Happy December! As 2025 comes to a close, it’s a perfect time to put on a sweater (if needed) and go see a show! Stay safe, and have a great holiday season.
Besides Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey, Acrisure Arena is hosting music legends and child icons! How the West Was Won, a hip-hop show featuring performances from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, E-40, Kurupt from Tha Dogg Pound, Warren G, Suga Free, Lighter Shade of Brown and Glasses Malone, which was initially scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, has been moved to Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Tickets start at $38.55. At 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! makes the jump from screen to stage, as the animated kids’ show comes to life here in the desert. Tickets start at $43.10. At 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 30, new-wave kings Duran Duran will revisit their ’80s hits! Tickets start at $99.75. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
At last! The Plaza Theatre is open and boasting a full schedule! Here are some highlights. At 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 1, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo revives the Plaza at the Grand Opening Gala, a fundraiser for the theater. Remaining tickets start at $1,000. At 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8, the Plaza will host its first Palm Springs Icons celebration, which honors eight locals who have made significant contributions to the desert. Lucie Arnaz, Michael Childers, Paul Feig, Michael Holmes and the Purple Room, Larry Luckinbill, Trixie Mattel, Brian Ray and the late Frank Sinatra will all be celebrated through film and song. Tickets start at $81.55. At 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7, the Plaza’s symphony-in-residence, the Palm Springs Symphony, will perform their Christmas show. Tickets start at $75.70. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, and 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, the Plaza’s ensemble-in-residence, Modern Men, showcase unique arrangements of holiday hits. Tickets start at $64.05. At 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 20, as well as 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, the Plaza’s chorus-in-residence, the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, will fill the new stage with 100 voices and plenty of cheery tunes. Tickets start at $64.05. Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-593-5818; www.palmspringsplazatheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs features country, corridos and covers! At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, Midland brings harmonic honky-tonk tunes to Indio. Tickets start at $72.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, Los Dos Carnales and their norteño and corrido styles will set the stage ablaze with Latin energy. Tickets start at $92.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, Beatles tribute band RAIN is bringing their Christmas show to town, performing a set of Beatles classics and Xmas favorites. Tickets start at $52.50. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
The McCallum Theatre’s calendar is filled with moving events. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, famous conceptual dance company MOMIX presents Alice, an Alice in Wonderland-inspired artistic dance show. Tickets start at $47. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, enjoy a mariachi Christmas show with Mariachi Herencia de México, which combines culture with holiday cheer! Tickets start at $43. At 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7, Christmas tunes meet horns when Canadian Brass performs. Tickets start at $57. The stage adaptation of the musical Moulin Rouge! graces the McCallum stage for multiple performances from Tuesday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec. 14. Tickets start at $97.99. Barry Manilow’s concert series, A Gift of Love, returns for a seventh edition—benefitting 25 local charities—across multiple dates: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16, and Wednesday, Dec. 17; 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20; and 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21. Tickets start at $177.58. A Beautiful Noise, a musical dedicated to the life and songs of Neil Diamond, will take the stage for multiple performances from Tuesday, Dec. 23, through Sunday, Dec. 28. Tickets start at $72.99. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Morongo Casino has a few big concerts on the December schedule. At 9 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3, Rob Thomas, frontman of Matchbox Twenty, brings his solo show to Cabazon. Tickets start at $42.75. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, regional Mexican act Los Parras will showcase some norteño bangers. Resale tickets started at $298.13 as of this writing. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, iconic funk and soul act War will bring the Long Beach sound to the desert. Tickets started at $171.72 as of our deadline. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Spotlight 29 Casino has music and comedy! At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, comedian René Vaca will bring the chuckles to Coachella. Tickets start at $38.80. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, viral impressionist Matt Friend will share standup featuring voices you know well. Tickets start at $28.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, the holiday spirit reigns with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, as their holiday tour will showcase more of the group’s patented mix of music eras. Tickets start at $33.65. Honest Goodness Comedy Fridays continue with Javi Bailon (Dec. 12), Jimmy Della Valle (Dec. 19) and Bruce Jingles (Dec. 26). Tickets start from $17.32 to $17.85. You must be 18+ to attend. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage is hosting tons of music! At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, powerful vocal group The Texas Tenors, accompanied by the Desert Symphony, will croon through Christmas classics as a three-piece vocal unit. Tickets start at $69.42. Tickets are moving fast to see some ’90s stars: At 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, ’90s Hits and Xmas Riffs brings a triple-threat from the Trapper Keeper era, with Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra, and Emerson Hart of Tonic. Remaining tickets start at $69.87. As we approach a new year, remember prior years with An Evening With the Rat Pack, featuring a number of tributes to Palm Springs legends, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 27. Tickets start at $33.80. At 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 31, ring in the new year, as Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage always does, with KC and the Sunshine Band, with special guest Sister Sledge. Tickets start at $85.35. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
At Agua Caliente Palm Springs, rockin’ residencies round out the year. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature blues rock-soul-funk-jazz act Sayed Sabrina (Dec. 3), a performance of holiday songs from girl groups performed by the Gand Band (Dec. 10) and the annual bluesy benefit Jews Do the Blues (Dec. 17). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $17.85 to $28.52, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel Thursdays bring Christmas soul from Greg Adams and East Bay Soul (Dec. 4), an evening of Charlie Brown Christmas tunes from Duck Soup Trio (Dec. 11) and Borscht Belt Hanukkah, a night of Hanukkah tunes from Skip Heller (Dec. 18). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $19.98, available at eventspalmsprings.com. A musical time-capsule show, this time dedicated to the year 1970, will take place at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, and feature performances from Tod Macofsky, Dion Khan and the Gand Band. Tickets for this show start at $22.11, again at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Here are some highlights from a stacked December at Pappy and Harriet’s. At 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, you can grace the Pappy’s stage and scream into the microphone when Punk Rock Karaoke, a band of punk-rock alumni who perform iconic songs from the genre, visit the desert. Show up early to sign up to sing! Tickets are $31.86. At 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, Coachella Valley music legend Chris Goss will appear in Pioneertown with his band Jumpers. Paul Chesne and Hammer of the Ozz are set to open the show. Tickets are $42.74. At 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, it’s a psychedelic desert affair with performances from Brainstory (pictured below) and É Arenas (Chicano Batman). Twin Seas are set to open. Tickets are $31.86. At 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17, enjoy another local affair, as hi-dez acts Karma Dealers, The LEDNECKS and The Sibleys visit the Pioneertown Palace. Tickets are $13.73. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Mojave Gold has a busy month, so here are some notable shows. At 9:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, local goth-event promoters Luna Negra present The Naughty List Fetish Ball, an 18+ evening of leather, lace, lust and more. Tickets are $12.15 in advance. At 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, Homestead Sessions (which usually take place at a house in the high desert) host their final show of the year at Mojave Gold, with performances form Mikey Reyes, Palo Xanto and Fresh Basil. The event is free. At 8:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12, Joshua Tree promoters JT City Limits are hosting a Yuletide Masquerade Ball with musical tributes to the Ramones and Ace Frehley. The event is free. At 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, enjoy a night of surf in the desert when surf guitar legend Dick Dale’s son Jimmy Dale and his trio rock through a set of surf classics. Hot Patooties will open up the evening. Tickets are $17.41 in advance. Mojave Gold, 56193 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley; 442-205-0192; mojavegolddesert.com.
Weekends are fun at the Purple Room! At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, Broadway Barbara mixes Christmas tunes and naughty-list comedy. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13, vocal star Andrea McArdle (of Annie fame) serenades a set of sleigh-ing songs. Tickets start at $56. All ticketed shows include dinner reservations two hours before show time. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
Edited on Dec. 1 to reflect a show rescheduling.
