62nd Annual Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade

The 62nd Annual Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade sends wildly decorated carts, marching bands, school groups and local businesses down El Paseo, Palm Desert’s luxury shopping strip. Festivities begin in the morning, while the parade itself steps off at noon, giving the day the feel of a neighborhood celebration with a very Palm Desert mode of transport. Folding chairs and shade are part of the strategy.

Why go

• Golf carts, transformed: The wildly decorated carts are the parade’s distinctive visual signature.
• Whole-community lineup: Marching bands, school groups and local businesses keep the procession varied.
• El Paseo setting: The route turns Palm Desert’s well-known shopping street into a civic gathering place.
• Free tradition: The annual parade offers a straightforward community outing.

What to expect

Expect a daytime curbside parade with carts rolling down El Paseo alongside marching bands, school groups and local businesses. The morning festivities lead toward the noon step-off, so there is time to arrive, find your preferred view and settle in before the procession begins. The appeal is visual and communal rather than formal: spectators get to see how much imagination has gone into each cart and cheer for familiar local groups as they pass. It is a distinctly Palm Desert occasion, where the shopping strip becomes a place to sit, watch and take in the community.

Know before you go

• Bring a folding chair for a more comfortable curbside view.
• Stake out shade on the north side of the street, as recommended by the organizers’ event information.
• Arrive during the morning festivities if you want time to settle in before the noon parade step-off.