Hundreds gather for Palm Springs Tree Lighting at Frances Stevens Park
Athena Jreij
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A star-studded lineup welcomed hundreds to Frances Stevens Park Friday evening for the city’s annual tree lighting.
The city lit up its new 26-foot holiday tree, towering several feet higher than last years. The celebrations included a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, free cookies and cocoa and arts and crafts.
There was also a Holiday Student Banner Awards ceremony before the tree lighting ceremony, where 15 students won award certificates for their art on Downtown Palm Springs street banners.
Stars at Friday’s tree lighting included:
Jada McLean, Palm Springs High School grad and star of “America’s Sweetheart,” a popular Netflix show about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. McLean fought and won a 400% pay increase for the squad
Scheana Shay, a part-time Palm Springs resident, star of Bravo-TV, favorite “Vanderpump Rules,” and NYT Bestselling author
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Matt Sorum, of Guns ‘N Roses
Mädchen Amick, part-time resident and actress, best known for her roles in “Riverdale” and “Twin Peaks”
Nelda Linsk, the First Lady of Modernism Week who was famously immortalized in the iconic Slim Aarons photograph “Poolside Gossip.”
The real holiday cheer was found in locals who say they come back every year for the celebration.
“We came to this last year. It was just such an amazing experience. We said, we have to do this again and it’s fabulous again,” Steve Pompeo, a Palm Springs resident said.
Santa Claus said the most popular gift requests this year are clothes, slime, Barbie dolls, and Playstation 5 gaming consoles.
If you missed out on the tree lighting fun, the annual Festival of Lights Parade kicks off in Downtown Palm Springs at 5 p.m. Saturday.