The city of Indian Wells will kick off its annual Winterfest celebration on Saturday, Dec. 2, with a tree-lighting ceremony at the Indian Wells Golf Resort—and the return of the holiday-themed edition of the Shots in the Night outdoor golf experience.
Now in its second year, Indian Wells Winterfest is a month-long festival of events and activities combining holiday traditions—including a winter-themed roller-skating rink—with outdoor golfing experiences. Marketing director Ben Rodny said the festival is a chance for locals and visitors alike to experience the resort.
“It’s not just for resort guests coming from out of town,” Rodny said. “We have a huge local community, and we want them to know about the golf resort. We want them to know what an amazing destination Indian Wells is, even if it’s just in their backyard.”
By day, the Indian Wells Golf Resort features two nationally ranked golf courses—the Celebrity Course and the Players Course—where tee times can be booked year-round. By night, from mid-October through May 31, the resort hosts the Shots in the Night golf experience. Winterfest simply ups the wattage at Indian Wells, with the entire resort decked out in holiday colors and neon lights. Nighttime golf expands from weekends only to a nightly schedule.
“Most people in the community know Shots in the Night as laser-putting,” Rodny said. However, it also includes the TopTracer Driving Range, where golfers can track the velocity and trajectory of their shots. Guests can book 50-minute sessions of either laser-putting or the TopTracer Driving Range, with each session providing a chance for competitive games with up to six participants.
From Dec. 2 through Jan. 2, guests can roller skate outdoors to disco and holiday-themed music, and catch holiday movie nights. For the truly adventurous, there’s even a chance to rent a private igloo. One-hour skating sessions begin at 5 p.m., with skate rentals included. Adult skating is $25; for children under 12, tickets are $15.
Reservations are required for laser-putting, TopTracer and the skating rink. Food and drinks will be available at the Igloo Bubble Bar, the Holiday Cookie and Candy truck, and other food and drink pop-ups.
“Winterfest has something for little kids through older folks,” Rodny said. “Winterfest is meant to highlight the holiday season and make it a bit more fun and cheerful for everyone.”
Indian Wells Winterfest takes place from Saturday, Dec. 2, through Tuesday, Jan. 2, at the Indian Wells Golf Resort, 44500 Indian Wells Lane, in Indian Wells. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/coachella-valley/indian-wells/winterfest.
