Christmas Dinner, Minus the Cooking
If you haven’t yet made plans for Christmas Day dinner, you should know that The Pink Cabana, inside the Sands Hotel and Spa, at 44985 Province Way, in Indian Wells, is here to help. The $120 per person prix-fixe menu ($160 with wine pairings), with seatings starting at 4:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 25, includes holiday favorites like roasted chestnut soup, your choice of Niman Ranch Christmas ham or Creekstone Farms prime rib, and dessert. The Pink Cabana’s setting is a delight, with soft lighting, pink accents and a midcentury sensibility. This is a good choice for couples, visiting family, or locals who would rather celebrate Christmas without spending the day in the kitchen. For more information or reservations, visit www.opentable.com/r/the-pink-cabana-sands-hotel-and-spa-indian-wells. —Charles Drabkin
A Final Bow for a Fearless Original
Some actors appear in movies. Others leave fingerprints. Palm Springs local Udo Kier did the latter, and at 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 29, the Palm Springs Cultural Center, at 2300 E. Baristo Road, offers a thoughtful farewell with Swan Song: A Tribute to Udo Kier. The evening begins at 5 p.m. with a curated pre-show that traces Kier’s life and career through film clips, archival moments and more. At 6 p.m., friends, collaborators and admirers take the stage with live remarks, dedications and reflections. That leads directly into a screening of Swan Song (2021, pictured in the email header), Kier’s late-career gem in which he plays a former hairdresser finding dignity, memory and self-worth. Tickets are $13.64; to purchase them or learn more, visit Eventbrite. For tickets and more information, visit Eventbrite. —Charles Drabkin
Welcome the New Year in Bellbottoms
Welcome 2026 in full Palm Springs glitz and glam style! At 9 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 31, step into the sparkly new year at the Studio 2026 Glam Disco Party, hosted at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club, at 701 E. Palm Canyon Drive. The ’70s disco magic of the famous Studio 54 gets reimagined to help you celebrate NYE in glamorous fashion! DJ Sean Patrick will be spinning groovy staples all night long, but stop by the Glam Dress-Up Bar before you hit the dance floor so you can look your glamorous best. Don’t miss the best-dressed disco glam competition, and a champagne toast at midnight! Tickets are $153.56, and include a welcome cocktail, two drink tickets and that aforementioned midnight toast, as well as 20% off food and drink at the Kings Highway diner. For tickets and more information, visit the Eventbrite link. —Matt King
Fried Chicken and Caviar!
New Year’s Eve gets most of the attention, but New Year’s Day has its own quiet charm—especially when fried chicken and caviar are involved. The Pantry at Holiday House, at 200 W. Arenas Road, in Palm Springs, marks the start of 2026 with a special edition of its family-style fried chicken dinner at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 1. Served outdoors in the hotel’s garden and limited to 40 guests seated at one long table, the evening pairs The Pantry’s famously crisp fried chicken with Thomas Keller’s Regiis Ova caviar. Chef Oleg Olexin has designed a multi-course menu that leans festive yet relaxed, with the San Jacinto Mountains in the background and a complimentary champagne toast to start. Dinner is $139 per person. For more information and reservations, visit holidayhouseps.com/dine. —Charles Drabkin
Celebrate the New Year in Legwarmers
Move over 2026 … hello 1984! At 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 2, experience 1984: A Musical Time Capsule, hosted at the Cascade Lounge at Agua Caliente Palm Springs, at 401 E. Amado Road. Local vocalist Tod Macofsky invites audiences into a time machine, and will celebrate the year 1984 with the top hits of that year, alongside powerhouse vocalist Siobhan Velarde (pictured). The pair will tackle classics from Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson and more! 1980s fashion is encouraged! Tickets start at $22.11, and you must be 21 or older to attend. For tickets and more information, visit the Eventbrite link. —Matt King
Celebration of Strings
Enjoy a night in the high desert with fiery folk! At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 2, marvelous modern musical duo Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman will play at Mojave Gold, at 56193 Twentynine Palms Highway, in Yucca Valley. With Brown (pictured) on banjo and Coleman on fiddle, the pair craft old-timey tunes that enchant and intrigue, engaging listeners with traditional sounds—before modernizing the moment with blissful harmonies. Don’t miss an intimate experience with two fresh faces of old-school sounds. Tickets are $24. For tickets and more information, visit mojavegolddesert.com.
Getting to the Bottom of Desert Holes
If you have ever walked a desert trail and found yourself staring into a small hole in the ground, this hike is for you. At 8:30 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 4, volunteer docents from Friends of the Desert Mountains lead an interpretive walk along the Randall Henderson Trail, starting at the trailhead parking lot, at the visitor center of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, at 51500 Highway 74, in Palm Desert. Hikers will learn how to spot the difference between burrows and holes, look for clues left behind by desert wildlife, and better understand how these small details support the larger, delicate balance of the local ecosystem. The hike is rated easy, with options for either 1.5 or 2.5 miles. No dogs are allowed, and participants should bring snacks, two liters of water and proper sun protection. RSVP is required. A suggested $5 donation supports volunteer programs. For more information and to RSVP, visit www.desertmountains.org/event/who-made-that-hole. —Charles Drabkin
A Screening With a Star
Our local celebration of film returns for a 37th year! The Palm Springs International Film Festival is back, and screenings begin on Friday, Jan. 2, in theatres across Palm Springs and beyond. Witness some of the best movies from all over the world right here in our desert, including the festival’s always-interesting series like the Talking Pictures, Family Day, and Film Inspired Dinners. While many movies deserve your attention, one worth special attention is the 10 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 4, showing of Blue Moon, hosted at Palm Springs High School, at 2401 E. Baristo Road. Star Ethan Hawke is slated to attend the screening and introduce the film, which centers on the life and troubles of Lorenz Milton Hart, half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Tickets are $45. For tickets and more information, visit www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2026/film-finder/blue-moon. —Matt King
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