Shops on El Paseo to Host 'A Miracle on El Paseo'

From Shops on El Paseo:

The Shops on El Paseo, the premiere luxury shopping destination in the Coachella Valley, will kick-off the holiday season on Saturday, November 19, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with the 10th Annual A Miracle On El Paseo celebrating BIGHORN Behind A Miracle (BAM). The festivities will take place on El Paseo between Highway 74/Monterey and Ocotillo.

The world famous shopping district will be transformed into a winter wonderland with magical events and fun activities including the annual lighting of the 60-foot El Paseo Christmas Tree, and the arrival of Santa Claus, signifying the official start of the holiday season. Not be missed is the spectacular 5-story ferris wheel, a 200-foot zipline, festive carnival games, as well as in-store activities at participating retailers. Attendees also will be treated to tasty bites from the some of the valley’s top restaurants and spirits from local wineries.

Back by popular demand, the pop-rock ensemble, Night Shift of Citrus College will have guests dancing in the streets, performing music by classic rockers, R&B and contemporary artists from Aretha Franklin and James Brown to Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga.

New wave band Berlin’s lead vocalist, Terri Nunn, will not only serve as one of the 2016 Honorary Chairs, she and her band will rock the stage from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The native Californian started her career in the late 70’s as an actor appearing in such shows as T.J. Hooker and Lou Grant. After starring in the movie, Thank God It’s Friday, she became the lead vocalist for the group Berlin, and took the group to the top of Billboard Hot 100 with the song “Take My Breath Away”, the love theme from the movie Top Gun.

Actor Nicholas Gonzalez also will be a 2016 Honorary Chair and light the 60-foot El Paseo Christmas Tree. Gonzalez recently starred on Freeform’s smash hit Pretty Little Liars and has appeared in Empire on Fox. Additionally he has been on the big screen in The Purge: Anarchy, Anacondas, Dirty, SWAT: Firefight, and Behind Enemy Lines II.

BIGHORN BAM is dedicated to providing critical funding needed to help in the diagnosis, treatment, transportation, services and education for those affected by all cancers – expanding their reach last season through their equipment donation, transportation and support services. Since its inception, BIGHORN BAM has raised over $6.5 million and is considered to be one of the largest private fundraisers benefiting cancer for Eisenhower Medical Center and supporting financially-strapped cancer patients through The Pendleton Foundation by giving grocery and gas cards or helping pay the rent.

“A Miracle On El Paseo is a wonderful event and we can’t be more proud of the support the community has shown BIGHORNBAM over the years,” says Selby Dunham, BIGHORN BAM Founder and breast cancer survivor of 11 years. “It is a thrill and an honor to raise money For Eisenhower, after all, they gave me my life.”

Fred Fern, developer and managing partner of The Shops on El Paseo said, “On behalf of our retailers, we are honored to work with BIGHORN BAM in their efforts to make miracles happen every day in the Coachella Valley for people who are battling cancer. It’s truly remarkable what BIGHORN BAM has accomplished in nine short years. A Miracle On El Paseo has become a Valley tradition as our version of the Rockefeller Center Lighting Ceremony of the Desert.”

A percentage of sales from stores at The Shops of El Paseo, and 100% of the ticket sales will be donated to BIGHORN BAM and their efforts to support cancer patient services, breast cancer diagnostic technologies and educational scholarships.

Tickets are $50 per person, children ages 6 to 12 are $10 and children under the age of 6 are free. Tickets can be purchased 60-610-8218. Tickets can be picked up at will call behind St. John.

Photo courtesy of Shops on El Paseo