Not everyone wants parades, packed parking lots, and lines for hot chocolate that feel longer than the holiday season itself. If your ideal December involves sunshine, breathing room, and something festive without the frenzy, the Coachella Valley actually does this really well.

One of the best parts about spending the holidays here is that you can choose your level of participation. Big events exist if you want them. But if you’d rather ease into the season the way locals do, there are plenty of low-key ways to enjoy it.

Here are some of our favorite calm, distinctly desert ways to do the holidays.

1) Take a scenic holiday walk (the kind locals actually enjoy)

You don’t need a full-blown event to feel festive in the desert. Some of the best holiday moments here happen on foot, around sunset, when the light softens and the crowds thin out.

• Candy Cane Lane (Cathedral City): Candy Cane Lane remains a classic for a reason. Go earlier in the evening or on a weekday if you want to enjoy it without feeling rushed.
• Old Town La Quinta: Tasteful lights, palm trees wrapped in white glow, and plenty of spots to stop for a drink or dessert.
• Resort grounds: Resorts like La Quinta Resort and Hyatt Regency Indian Wells decorate heavily and are welcoming to visitors who just want to stroll and soak it in.

For a more comprehensive look at holiday lights around the valley, here’s our full neighborhood lights guide.

2) Walk of the Inns: a Palm Springs holiday tradition

If you’re in Palm Springs in December, the Walk of the Inns is one of those quietly wonderful traditions that locals love and visitors often stumble upon by accident.

Held annually in the historic Tennis Club neighborhood, the Walk of the Inns is a free, self-guided walking tour where many of Palm Springs’ iconic small inns decorate for the holidays and open their gates to the public. No tickets. No lines. Just festive courtyards, midcentury architecture, and a very Palm Springs take on the season.

• What you’ll see: Twinkling lights, holiday cocktails for purchase, fire pits, and beautifully restored boutique properties.
• What you won’t: Crowds shoulder-to-shoulder or anything that feels overly commercial.
• Local tip: Start early in the evening, wear comfortable shoes, and don’t try to see everything. Wandering is the point.

You can learn more about participating inns and dates through the Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels group, which represents many of the properties involved.

3) Explore Palm Springs’ small inns (even if you’re not staying overnight)

Palm Springs’ small inns are one of its best-kept secrets, especially during the holidays. Many are beautifully decorated and happy to welcome visitors during events or open-house evenings.

• Historic Tennis Club inns: This neighborhood is packed with intimate properties that feel festive without feeling busy.
• Midcentury charm: Expect clean lines, minimalist decor, and holiday touches that feel intentional rather than over-the-top.
• Perfect for a quiet drink: Many inns host casual happy hours or small gatherings during the season.

Even if you’re staying elsewhere, wandering through this area during December gives you a great sense of Palm Springs’ holiday personality.

4) Take advantage of December hiking weather

December is one of the best months of the year to be outside in the valley. Locals know this, which is why hiking remains a go-to holiday activity.

• Morning hikes: Trails around Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage are quieter and cooler early in the day.
• Choose wisely: Easy-to-moderate trails keep things enjoyable. Nobody needs a holiday injury story that starts with the Bump and Grind Trail.
• Tramway option: For something different, hiking at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway offers cooler temps and forest scenery.

If you’re heading up the tram, here’s our guide to hiking safely and comfortably at the top.

5) Keep Christmas Day simple (and still memorable)

Christmas Day in the desert works best when you don’t overthink it.

• Brunch over dinner: Many restaurants stay open for brunch, which tends to be calmer and easier than formal holiday dinners.
• Get outside: A neighborhood walk, a park visit, or a scenic drive up Highway 74 to Vista Point feels surprisingly special on Christmas Day.
• One main plan: Pick one thing to do well, then relax. The desert rewards simplicity.

6) When low-key is the whole point

The beauty of doing the holidays in the Coachella Valley is that you don’t have to choose between festive and calm. You can have both.

If you want big events, they’re here. But if you want warm evenings, great architecture, outdoor walks, and holiday traditions that feel genuinely local, this is a pretty ideal place to be.

And if you do decide you want something louder and more event-packed, you can always jump over to our full holiday events roundup and turn it up a notch.