Events Archives – Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

SANTA TO VISIT THE PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY DECEMBER 6 AND 13

Guess who’s coming to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway? This December, families can enjoy two unique opportunities to visit Santa in an alpine winter wonderland.

Santa will be stopping by the Mountain Station’s Pines Café on Saturday, December 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Children can share their Christmas lists with Santa himself, pose for photos, and receive a free candy cane. Santa’s visit is included in general tram fare admission. Tram tickets are $34.95 for adults, $31.95 for seniors, and $18.95 for children (ages 3 – 10).
“Breakfast with Santa” will be held on Saturday, December 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Pines Café. Join and Mrs. Claus for a special holiday breakfast and festive crafts. “Breakfast with Santa” tickets are $55 for adults and seniors, and $42 for children (ages 3 – 10). Tram fare is included. Advanced tickets are required and can be purchased by visiting www.pstramway.com/tickets or by calling (760) 325-1449. Seating is “family style” (tables may be shared with other guests).

Celebrate the holiday season at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. For more information, please visit www.pstramway.com.

Download Menu

alt9design2025-11-20T23:12:42+00:00November 20th, 2025|Events|

High School Choirs Perform Holiday Favorites at 8,516 Feet

The “Sounds of the Holidays” concert series commences December 3 at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Mountain Station. Continuing a decades-long tradition, visitors can enjoy Yuletide carols and holiday hits performed by high school choirs on select dates through December 14.

For the 2025 season, the Tramway is proud to present the following line-up:

Wednesday, December 3 – La Quinta High School Chamber Singers
Thursday, December 4 – Cathedral City High School Lions’ Pride Chamber Singers
Sunday, December 7 – Palm Springs High School Madrigal Choir
Wednesday, December 10 – Shadow Hills High School Chamber Singers
Thursday, December 11 – Coachella Valley High School Concert Choir
Sunday, December 14 – Quartz Hill High School Chamber Singers and A Cappella Choir

Showtimes are 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on the Pines Café Stage and are included with regular Tram admission. Food and beverage will be available for purchase at Pines Café and The Lookout Lounge. (Note: The December 7 choral performance is outside on the Desert View Terrace at 5:30 p.m. kicking off the Tramway’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. That evening, there will also be a 7:30 p.m. performance inside on the Pines Café Stage).

To purchase tickets, please visit www.pstramway.com or call 760-325-1449 for more information.

alt9design2025-11-20T00:37:20+00:00November 20th, 2025|Events|

KESQ’s Patrick Evans to Emcee Ceremony

Lance Bass, one-fifth of renowned vocal group NSYNC, will serve as the celebrity tree lighter at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, December 7, 2025. KESQ Chief Meteorologist and “Eye on the Desert” Host Patrick Evans will again emcee this year’s event at the Tramway’s Mountain Station. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Palm Springs High School Madrigal Choir performing holiday favorites. Following their performance, Bass will light the Tram’s landmark 45-foot tree comprised of over 4,000 LED lights, which can be seen throughout the Coachella Valley.

From small-town Mississippi to global pop icon, Lance Bass has spent over 25 years entertaining the world: singing, producing, and hosting. As a member of NSYNC, he helped define 2000s pop music, selling over 70 million records, earning multiple major awards, and releasing one of the fastest-selling albums in history, “No Strings Attached.” In 2023, the group reunited with “Better Place,” which debuted at #1 on iTunes.

Beyond the stage, Bass has produced films, hosted hit shows and podcasts, and co-owns one of the top entertainment venues in West Hollywood. In 2021, he and husband Michael Turchin, welcomed twins Violet and Alexander, inspiring his first of many children’s books, “Trick or Treat on Scary Street,” which also became a New York Times Best Seller.

A passionate LGBTQ+ advocate and philanthropist, Bass is also a voice in the diabetes awareness space and a board member of the Environmental Media Association. Whether raising awareness, raising twins, or raising eyebrows on TikTok, Bass continues to evolve with purpose, creativity, and heart.

The tree lighting ceremony is open to the public and is included with regular Tram admission.

alt9design2025-11-18T19:56:24+00:00November 18th, 2025|Events|

Seven Winners Announced

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest officially ended on Sunday, November 16 with one inch of measurable snow at the Tramway’s Mountain Station.

There were seven contestants who submitted the correct date:

Carolyn Kirner-Schmidt of San Diego
Sharon Lee Jones of Rancho Mirage
Daisy Sandoval Mendez
Stephanie Smith of Desert Hot Springs
Martina Jimenez of Hemet
Rick Bauer of Herald
Shelley Gleasm of Cathedral City

Each winner will receive four regular Tramway admission tickets (valid for one year) plus a special Tramway gift. The contest began October 1, and 519 entries were received.

alt9design2025-11-17T17:57:26+00:00November 17th, 2025|Events|

Extended Hours and Special Holiday Dining

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will offer special holiday hours during the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, Thursday, November 27 through Sunday, November 30. The first tram up each day will be at 8:00 a.m., the last tram up will be at 8:00 p.m., and the last tram down will be at 9:30 p.m.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, Ride ‘n’ Dine tickets—which include Tram admission and a special holiday meal at Pines Café (a cafeteria-style restaurant)—will be available for purchase from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Meal service begins at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $41 for adults and seniors, and $27.50 for children (ages 3-10). The holiday menu includes a choice of honey-glazed ham, oven-roasted turkey, or vegetarian lasagna; a selection of side dishes; and pumpkin pie for dessert. A fountain beverage, coffee, or tea is included.

Peaks Restaurant will also serve a special Thanksgiving Day menu featuring a selection of oven-roasted turkey breast, pan-seared salmon, or filet mignon, accompanied by a seasonal appetizer and side dishes. For dessert, there is a choice of apple brown butter tart or pumpkin cheesecake. Thanksgiving Day dining in Peaks Restaurant begins at 11:00 a.m. and is $79 for adults and seniors, and $39 for children (ages 3-10). Tram fare is not included. Reservations are recommended.

For more information or to view the full menus, please visit www.pstramway.com/dining/ or call 760-325-4537 for Peaks Restaurant reservations.

alt9design2025-11-13T14:33:41+00:00November 13th, 2025|Events|

Road Challenge Winners

The winner of today’s 38th Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge was Blake Dignes, who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 31 minutes, 2 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was D’Arcy Hlavin in 38 minutes, 16 seconds. Nathan Casimiro finished first in the youngest category (19 and under) and Cherie Gruenfeld finished first in the oldest category (80-99).

This year’s Male and Female Challenge Division Winners are:

Age Groups	Name	City	Time
19 and under M	Nathan Casimiro	Cathedral City, CA	00:36:59
19 and under F	Emma Ayeni	Palm Desert, CA	00:52:10
20-24 M	Jaime Gonzalez	Rancho Mirage, CA	00:40:42
20-24 F	Airlen Franco	Cathedral City, CA	00:53:58
25-29 M	Sander K	Cathedral City, CA	00:35:01
25-29 F	Alice Rodriguez	Cathedral City, CA	00:53:23
30-34 M	Jose Vieyra	Cathedral City, CA	00:33:53
30-34 F	Norma Barbee	Indio, CA	00:49:21
35-39 M	Joshua Acosta	Prescott, AZ	00:34:13
35-39 F	Alexandria Silvestrin	Palm Springs, CA	00:50:04
40-44 M	Russell Baughman	Cathedral City, CA	00:34:31
40-44 F	Rebecca Vellios	Palm Desert, CA	00:52:30
45-49 M	James Graff-Radford	Indio, CA	00:39:56
45-49 F	Letiwe Patton	Indio, CA	00:46:15
50-54 M	Eric Jannon	Santa Monica, CA	00:41:22
50-54 F	Kristen Trubee	Palm Desert, CA	00:45:34
55-59 M	Anthony Tanner	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	00:35:46
55-59 F	Mamiko Berger	Sedona, AZ	00:43:13
60-64 M	Clifford Grant	Palm Springs, CA	00:43:34
60-64 F	Christina Christina	Portland, OR	00:53:13
65-69 M	Rob Erlich	Manteca, CA	00:48:05
65-69 F	Jelka Jonker	Palm Springs, CA	00:49:51
70-74 M	David Byrnes	Terrigal, AUS	00:49:48
70-74 F	Sandy Robbins-Sydner	Apple Valley, CA	00:58:33
75-79 M	Paul Beer	Palm Springs, CA	00:50:13
75-79 F	Jeanne Leslie	Idyllwild, CA	01:00:20
80-99 M	Patrick Bivona	Cypress, CA	01:21:14
80-99 F	Cherie Gruenfeld	Cathedral City, CA	01:01:03

The first Tram Road Challenge was held in 1983, and was won by Rob Slick in 27 minutes, 35 seconds and Nancy Baird in 35 minutes, 25 seconds. The fastest men’s time was set by Rubin Garcia of Mexico—26 minutes, 5 seconds—in 1987. Lubov Kremleva of Russia set the fastest women’s time—28 minutes, 56 seconds in 1998.

953 runners and walkers entered the 2025 Tram Road Challenge.

alt9design2025-11-13T15:10:21+00:00October 18th, 2025|Events|

Annual Preventative Maintenance Closure Concludes

PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 9, 2025) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will reopen on Monday, October 13, 2025, following its annual preventative maintenance closure. The first tram up will be at 10:00 a.m., the last tram up will be at 8:00 p.m. and the last tram down will be at 9:30 p.m. Tram cars depart at least every 30 minutes.

During the 2025 closure, several projects were successfully completed, including rebuilding the carriage on cabin one, replacing the counter haul rope, and conducting annual state-permit testing and service to the controls system.

“Our annual preventative maintenance closure allows our team the opportunity to improve the Tramway and its facilities, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all our visitors through the year,” according to General Manager Nancy Nichols. “We appreciate our guests’ patience as our Tramway systems and maintenance departments worked to complete all necessary projects. We look forward to welcoming back our visitors to the Tramway.”

alt9design2025-10-10T16:58:54+00:00October 10th, 2025|Events|

Join us on Saturday, October 25 to celebrate AutumnFest at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway! This inaugural event takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Pines Café and features a three-course German meal accompanied by live music from polka band “Bavarian Stew.” Specialty beers will be available, as well.

Tickets are $41 for adults and $27.50 for children ages 3 – 10. Admission includes meal and tram fare.

Come sing, dance, and dine in an alpine wonderland!

Download AutumnFest Menu

alt9design2025-10-13T16:12:29+00:00October 2nd, 2025|Events|

38^th Edition of Scenic 6K Run/Walk

The 38th annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, with a start time of 7:00 a.m. (walkers start at 6:30 a.m.). This 6K run/walk begins at the bottom of Tram Way and ends at the Tram’s Valley Station, an elevation increase of over 1,900 feet in just 3.7 miles. Registration is open now through race day.

Special finishers’ medals will be presented to all participants along with a 2025 Tram Road Challenge T-shirt. Participants will also enjoy a finish line festival with vendor booths and complimentary breakfast snacks. Immediately following the race, awards for the top three finishers in each age group will be given out to those registered in the Awards Eligible category.

Tram Way will be closed until (approximately) 11:00 a.m. on race day, with the first tram car up to the Mountain Station shortly after the road opens. Spectator shuttles will run from 5:30-6:00 a.m. from the Palm Springs Visitors Center (all spectators and participants will be directed to nearby parking lots).

alt9design2025-10-01T17:47:35+00:00October 1st, 2025|Events|

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Continues Yearly Tradition

Dreaming of a winter wonderland in the desert heat? The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest is just around the corner! Kicking off October 1, the contest continues until the first measurable inch of snow falls at the Tramway’s Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet.

The first ten guests to accurately select the date of snowfall will win four regular Tram admission tickets, plus a special Tram gift memento. If there are more than ten correct entries, winners will be chosen by the earliest postmark date.

To submit an entry, write your best-guess date on a postcard and mail it to: Snow Guessing Contest, 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Please note that only one date per postcard will be accepted. For more information and contest rules, please click the button below.

This winter season, gather your friends and family for a snow day, just a 10-minute tram ride away from the desert floor!

DOWNLOAD CONTEST RULES

alt9design2025-10-13T19:29:19+00:00September 29th, 2025|Events|

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