Mark your calendars! The La Quinta Art Celebration unravels in all its creative glory November 13-16, 2025, at La Quinta Civic Center Campus. The revered four-day event celebrates art, creativity, and community. Expect jury-selected world-class artists from across the country and globe presenting their innovative art. This year, La Quinta Art Celebration will support Tools For Tomorrow, a unique nonprofit that empowers children through the arts. Various programs include music, writing, theater, and visual arts, which assist students in building creativity, confidence, and teamwork.
This is one of the finest events of the year in Greater Palm Springs and one of the top spots to discover stellar artists and artwork that you would not necessarily find in a store or gallery. There’s more to browse than inventive artwork here, too, because the event is truly community-driven. That said, be sure to explore the many culinary delights and live music unfolding across these entertaining mid-November days. Here are a few highlights to help you plan.
ART
Art is, in fact, the star of the show. Event planners have named this year’s endeavor “Encore.” To that end, you can find a vast array of art on display in a variety of mediums. You can explore everything from ceramics, painting, pastel print drawings, and sculpture to creations crafted in wood, fiber, glass, 2D digital media, and 3D/mixed media. Stunning photography and hand-crafted jewelry filter into the mix. The number of artists alone feels like a who’s who of the art world. These are some of the most talented artists around. Explore. Strike up a chat with the artists. Be bold. Nab something that truly inspires you.
ENTERTAINMENT
La Quinta Civic Center comes to life over these four days so be sure to catch a few of the great musicians on the itinerary at either the Celebration Bistro or Amphitheater Stage. Guitarist Alex Santana will entertain with a mix of flamenco, jazz, and blues, performing daily in the Celebration Bistro from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Shaken Not Stirred, a memorable group, is known for its “entertainment with a twist.” Check them out from 1:30-4 p.m. on Friday, November 14 on the Amphitheater stage. The Art of Sax is Southern California’s “premier groove band.” They’re slated from 1:30-4 p.m. Saturday, November 15 on the Amphitheater stage. Then there’s musician/songwriter/producer Scott Carter performing daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Amphitheater Stage.
FOOD
Come with an appetite. There’s plenty of great food to enjoy. There’s Celebration Bistro, located next to City Hall in the northeast corner of the festival. You can enjoy al fresco dining under a covered patio or umbrellas while live music plays. Taqueria El Arte is a “Mexican fresh grill” offering an “elevated” street tacos experience. Costa Rica Vintage Café is located by the main entrance. You can find a great cup of brewed Arabica coffee there, but be sure to check out the cold brews, aguas frescas, and the many artesian pastries on hand. For sweets, consider Gelato Granucci; located on Margarita Island, the venue is dedicated to the “art of gelato,” offering a selection of traditional and modern flavors. And, yes, vegan delights. (Go for the Pumpkin Pecan Praline — ’tis the season, after all!) There are even more food options, so just peruse the area and see what stands out.
Take note: If you’re staying in the area, there are, of course, several top-notch dining options nearby. RD RNNR and Beautiful Day, for instance, are popular local spots. Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill is perfect for the entire family, offering everything from fine crafted sandwiches to pizza. These might be great options for an after-the-festival outing.
FIRST-TIMER TIPS
Plan on spending several days at the event to take it all in. If you go that route, you can create one day filled with more entertainment and dining activities and the next day geared to a spacious deeper dive into all the art on display. If you only have one day to experience the event, no worries. Once you find yourself actively in this creative experience, locate the food spots that you find most alluring and plan around that—explore the artists and circle back to the food and entertainment.
Take note: Many of the artists are happy to discuss their work. This is a creative bunch of people, after all, so feel free to ask questions and inquire about their process. Above all: You’re here to have fun. Expect to be impressed by the talent—from the artists to the musicians.
PARKING
Best bets for parking are at La Quinta Civic Center Campus. While you can most likely arrive and find a spot, online reservation services like ParkMe can ease any worries. Either way, there is available parking in and around the celebration, however, like most festivals, expect the crowds to be big. Plan accordingly.
WHERE TO STAY
There are several fine hotels near the celebration—perfect for travelers coming into the area and making a memorable extended stay out of it. Top picks include: La Quinta Resort & Club, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa, and Indian Wells Resort Hotel.
If you're planning a holiday trip to Greater Palm Springs this season, check out our list of featured places to stay, as well as our local deals so you can save more on your next relaxing getaway.
