“AMERICAN IDOL” WINNER ABI CARTER NAMED PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY 2024 TREE LIGHTER
KESQ’s Patrick Evans to Emcee Ceremony
Abi Carter, Season 22 “American Idol” winner and Coachella Valley native, will serve as the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s 2024 celebrity tree lighter at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, December 8, 2024. KESQ 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 Choir and String Quartet performing holiday favorites. Immediately following, Carter lights the Tram’s landmark 45-foot tree comprised of over 4,000 LED lights, which can be seen throughout the Coachella Valley.
Carter stole the hearts of “American Idol” viewers during her audition, singing her rendition of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” which earned her a Platinum Ticket. The judges, Blake Shelton, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry, boasted about her performance, agreeing she could be the next winner of the show. During her “Hometown Hero Visit,” Carter visited places that meant the most to her, one of those being the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. During her visit, Carter expressed how she visited the Tramway as a child, and it always held a special place in her heart.
Carter became the first recipient of the Platinum Ticket to win the competition and the eighth female winner overall, along with stand-out artists like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks. Since returning home to the Coachella Valley after her win, Carter sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” and dropped the first puck at a Coachella Valley Firebirds game at Acrisure Arena; she sang the national anthem at the 2024 United States Olympic trials for gymnastics; and held her first full concert, “No Amount of Dark,” at Acrisure Arena. Carter will also be performing at Stagecoach in Indio in 2025.
The tree lighting ceremony is open to the public and is included with regular Tram admission.
SANTA EVENTS AT THE PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY
Santa Visits the Tramway December 7 and 14
“Breakfast with Santa” returns to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on Saturday, December 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Join Mr. and Mrs. Claus for breakfast, holiday crafts, and storybook readings. 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 made by calling (760) 325-1449. Availability is limited.
Santa will also be visiting the Tramway’s Mountain Station on Saturday, December 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Santa’s visit in Pines Café is included in general tram fare admission. Tram tickets are $32.95 for adults, $29.95 for seniors, and $18.95 for children (ages 3-10). Children can share their Christmas lists with Santa himself, pose for photos, and receive a free candy cane.
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WEEKEND AT THE PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY
Extended Hours and Special Holiday Dining
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate a special holiday schedule during the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, Thursday, November 28 through Sunday, December 1. 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 28, Ride ‘n’ Dine tickets—which include Tram admission and dinner at Pines Café (a cafeteria-style restaurant)—will be available for purchase from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dinner service begins at 11:00 a.m. Combination tickets are $41 for adults and seniors, and $27.50 for children (ages 3-10). The holiday menu includes a choice of oven-roasted turkey, maple-glazed ham or vegetarian lasagna; a selection of side dishes; and pumpkin pie for dessert. A fountain beverage, coffee or tea are included.
Peaks Restaurant will also serve a special Thanksgiving Day menu including a butternut squash soup or a walnut salad, oven-roasted turkey breast served with seasonal side dishes, and an option of an apple brown butter tart or pumpkin pie for dessert. Thanksgiving Day dining in Peaks Restaurant begins at 11:00 a.m. and is $51 for adults and seniors, and $26 for children (ages 3-10). Tram fare is not included. Peaks Restaurant will also serve its regular menu. Reservations are recommended for Thanksgiving Day dining in Peaks Restaurant. To reserve, please call 760-325-4537 or visit https://www.pstramway.com/dining/.
37TH ANNUAL TRAM ROAD CHALLENGE RESULTS
The winner of today’s 37th Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge was Conner Blalock, who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 29 minutes, 56 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was D’Arcy Hlavin in 39 minutes, 33 seconds. Demetrius Bribiesca 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 | Demetrius Bribiesca | Joshua Tree, CA | 00:35:15 |
| 19 and under F | Iona Hutton | Palm Desert, CA | 00:52:28 |
| 20-24 M | Ricardo Franco | Cathedral City, CA | 00:50:06 |
| 20-24 F | Biannca Guintu | Rancho Mirage, CA | 00:42:11 |
| 25-29 M | Ethan Waters | Los Angeles, CA | 00:34:41 |
| 25-29 F | Chanel Dupont | Cathedral City, CA | 00:50:06 |
| 30-34 M | Dennis Roth | San Diego, CA | 00:35:30 |
| 30-34 F | Adriana Marquez | Rancho Mirage, CA | 00:45:00 |
| 35-39 M | Eric Ogle | Hemet, CA | 00:38:55 |
| 35-39 F | Lacey Orson | Palm Desert, CA | 00:48:31 |
| 40-44 M | Sean Long | South Pasadena, CA | 00:35:02 |
| 40-44 F | Janice Ng | Honolulu, HI | 00:42:12 |
| 45-49 M | Jose Soto | Palm Springs, CA | 00:40:41 |
| 45-49 F | Kimberly Mileti | Palm Desert, CA | 00:41:51 |
| 50-54 M | Troy Fritzel | Anchorage, AK | 00:37:49 |
| 50-54 F | Catalina Stevenson | Phoenix, AZ | 00:41:51 |
| 55-59 M | Ricardo Rodriguez | Palm Springs, CA | 00:37:28 |
| 55-59 F | Tania McCormick | Rancho Mirage, CA | 00:43:58 |
| 60-64 M | Rich Suddock | Anchorage, AK | 00:38:20 |
| 60-64 F | Ellen Trecha | Charlevoix, MI | 00:47:15 |
| 65-69 M | John Groeneveld | Canmore | 00:43:09 |
| 65-69 F | Cynthia Marriott | Torrance, CA | 00:47:54 |
| 70-74 M | James Maxwell | San Diego, CA | 00:48:45 |
| 70-74 F | Sandy Robbins-Sydner | Apple Valley, CA | 00:54:16 |
| 75-79 M | Paul Beer | Palm Springs, CA | 00:52:55 |
| 75-79 F | Jeanne Maxwell | San Diego, CA | 01:04:40 |
| 80-99 F | Cherie Gruenfeld | Cathedral City, CA | 01:06:45 |
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.
841 runners and walkers entered the 2024 Tram Road Challenge.
