Thousands lined El Paseo as decorated cars, classic cars, and marching bands turned a quiet Sunday into a full-blown Southern California celebration.
Palm Desert doesn’t do “subtle.” Not when it comes to weather, not when it comes to real estate, and definitely not when it comes to golf cars. The city’s annual Golf Cart Parade (now in its 61st year) once again proved that there is no limit to how far residents will go to bedazzle, embellish, theme, and transform their beloved cars into rolling art pieces. If you ever wanted to know what happens when a community collectively decides to outdo itself, El Paseo on parade day is the answer.
The day kicked off early, with a community breakfast at 8 a.m. that felt less like a meal and more like a reunion. According to KESQ, longtime locals gathered with newcomers, snowbirds swapped stories, and the chatter had that unmistakable festival buzz: the kind that says, “We’ve been waiting all year for this.” By noon, when the parade officially launched, El Paseo had fully transformed into a colorful corridor of cheering crowds, swaying palm trees, and more glitter than a drag brunch on a Saturday.
This year’s theme, “California Dreaming,” gave participants plenty of room to play. And they did. Think surfers, palm-lined highways, mini Hollywood sets, Route 66 tributes, desert sunsets, and at least two different interpretations of the Golden Gate Bridge built on the front of golf cars. One couple decked their car out as a moving Joshua Tree installation, complete with faux boulders and a tiny campfire scene. Another group brought Big Sur to the desert with plush sea lions sunbathing on their roof.
Not to be outdone, several sports cars joined the procession: sleek, polished, and roaring loud enough to remind everyone that even amid the whimsical cars, the Coachella Valley still loves its horsepower. Marching bands kept the energy flowing, filling the boulevard with brass, drums, and the kind of showmanship that makes you remember how much fun a parade can actually be.
Local news personalities also hitched rides on some of the cars, waving to the crowds like seasoned pageant queens. Kids darted along the sidelines with flags and noise-makers, while parents snapped photos, trying to capture a moment that already felt like a small slice of local culture preserved in time.
Of course, any great parade ends with bragging rights. A panel of judges handed out awards for the most creative, including Best Overall Cart, the Mayor’s Award, and the fan-favorite School Spirit Award. The competition, as always, was spirited but friendly. In Palm Desert, winning is nice but showing up with something fun, bold, and community-minded is the real victory.
What makes this event so beloved isn’t just the spectacle. It’s the togetherness. Residents often say that all it takes is a few golf cars to bring everyone out, and this year proved the point again. People lined the sidewalks from block to block, laughing, chatting, enjoying the weather, and soaking in a feeling of civic pride that cities spend a lifetime trying to cultivate.
Palm Desert’s Golf Cart Parade has become, in many ways, a mirror of the city itself. It’s bright, playful, stylish, and maybe a little theatrical but underneath the ribbons and decorations is a strong sense of connection. In a region where communities can sometimes feel transient or spread out, events like this remind people why they stay.
As the last car rolled past and the crowds dispersed, the energy lingered. California Dreaming took on a literal meaning for a few hours not just a theme, but a reminder of why this desert oasis knows how to throw a celebration that sticks with you.
