Looking for family fun in Greater Palm Springs this Halloween? From costume contests to golf carts parade, you can make this Halloween 2025 an unforgettable experience in Greater Palm Springs. Enjoy a variety of entertaining activities and get in the spirit of all Hallows' Eve in this Southern California oasis. Happy haunting!
Festive Family Fun
HOWL-O-WEEN
When: October 25-26 | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: The Living Desert
Join in the festivities of the season at The Living Desert, enjoying Halloween-themed activities suitable for families and engaging in spontaneous experiences spread across the park. Delight in the autumn celebrations while you venture into the diverse world of deserts, interact with over 600 animals, and bask in the charm of their 50-plus botanical gardens.
Spooktacular Movie Nights
When: October 7, 14, 21, 28 | 5-8 p.m.
Where: Cathedral City Community Amphitheater
Come join in the fun at Spooktacular Movie Nights at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater. The fun starts at dusk each Tuesday night during October with seasonal family friendly films.
- 10/7: Nightmare Before Christmas
- 10/14: Monster House
- 10/21: Coco
- 10/28: Hocus Pocus
Spooktacular Halloween Boat Rides
When: October 17, 18, 24, 25, 31
Where: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa invites guests to set sail on a spooky, family-friendly Halloween cruise this October. Each 25-minute boat ride features eerie lighting, a costume-clad crew, and haunting melodies with a festive twist, along with a selection of sweet and savory snacks to enjoy onboard. Cruises run October 17, 18, 24, 25, and 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Spooktacular Theme Skate
When: October 24 | 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Where: Berger Foundation Iceplex
Glide into Halloween fun at the Berger Foundation Iceplex! Enjoy a night of costumes, games, and on-ice thrills for the whole family—plus free skate rental when you come dressed in costume.
Halloween Chili Cook-Off and Car Show
When: October 25 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Palm Springs Air Museum
Be a part of the fun at Palm Springs Air Museum’s 16th annual Chili Cook-Off and Car Show. Burn rubber on over to see some awesome rides and enjoy a tasting of various chili offerings from the Museum volunteers’ secret recipes. It will be a ghoulish feast for the eyes and the tummy. Supported by the Palm Springs Cruisin’ Association.
Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest
When: October 25 | 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Where: Panorama Park Dog Park
The Cathedral City Parks & Community Events Commission presents the Howl-O-Ween 2025 Dog Costume Contest at Panorama Park Dog Park. Join in on the fun at the annual Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest! Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the contest begins at 9:30 a.m. There will be prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each of two categories – small and large breed. Plus there will be a prize for the best dog and owner combo costume!
Halloween Spooktacular
When: October 26 | 12-3 p.m.
Where: Cathedral City City Hall
Join the City of Cathedral City for the 9th Annual Cathedral City Halloween Spooktacular in downtown Cathedral City in front of City Hall. Admission is free, and kids can enjoy a "Treat or Treat" candy giveaway, costume contest, get the change win a bike, and more!
Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade
When: October 26 | 12 p.m.
Where: El Paseo
Join the fun at the Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade, where the streets come alive with colorful, creatively decorated carts, food vendors, and festive community spirit in the heart of El Paseo.
Halloween at Palm Springs VillageFest
When: October 30 | 6 p.m.
The City of Palm Springs Department of Parks & Recreation presents Halloween: Killer Klowns at VillageFest! The free event will include monster movies, trick or treating, a haunted bus, costume contest, and pumpkin patch.
Halloween Carnival and Haunted House
When: October 31 | 4-7 p.m.
Where: James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center
The City of Palm Springs Department of Parks & Recreation presents Halloween Carnival and Haunted House at James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center! Join them for the fun and spooky vibes!
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Fun for Adults
Fork n Film at the Avalon
When: October 4, 11, 18
Fork N Film combines the magic of cinema with gourmet dining to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience. For our upcoming Hocus Pocus screening, guests will enjoy multi-course meals inspired by the film, with each dish carefully crafted and served at the exact moment it appears on screen. This innovative concept transforms movie-watching into a culinary journey, blurring the line between spectator and participant while celebrating creativity, inclusivity, and a passion for both food and film.
Horror Shorts Film Festival at Festival Theaters
When: October 24, 25
Where: Festival Theaters Palm Springs
This October, Festival Theaters will launch its first-ever Horror Shorts Film Festival, Palm Screams! on October 25. Featuring up-and-coming filmmakers, a haunted projection room tour, and chilling after-parties, this thrilling event promises to be the first of many. Guests can choose from two pass options: the Full Access Pass ($60), which includes all screenings on October 25 plus entry to the exclusive Filmmaker Night on October 24; or the Screening Pass ($40), which provides access to all screenings on October 25 only. Full schedules for both dates will be announced in the first week of October
The Crimson Rose
When: October 25 | 7:00 p.m
Where: PS Underground
Price: $189
Deep within the humid embrace of New Orleans' French Quarter, where the scent of jasmine mingles with the distant cry of jazz, a different kind of pulse emanates from "The Crimson Rose", a dark and sultry cabaret. Here, under shimmering candlelight, the performers are not mere mortals but beings of the night. Vampires whose voices are a velvety harmony capable of both stirring the soul and chilling the blood. The ticket includes a four-course dinner, live entertainment and free flowing beer, wine, blood-red sangria, and specialty cocktails.
Graveyard Shift
When: October 31 | 7:00 p.m
Where: PS Underground
Price: $189
Calling all ghosts, goblins, witches, and monsters - your Graveyard Shift awaits! This Halloween, join them for a frightfully fun night at PS Underground, where all the ghouls get groovy, dinner’s so delicious it could wake the dead, and you can dance the night away to the bone-rattling tunes of the Coachella Valley’s favorites - The Gand Band! The price includes a four-course dinner, live entertainment and free flowing beer, wine, and specialty sinister cocktails.
Los Digits Halloween Comedy Show and Roast War
When: October 31 | 8:00 p.m
Where: Spotlight 29 Casino
Get ready for a hilarious night with Los Digits and his Halloween Comedy Show & No Llores Roast War at Spotlight 29 Casino!
Neon Night: Haunted Splash at Thompson Palm Springs
When: October 30 | 7:00 p.m.
Where: Thompson Palm Springs
Step into the glow and make a splash—this is Halloween, Thompson style. Come dressed in costume, neon brights, or a fierce bob wig for a night that’s equal parts spooky and fabulous.
- Complimentary entry for all hotel guests
- “Wig" dance party under the stars
- Live DJ
- Open to the public ($25 entry | $30 at the door)
- 6 Spooky Cabanas available (7–10 PM | $300 each | up to 6 guests each)
Kick off your Halloween weekend with us in true Thompson style—bring your crew, bring your looks, and light up the pool deck for one unforgettable night.
Halloween Costume Contest in Arenas District
When: October 31
Where: Arenas Road
A Halloween Costume Contest will take place in Arenas District on Friday, October 31 with more than $2,000 in prizes up for grabs, including Grand, 1st, and 2nd Place awards. Registration opens at 6:00 p.m. and closes promptly at 7:15 p.m. (or earlier if all contestant slots are filled). All participants must be in the contest line at the stage by 7:30 p.m. to compete.
Halloween Bash
When: October 31 | 8 p.m.
Where: Agave Caliente Tequila Bar at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City
Come dressed to impress and show off your costume for a chance to win cash prizes (up to $1,000) at Agave Caliente Tequila Bar at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City! Plus enjoy live entertainment by Empire Records & DJ Ebony! Masks and full-face paint are not permitted in the casino.
Ready for some more fun in this sunny oasis? Check out these fall events for more fun this fall in Greater Palm Springs!
