a stacked December at Pappy & Harriet’s. At 9:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, indie-pop duo Mickey Darling will turn the Pioneertown Palace into a dance floor. Tickets are at $20. At 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, Electronic rockers BoomBox will bring badass beats and damn-good grooves to the desert. Tickets are $25. At 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, electric female rock outfit Thunderpussy will ignite Pappy’s into a fiery ball of riffs. Tickets are $18. At 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28, Americana band Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys share rootsy jams in the historic high desert. Tickets start at $20. Check out the website for a complete list of shows. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s in Palm Springs mixes music and drag for a damn good time. At 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, jazz musician and American Horror Story star Sandra Bernhard will grace Oscar’s for an intimate evening of story and song. Tickets start at $89.95. Enjoy some holiday charm from Broadway, jazz and cabaret performer Jack Donahue at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19. Tickets start at $35. At 6 and 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31, get dragged into 2025 at Palm Springs’ New Year’s Eve with drag stars Jackie Beat, Sherry Vine and Candis Cayne. Tickets are $159.95. Some Oscar’s shows include a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
The Purple Room is ending the year with a bang! At 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 5-7, Purple Room favorite the Marvelous Marilyn Maye is back yet again! Tickets start at $85.87. Singer-songwriter Amanda McBroom is in town for a two-night stint at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20 and 21 don’t miss the Christmas delight of Broadway Barbara and her “Holiday Spectacular”! Tickets start at $50.85. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
