Palm Desert’s Golf Cart Parade Is Back: How to Make a Morning of It

The Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade returns to El Paseo on Sunday, October 25, 2026. It is the 62nd edition of an event built around a very desert idea: take a golf cart, decorate it, and make a parade out of it. Organizer’s announcement

You can show up for the procession, but the morning starts earlier. The organizer’s schedule begins with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. Entertainment, food vendors, the marketplace, custom carts and classic cars open at 9 a.m. The parade starts at noon, running along El Paseo from the San Luis Rey end toward Ocotillo.

Make one decision before you drive over

Do you want to spend the morning browsing, eating and watching the setup—or mainly see the carts roll by? For the first version, arrive early and leave time to walk the event area. For the second, pick a viewing spot before noon and give yourself time to reach it on foot. El Paseo is a long street; “we’ll meet somewhere along the route” is not much of a plan.

You can watch from the street side; the organizer says spectators may bring a blanket or folding chair. It lists free parking at The Gardens on El Paseo structure and at city lots between El Paseo and Highway 111, including Presidents Plaza East and West. These are options, not a promise that a space will still be open when you arrive. Spectator information

The organizer also lists options for VIP, veteran and senior seating, along with a kid zone. Check the participation and seating page if one of those options matters to your group.

Bring water, sun protection and shoes you can walk in. October feels more inviting than August in Palm Desert, but the parade is still an outdoor midday outing. If you are bringing children, decide where you will meet if the group separates before the carts arrive.

The organizer’s site is the place to confirm last-minute route, seating and arrival details. Treat this as a morning on El Paseo with a parade in the middle, and the day becomes easier to enjoy.