The Art of Illusion
John Shryock and Mari Lynn combine magic and illusion with drama, dance and comedy. Join them at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 26, through Saturday, Dec. 28, for a high-energy evening at Marvyn’s Magic Theater, 46630 Washington St., in La Quinta. Your $75 ticket includes an hour of preshow entertainment in the lounge. Beer, wine and cocktails are available for purchase; make sure you eat beforehand (or plan to dine afterward), and no one under 21 is allowed. Get tickets and find other shows you might be interested in at marvynsmagictheater.com/events.html. —Charles Drabkin
Local Talent on Display
A mixed-genre lineup of local artists is taking over Coachella Valley Brewing Co. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28, The Lab Music Showcase will take place at 30640 Gunther St., in Thousand Palms. Tone Drexler, Yaya Whatever, Tarah Jade, Enzo Langston, Mills Da Gawd and Razor J are all set to perform. Come and witness a stacked lineup of diverse local talent! The event is free to attend. For more information, visit the Facebook event page. —Matt King
A Night of Manic Metal
Prepare your mind for metalcore mania! At 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29, local heavyweight metal bands and one touring act will shake things up at The Beatnik Lounge, at 61597 Twentynine Palms Highway, in Joshua Tree. He Films the Clouds, Shark Fin and WISEMANSAY will perform alongside Oyarsa, a rockin’ group from Colorado Springs, Colo.! Donations are encouraged to support the bands. For more information, visit instagram.com/sharkfin_music. —Matt King
Art, Light and Family Fun
Demuth Park is again hosting Art in the Park in the Dark—but the second iteration of the event is taking place on New Year’s Eve! Enjoy an evening of laser shows, light-art installations, a glow-and-go bike parade and creative interaction at this all-ages event by World Wide Whimsy. On Tuesday, Dec. 31, Demuth Park, at 200 E. Mesquite Ave., lights up at 5 p.m., with the bike parade at 7 p.m., and a closing laser light show and sound bath starting at 8:45 p.m. What a perfect way to cleanse the old year and usher in the new! The first 200 attendees will receive a black light flashlight to explore hidden art. Attendees are encouraged to bring flashlights and wear either black or white clothing to become walking canvases. For more information, check out the Facebook event page. —Charles Drabkin
Get Down Tonight!
Celebrate 50 years of funk grooves! At 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31, KC and the Sunshine Band will dance 2024 away during a special New Year’s Eve show at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage, at 32250 Bob Hope Drive. The hit-making force behind classic tunes like “Boogie Shoes,” “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and others will help you ring in the new year! Tickets start at $68.90. For tickets and more information, visit aguacalientecasinos.com. —Matt King
Start a Tradition
Kick off 2025 in nature! Ride to the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, at 1 Tram Way, in Palm Springs, on Wednesday, Jan. 1, and take a hike along the trails. If you’re hungry, dine at the Pines Café (a cafeteria-style restaurant) anytime from 5 to 8 p.m. with the special holiday Ride ’n’ Dine event. Tickets are $43 for adults and $29.50 for kids age 3-10, including tram fare and your meal. (Other dates are available.) The Peaks Restaurant will also have a special holiday menu for $79, although that price doesn’t include the tram fare. Reserve your ride and find out more at pstramway.com. —Charles Drabkin
High Desert Dirty Rock
Enjoy some dirty desert rock sounds in the high desert! At 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 2, JTCITYLIMITS and Z107.7 present “Live/Local” First Thursdays at Snake Bite Roadhouse, at 57250 Twentynine Palms Highway, in Yucca Valley. A fantastic group of Coachella Valley musicians are set to perform, such as Carl Rice and Cactus Pricks, Chris Williams (of The High 70’s) and Dust Devil Music. Dinner and a full bar are available for purchase from 5 p.m. to close. The event is free to attend. For more information, visit the Facebook event page. —Matt King
College Hockey in the Coachella Valley
The inaugural Coachella Valley Cactus Cup is being held on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3 and 4, at Acrisure Arena, at 75702 Varner Road. The NCAA Division I men’s hockey tournament will feature the UMass Lowell River Hawks, Michigan Tech Huskies, Holy Cross Crusaders and the Omaha Mavericks, battling it on the ice. Preliminary matches take place on Friday at 3:30 and 7 p.m. The losers will compete at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the winners facing off at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $27.85 to $39.20 per day. Find out more and purchase tickets here. —Charles Drabkin
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