Things to Do in the Coachella Valley in October 2026: Modernism Week, Dining, Day Trips and Homes for Sale

Coachella Valley guide · October 2026

Here is a number to start with. The median home price in Riverside County, which includes the Coachella Valley, was $635,000 in June 2026, unchanged from June of last year, while sales rose nearly 10% over May and about 7% over last June. Steady prices and busy buyers make fall a great time to look. Snowbird season officially starts November 1, so the valley is filling back up right now.

01 · The calendar

October 2026 in the Coachella Valley at a glance

Dates and times come from the October 2026 issue of Palm Springs Life and can change, so confirm with each organizer before you go.

02 · Design

Modernism Week in Palm Springs, October 15 to 18, 202

The big February festival gets the headlines, but the October edition is the insider move. It is a four day mini version with more than 50 activities, and plenty sell out, so book early at modernismweek.com. The full Modernism Week returns February 11 to 21, 2027, with tickets on sale November 1 at noon.

• Featured Home Tour (Oct 15 to 18). This year's star is The Marquee at Twin Palms, a renovated post and beam home built in 1957.
• Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show (Oct 17 to 18). Vendors and exhibitors in midcentury and modern design, with ideas for redecorating your home, walls, gardens and garage.
• Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours. Daily rides through Palm Springs neighborhoods and landmarks.
• Blue Skies Village tour (Oct 17). New this year. Go behind the gates of the Rancho Mirage luxury mobile home park that became a hideaway for Hollywood royalty, including Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, George Burns and Barbara Stanwyck, and peek inside seven homes and the clubhouse designed by William F. Cody.
• The Liever Residence Tour (Oct 17). The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation opens Earl and Marie Liever's 1968 home in Indian Canyons, designed by Stan Sackley. Big on grand spaces, with only one bedroom.
• Explore the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (Oct 15 to 16). Includes lunch at Peaks Restaurant and the story behind architects Albert Frey, John Porter Clark and E. Stewart Williams.
• Celebrity Haven: Unique Boutique Resorts (Oct 17 to 18). A walking tour through the Palm Springs Tennis Club neighborhood.
• Sunset at The Lautner Compound (Oct 16 to 17). A twilight tour in Desert Hot Springs paired with cocktails.
• Mod With a Twist at Ocotillo Lodge (Oct 15 to 17). Quick 10 minute talks at the lodge William Krisel designed in 1957.
• Los Angelesland (Oct 17). Charles Phoenix takes you on a Kodachrome slide trip through glamorous 1950s and 1960s Los Angeles.

Eat and drink during Modernism Week

New for 2026 is the Modernism Week Fall Dining Series, with dinners at Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge (Oct 15), Bar Issi (Oct 15), King's Highway (Oct 17) and Mr. Lyons Steakhouse (Oct 17). Wine fans can head to Wined-Up at Hall Palm Springs inside the Thompson Palm Springs hotel (Oct 15). PS Underground hosts Nod to Mod, a supper club with live music from three decades (Oct 16 to 17), and Sunny Side Up, a three course brunch with Broadway and Great American Songbook tunes (Oct 18).

Love midcentury design? Palm Springs is full of it. Browse Palm Springs homes for sale and see which style speaks to you.

03 · Entertainment

Live music and theater in the Coachella Valley

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. October 9 to 18 at Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's score and plenty of humor and heart.

Palm Springs Plaza Theatre: October through December

The Plaza Theatre in the heart of downtown Palm Springs has iconic performances, live shows and cultural events lined up through the holidays:

Plaza Theatre, 128 S Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. Tickets and details at palmspringsplazatheatre.org or call 760-325-8111. A walk down Palm Canyon Drive before the show is a good look at downtown living, and you can browse Palm Springs homes for sale while you are in town.

McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert

Opened in 1988, the McCallum Theatre has been the valley's cultural centerpiece for nearly four decades. With 1,100 seats, it hosts Broadway tours, world class concerts and dance while supporting the community through acclaimed arts education programs. Here is what is coming up:

Details and tickets at mccallum-theatre.org. The theatre sits in Palm Desert, so you can pair a show with dinner on El Paseo and a look at Palm Desert homes for sale.

Agua Caliente Casinos entertainment

Agua Caliente Casinos has three properties with the hottest entertainment in the valley, from big name performers and comedy to deejays and dance nights. The headliners at The Show in Rancho Mirage:

Weekly nights out at the casino lounges (68960 E Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City):

• Cascade Lounge. Mondays Hot Spot Bingo at 7 PM, Wednesdays Desert Blues Revival at 7 PM, Thursdays Carousel Nostalgic Tribute at 7 PM, Friday and Saturday Cascade Nights Dance Party at 10 PM, Saturdays Cover Band Nights from 9 PM to 1 AM, and Sundays Latin Nights at 9 PM.
• Agave Caliente Tequila Bar. Tuesdays Salsa Nights at 6 PM, Wednesdays Agua's Got Talent at 7 PM, Thursdays Country Nights with dancing at 6 PM, and Friday and Saturday Agave Nights dance party at 9 PM.

Full schedule at aguacalientecasinos.com/entertainment or call 800-514-3849. Staying close to the action? Browse Rancho Mirage homes for sale and Cathedral City homes for sale.

Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert

America's hottest music festival destination now has the world class arena it deserves. The brand new Acrisure Arena is a premier 11,000 plus capacity venue, designed for hockey and made for concerts, with top tier hospitality and amenities. What is coming up:

Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Rd, Palm Desert. Tickets and the full calendar at acrisurearena.com/events or call 888-695-8778. Planning a few nights around a game or concert? Browse Palm Desert homes for sale and see how close the arena is to the communities you like.

Fantasy Springs Resort, Indio

Fantasy Springs has an outdoor amphitheater style venue with two side by side stages, themed drink specials and plenty of live music. Headliners coming up:

Rock Yard tribute nights: always free, always outdoors

Friday and Saturday nights at 7 PM, ages 18 and up, with the music running until 11 PM:

• Oct 9: Prince Again (Prince tribute) with The Brobots
• Oct 10: Radio Journey (Journey tribute) with The Brobots
• Oct 16: Mick Adams & The Stones (Rolling Stones tribute) with Rock Stallion
• Oct 17: Twisted Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac tribute) with Black Rock Candy

Rockin' Lit keeps the party going with live music every Friday and Saturday night from 9 PM to 1:30 AM (21 and up), Two Step Tuesdays and Noches de Fuego on Sunday nights.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Pkwy, Indio. Details at fantasyspringsresort.com/rock-yard or call 800-827-2946. If the evening has you hooked on the east valley, take a look at Indio homes for sale.

Spotlight 29 Casino, Coachella

Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Pl, Coachella. Tickets and details at spotlight29.com or call 760-775-5566.

04 · Taste

Best restaurants and wine bars in the Coachella Valley

The Palm Springs Life Readers Choice awards are a handy shortcut for dinner reservations. Here is where readers sent their votes, city by city.

Best Italian

• Palm Desert: Castelli's Ristorante, an Italian institution run by the Castelli brothers for more than 35 years, known for fettuccine Alfredo, osso bucco and tiramisu.
• Rancho Mirage: Enzo's Bistro & Bar, with family recipes from Italy, homemade pastas and dry aged meats.
• La Quinta: Enzo's Bistro & Bar, with housemade pastas, steaks, seafood and rotisserie chicken on a heated patio with a grass bocce court.
• Palm Springs: Johnny Costa's, a longtime family restaurant serving Italian classics.
• Cathedral City: Trilussa, known for eggplant Parmesan, lasagna Bolognese and an inventive cauliflower "ceviche" bruschetta.
• Desert Hot Springs: Capri Italian Restaurant at Miracle Springs Resort & Spa.
• Indio: Italica, a signless, speakeasy style room with creative cocktails, including a vodka and St-Germain drink infused with palo santo smoke.

Best wine bars

• Palm Springs: Canopy Wine Lounge, the readers' pick for Best Wine Bar, with mountain views and funky botanical decor.
• Rancho Mirage: The Steakhouse at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, with more than 300 wines and an inventory of more than 4,000 bottles.
• Palm Desert: La Fe Wine Bar, a cozy El Paseo spot pairing a long wine list with tapas style dishes.
• La Quinta: Desert Wine Shop, with no corkage fee if you buy a bottle and drink it on the patio.
• Indio: Cork & Fork, an eclectic spot with award winning producers and small plates designed to share.

The Second Act: three Palm Springs spots where dinner turns into a late night

• Bar Cecil + Beaton's. Finish dinner, carry your glass across the courtyard and settle into a more intimate lounge. Opened in early 2026.
• Mr. Lyons + Seymour's. Pass through a heavy black curtain at the back of the steakhouse into a dark cocktail bar with silent films flickering on a screen.
• Workshop Kitchen + Bar + Truss & Twine. Workshop won a James Beard Award for Best Restaurant Design. Cross the patio to Truss & Twine for a moodier cocktail menu.

New spots to try

• Mz. Freeze, Indio. The valley's only rolled ice cream shop, with locally sourced fruit and flavors inspired by owner Elizabeth Bonilla's family.
• Casa de Silvia, La Quinta. Order at the counter Mexican brunch spot, open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily except Wednesdays. Try the chilaquiles.
• Keke's Breakfast, La Quinta. Fresh breakfast, including the Florida Pancakes.
• Luchador Brewing Company Tap Room, Palm Springs. Fifteen rotating taps of house made craft beer.
• The Pin Kitchen + Bar, The Lights at Indio. At the Coachella Valley's only fully lighted 18 hole golf course, with a late night menu from 9 to 11 p.m.
• Maleza at Drift Palm Springs. The grilled maitake mushroom over creamy Oaxacan masa grits is the dish people keep talking about.

05 · Culture

Art, culture and community events through mid November

• A Beauty that Endures (through May 30, 2027). A Palm Springs exhibition at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on Native painting, ritual and resilience in the 20th century, curated by Tony Abeyta.
• Desert Hot Springs street art. The city's mural program keeps growing along Pierson Boulevard and Palm Drive, and you can see it on a self guided tour at cityofdhs.org/experience-art.
• Palm Desert Choreography Festival (Nov 14 to 15). 24 original dances and more than 170 dancers at the McCallum Theatre, with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Dwight Rhoden on November 14. Tickets and finalists at (760) 340-2787.
• Palm Springs Leather Pride (Oct 29 to Nov 1). A 30 year tradition, themed Valhalla this year, with parties, workshops and a leather marketplace at Hotel Zoso, the Arenas District and Eagle in Cathedral City.
• Mama's House Welcome Back Tea Party (Nov 17, 11:30 AM to 2 PM). A 3rd annual fundraiser at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, benefiting Mama's House Ministries.

06 · Day trip

A Temecula wine country day trip

When you want a change of scenery, Temecula is an 86 mile drive southwest of Palm Springs. The region has about 50 wineries and 2,500 acres of planted vineyards, and fall is the sweet spot, with golden vines and harvest season in full swing. Here is a simple itinerary from the guide:

1. 9 AM, E.A.T. Marketplace. Casual breakfast at a cafe, bakery and store focused on local farms. Grab a slice of the banana bread.
2. 10 AM, Old Town Temecula. Wander Front Street and sample olive oils at Temecula Olive Oil Company or lavender products at Temecula Lavender Co.
3. 11 AM, Weld + Wool. Design your own cowboy hat at the hat bar.
4. 12 PM, Big Nose Winery. Tasting rooms and wine bars scattered around Old Town, housed in a former family homestead.
5. 3 PM, Danza del Sol Winery. The 90 minute Grapes & Gears driving tour, plus a guided tasting of several wines.
6. 6 PM, The Gambling Cowboy Chophouse Saloon. Wrap up with steaks and seafood on the wraparound veranda.

Wine is a big part of the day, so pick a designated driver or turn it into an overnight at The New Inn.

07 · Where to stay

Where to stay in the Coachella Valley, plus our new luxury seasonal rental

Planning a trip around Modernism Week, a concert or a long weekend by the pool? These stays all show up in the October guide:

• Palm Springs, Thompson Palm Springs. Home to the Hall Wines tasting lounge, which hosts Wined-Up on October 15.
• Palm Springs, Drift Palm Springs. The hotel is home to Maleza and its grilled maitake mushroom.
• Palm Springs, Ocotillo Lodge. A 1957 William Krisel design and the setting for Mod With a Twist, October 15 to 17.
• Palm Springs, the Tennis Club neighborhood. The Celebrity Haven walking tour (October 17 to 18) covers the boutique resorts where well known guests have stayed.
• Rancho Mirage, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa. Home to The Steakhouse and its 300 plus wines, and part of the same Agua Caliente family as The Show.
• Desert Hot Springs, Miracle Springs Resort & Spa. Home to Capri Italian Restaurant.
• Temecula, The New Inn. A stylish bed and breakfast within the vineyards, with early morning hot air balloon rides.

Watch the video tour here: youtube.com/shorts/zdHMgBDC6gs

A longer stay is also the smartest way to test drive the desert. You get a real feel for the mornings, the golf, the dining and the community calendar before you make any big decisions. Browse our featured homes and rentals or call us to talk through the season.

08 · Communities

Country clubs and communities to tour while you visit

If a visit has you falling for the valley, you are in good company. Country club living is a big reason people move to the desert, and it is what we know best. Here are communities worth adding to your trip:

Toscana Country Club. We are Toscana members ourselves, and yes, we won the club's Pickleball Cup. Explore Toscana Country Club homes.

Rancho La Quinta Country Club. One of our deepest specialties, with over 1,200 Rancho La Quinta homes sold. Explore Rancho La Quinta homes.

Trilogy. Billy has been part of Trilogy since the very beginning, with over 1,500 Trilogy homes sold. Explore Trilogy at La Quinta or Trilogy at The Polo Club.

More 55+ and active adult communities: Four Seasons at Terra Lago, Heritage Palms, Sun City Palm Desert, Sun City Shadow Hills, Del Webb Rancho Mirage and Del Webb Desert Retreat. See every community on our Coachella Valley country clubs page, or read our guide to the best country clubs and 55+ communities in the Coachella Valley.

09 · Cities

Homes for sale in every desert city

Every stop on this guide is a window into a different corner of the valley. Here is how the cities from this month's calendar stack up, with a live search for each:

• Palm Springs homes for sale. Midcentury architecture, Modernism Week, the Tennis Club neighborhood, the Plaza Theatre and some of the best dining in the valley.
• Rancho Mirage homes for sale. Resort and country club living, The Show at Agua Caliente, Blue Skies Village and Thunderbird Country Club.
• Palm Desert homes for sale. El Paseo shopping and dining, the McCallum Theatre and the Choreography Festival.
• Indian Wells homes for sale. Toscana, The Vintage Club, Eldorado and the Tennis Garden.
• La Quinta homes for sale. Rancho La Quinta, PGA West, Trilogy at La Quinta and a growing restaurant scene.
• Indio homes for sale. Trilogy at The Polo Club, Mz. Freeze, Cork & Fork, Italica and The Lights at Indio.
• Cathedral City homes for sale. Trilussa, Luchador Brewing and Leather Pride at Eagle.
• Desert Hot Springs. Street art on Pierson Boulevard, Lautner architecture and Miracle Springs Resort & Spa.

Want to see everything at once? Search every listing on our home search.

10 · Why us

Why buyers choose Billy and Stacy as their Coachella Valley real estate agents

If you are searching for a Coachella Valley real estate agent, a Palm Desert realtor, a La Quinta real estate agent or a country club specialist, start with the track record. Billy and Stacy Thoman of Billy Thoman Real Estate | Compass have sold over 4,000 homes across the desert, and they work with buyers every day in Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, Indio and Cathedral City. Here is what sets us apart:

• Over 4,000 Coachella Valley homes sold in luxury and lifestyle communities
• Over 1,500 Trilogy homes and over 1,200 Rancho La Quinta homes sold
• Billy has been licensed since 2002, nearly 25 years of desert experience
• Billy was there from the very beginning at Trilogy at The Polo Club
• Hand selected to represent Compass in the Coachella Valley
• Verified in the top 1.5% of real estate professionals nationwide
• Toscana members who live the country club lifestyle every day
• Buyers from Oregon, Washington, Canada, the East Coast and around the world trust us to plan a first visit, tour communities and feel at home before they move

11 · Quick answers

Coachella Valley October and real estate FAQ

What is happening in the Coachella Valley in October 2026?

Modernism Week's fall edition (Oct 15 to 18), concerts at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage (Oct 9, 16, 17, 23, 24, 29 and 31), shows at the McCallum Theatre, Acrisure Arena, Fantasy Springs Resort and Spotlight 29 Casino, Joseph at Palm Canyon Theatre (Oct 9 to 18), Palm Springs Leather Pride (Oct 29 to Nov 1), shows at the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre and the Palm Desert Choreography Festival (Nov 14 to 15).

When is Modernism Week 2026?

The fall edition runs October 15 to 18, 2026. The full festival returns February 11 to 21, 2027, and tickets go on sale November 1 at noon at modernismweek.com.

When does snowbird season start in the desert?

Officially November 1, though many part time residents start returning earlier in the fall.

Who is playing at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino in October 2026?

Brit Floyd on October 9, Chris Isaak on October 16, Loverboy on October 17, 38 Special on October 23, Iveta Mukuchyan on October 24, W.A.S.P. on October 29 and Ladies of Rock on October 31. November includes Chris Tucker, Zeppelin USA and Kool & The Gang. Tickets and the full schedule are at aguacalientecasinos.com/entertainment.

Who is playing at Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella this fall?

Keith Sweat on October 10, Grupo Brydis & Industria del Amor on October 17, Jeffrey Osborne on November 7, Billy Joel to Elton John and The O'Jays on November 21, Conjunto Primavera on November 27, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox on December 5 and Chiquis y su Banda Abeja Reina on December 19, all at 8 PM. Call 760-775-5566 or visit spotlight29.com.

What is happening at Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio this fall?

Headliners include Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys on October 16, Marisela on October 25, Felipe Esparza on November 7, Alice Cooper on November 14 and the Celtic Woman Christmas Tour on December 4. The free outdoor Rock Yard hosts tribute band nights on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 PM for ages 18 and up. Call 800-827-2946 or visit fantasyspringsresort.com/rock-yard.

What is happening at Acrisure Arena this fall?

The Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert hosts WWE Road to Survivor Series: War Games on October 22, The B-52's on October 31, Los Tigres del Norte on November 13, the 90's Corridos Tour on November 14, the Jonas Brothers on November 17 and NCAA basketball in November and December. Tickets are at acrisurearena.com/events.

What is playing at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert this fall?

Upcoming shows include Aida Cuevas on October 15, Shoshana Bean on October 16, Randy Rainbow on October 17, Megan Hilty on October 25, the Broadway tour of & Juliet from October 27 to November 1, Indigo Girls with Symphony on November 7 and The Who's Tommy from November 24 to 29. The Palm Desert Choreography Festival runs November 14 to 15.

What is playing at the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre in October 2026?

Highlights include The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Cast Spooktacular with Nell Campbell on October 11, Ingrid Michaelson on October 13, Steve Earle on October 16, Movie LIVE on October 17, 10,000 Maniacs on October 18 and Westminster Chorus LIVE on October 24. November brings Margaret Cho, Fortune Feimster, Journey USA and more. The theatre is at 128 S Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, 760-325-8111.

Where can I find the best Italian food in the Coachella Valley?

Palm Springs Life readers picked Castelli's in Palm Desert, Enzo's Bistro & Bar in Rancho Mirage and La Quinta, Johnny Costa's in Palm Springs, Trilussa in Cathedral City, Capri Italian Restaurant in Desert Hot Springs and Italica in Indio.

How far is Temecula from Palm Springs?

About 86 miles, a one way drive southwest, which makes it an easy day trip for wine tasting and Old Town.

Where should I stay in the Coachella Valley in October?

Popular picks from the October guide include Thompson Palm Springs, Drift Palm Springs, Ocotillo Lodge, the Palm Springs Tennis Club neighborhood, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage and Miracle Springs Resort & Spa in Desert Hot Springs. For a month or longer, ask us about our new luxury seasonal rental.

Can I rent a home in the Coachella Valley for the winter season?

Yes. We have a new luxury seasonal rental available now for the 2026 to 2027 season, with a 30 day minimum. Watch the video tour at youtube.com/shorts/zdHMgBDC6gs and call 760.636.6336 for availability.

What is the median home price in the Coachella Valley area?

The June 2026 median home price in Riverside County was $635,000, unchanged from June 2025. Prices vary by city and community, so call us for the numbers in the neighborhoods you are considering.

What are the best country clubs in the Coachella Valley?

Among the most sought after are Toscana Country Club, The Vintage Club, Eldorado Country Club and The Reserve Club in Indian Wells, and Rancho La Quinta Country Club and PGA West in La Quinta.

What are the best 55+ communities in the Coachella Valley?

Popular choices include Trilogy at La Quinta, Trilogy at The Polo Club, Four Seasons at Terra Lago, Heritage Palms, Sun City Palm Desert and Del Webb Rancho Mirage.

Who is the best real estate agent in the Coachella Valley?

Billy and Stacy Thoman of Billy Thoman Real Estate | Compass have sold over 4,000 desert lifestyle and luxury homes, including over 1,500 in Trilogy and over 1,200 in Rancho La Quinta. Billy has been licensed since 2002, they were hand selected to represent Compass in the Coachella Valley, and they are verified in the top 1.5% of real estate professionals nationwide.

Can I tour country club homes while I am visiting the desert?

Absolutely. Many buyers schedule showings during a Modernism Week trip or a seasonal stay. Call 760.636.6336 and we will plan a tour of the communities that fit you.

How do I choose a real estate agent in the Coachella Valley?

Look for local experience in the exact community you want, a track record of closed sales there, and an agent who will show you around in person. Billy and Stacy Thoman have sold over 1,500 homes in Trilogy and over 1,200 in Rancho La Quinta, and they plan tour days around the communities that fit each buyer. Call 760.636.6336.

Do country club homes in the Coachella Valley come with a membership?

It depends on the club. Some communities include or require a membership, others offer it as an option, and fees, dues and golf, tennis and pickleball privileges vary. Tell us what you want from club life and we will walk you through your options.

Can I buy a second home or snowbird home in the desert?

Yes. Many buyers use their desert home for the season or part of the year, and lock and leave communities, 55+ resorts and country clubs make that easy. Season officially starts November 1, so fall is a great time to tour.

When is the best time to buy a home in the Coachella Valley?

Fall is a great time to start. New listings arrive as owners return, and buying before season officially begins November 1 means enjoying the entire season in your own home.

12 · Let's talk

We would love to show you the desert

Tell us how you want to live, and we will build a tour day around the communities that fit. From a Toscana estate to a Rancho La Quinta home to a Trilogy lock and leave, we know these gates from the inside. Start here:

• Browse featured homes and rentals
• Search every listing on our home search
• Read more desert stories on the Desert Blog
• Meet the team on our About page

Billy Thoman 760.636.6336 | Stacy Thoman 760.485.1121
Billy Thoman Real Estate | Compass
74199 El Paseo, Suite 200, Palm Desert, CA 92260
MyHomeInTheDesert.com
DRE # 01299750 | 01153744

Event details come from the October 2026 issue of Palm Springs Life and may change. Median price source: California Association of Realtors via NBC Palm Springs, July 17, 2026. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but not verified. Measurements are approximate. License Number 01991628, 01527235, 1527365, 01299750, 01153744.