31st Annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade: What To Know

PALM SPRINGS, CA — The 31st annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, scheduled for early next month, will feature Canine Mayor Buddy Holly as the first ever Canine Grand Marshal.

Along with Buddy, "Love Island" winner Hanna Wright, NBC Palm Springs film critic Manny the Movie Guy and the city's new Fire Chief Paul Alvarado with his wife Kitty Alvarado will join the parade as Community Grand Marshals, city officials said.

Buddy Holly was named Best in Show at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show earlier this year, and sworn in this summer as Palm Springs' "canine mayor."

"The entire Coachella Valley and beyond is invited to bring the whole family and your four-legged friends and come celebrate the holidays in beautiful Palm Springs, California, truly like no place else," Mayor Grace Garner said in a statement.

The parade will begin at 5:45 p.m. Dec. 2 at Palm Canyon Drive and Ramon Road, according to the city. The holiday event brings as many as 100,000 people to downtown Palm Springs annually.

A day prior to the parade, Garner and Buddy Holly will host the city's annual Holiday Banner Student Awards at 4 p.m., just before the Official City of Palm Springs Holiday Tree Lighting is held, at exactly 5:15 p.m., city officials said. Both events will be held in Frances Stevens Park, 500 N. Palm Canyon Drive.

Santa Claus, the City Council, and grand marshals will help with the tree-lighting, which will include caroling from the Palm Springs High School Madrigal Singers, free cookies, hot cocoa, and holiday arts and crafts, according to city officials.

"The city of Palm Springs is thrilled to once again celebrate the magic of the holiday season with our residents and visitors at the Official Holiday Tree Lighting and magnificent Festival of Lights Parade," Garner said.

More information about the parade can be found at psfestivaloflights.com.