Sight guide · Palm Springs · United States
Visiting Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest
Downtown's main street mixes galleries, vintage clothing, restaurants with misted patios and the Palm Springs Walk of Stars set into the pavement.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Palm Springs · Photo: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest is a street in Downtown Palm Springs, Palm Springs. Allow 1–2 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Street
- Area
- Downtown Palm Springs
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, shopping, food and after dark
- Best months
- May, October and December
Plan a trip to Palm Springs
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
About Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest
Downtown's main street mixes galleries, vintage clothing, restaurants with misted patios and the Palm Springs Walk of Stars set into the pavement. On Thursday evenings the VillageFest street fair usually closes several blocks to traffic for craft stalls, food vendors and live music.
Tip: Visit VillageFest after sunset in the warmer months, when the pavement has cooled and the stalls are busiest.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1–2 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not needed; you can simply turn up.
- Where: Downtown Palm Springs, palm Canyon Drive shops, museums and restaurants within walking distance of most hotels.
Best time to visit Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- May: 36°C (97°F) highs, almost no rainy days, moderate crowds.
- October: 33°C (91°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- December: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 3 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Palm Springs has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Palm Springs itinerary visits Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest on day 1, together with Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Mid-century modern homes drive and Mount San Jacinto State Park.
- No. 10 of the 16 sights in our Palm Springs things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 5-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Palm Springs.
Near Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest
Also in Downtown Palm Springs, so you can walk between them:
- Architecture and Design Center — 45 minutes, low cost
- Palm Springs Art Museum — 1.5–2 hours, low cost
- Agua Caliente Cultural Museum — 1.5–2 hours, low cost
Staying near Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest
Stay in Downtown Palm Springs ($$$) to walk here: palm Canyon Drive shops, museums and restaurants within walking distance of most hotels. All areas to stay in Palm Springs.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest?
Plan 1–2 hours. With Architecture and Design Center nearby, it fits a half-day in Downtown Palm Springs.
+Is Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest?
May, October and December, the quietest of the good months. Visit VillageFest after sunset in the warmer months, when the pavement has cooled and the stalls are busiest.
+Do I need to book Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest in advance?
No: it is free to visit, so you can decide on the day.