Fall is the best season in the San Gorgonio Pass, and this guide is your one-stop look at what is happening in Beaumont, Cherry Valley, Calimesa, and Banning from September through December 2026. We cover the can\'t-miss festivals, the brand-new dining and hotel openings, the developments reshaping the corridor, and the seasonal day trips to Oak Glen, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and Big Bear. Bookmark this page and check back as new dates get confirmed.
This is a seasonal guide for fall 2026 in the Pass Area. Updated September 30, 2026.
Event dates can shift or sell out as they approach. For the freshest, most up-to-date happenings across Beaumont, Banning, Cherry Valley, and Calimesa, head to the live events calendar.
Mark your calendar: fall festivals and events
From golden-hour lavender lights to a holiday light parade, the Pass Area packs a full season into the next few months. Here are the highlights.
August 20 through October 25
123 Farm, Cherry Valley
Lavender Nights
Over half a million lights illuminate the lavender fields and olive groves for one of the most magical evening experiences in the Pass Area. Runs Wednesday through Monday.
October 3, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Historic San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse
San Timoteo Canyon Fall Fest
A free family-friendly fall festival at the historic schoolhouse, hosted by the San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society and Riverside County Parks: history, crafts, live music, and community spirit in a beautiful canyon setting minutes from Beaumont.
October 31, 5-8 PM
Beaumont Sports Park, 1692 Beaumont Ave
Trunk or Treat at Beaumont Sports Park
The City of Beaumont's free annual Halloween celebration: decorated trunks, candy, games, and family fun in a safe, community setting, co-hosted with Grace Fellowship Church and the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District.
September 25-27 (wrapped up; returns fall 2027)
Noble Creek Regional Park, Beaumont
King Ludwig's Oktoberfest
Three days of German food, beer, live music, dancing, and community festivity in a beloved 36-year Pass Area tradition. This year's edition wrapped up September 27; mark your calendar for next fall.
October 3 (wrapped up)
Cherry Valley & Morongo Indian Cowboy Ranch, Banning
Cherry Valley Fall Festival & Morongo Rodeo
A big Pass Area fall doubleheader: vendor fairs in Cherry Valley with hay rides and pumpkin carving, plus authentic rodeo action at the Morongo ranch. Both celebrated the first weekend of October on October 3 and have wrapped up for 2026.
October 14, 8:30-11:00 AM
Beaumont
Regional Vendor Fair
A city-hosted business event connecting local businesses and vendors with procurement representatives from public agencies,and utilities. A great networking opportunity for Pass Area business owners and entrepreneurs. Hosted by the City of Beaumont, with registration details on beaumontca.gov.
October 17, 1-5 PM
Chatigny Community Recreation Center, Beaumont
Monster Mash Halloween Party
Carnival games, a haunted maze, inflatable maze, a petting zoo, magician, food vendors, and live entertainment. Free and family-friendly.
November 7
Beaumont
Dia de los Muertos Celebration
A community gathering honoring Hispanic heritage with traditional altars, music, food, art, and cultural activities.
October 3 through December 5
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon
Morongo Casino Fall Concerts
One of the biggest fall lineups in years, and it keeps growing: Dirty Heads (Oct 8), Blues Traveler (Oct 10), OneRepublic (Oct 13), Fountains of Wayne (Oct 23), UB40 (Oct 24), The Isley Brothers (Nov 7), Stone Temple Pilots (Nov 21), El Fantasma (Dec 4), and Tyrese (Dec 5), plus UFC 332 Silva vs. Wang (Oct 3) and a comedy night with Rob Schneider (Nov 20). Just 10 minutes west on I-10.
October 15-18
Twentynine Palms, 60 miles east
90th Pioneer Days
The signature high desert celebration turns 90 with a parade, 5K fun run, the famous Outhouse Races, and a classic car and motorcycle show. Pairs perfectly with a Joshua Tree visit.
November 6-8
Yucca Valley, 45 minutes east
Yucca Valley Film Festival
The 8th annual festival screens independent features and shorts at the Community Center of Yucca Valley, a growing high desert cultural highlight.
November 2026
123 Farm, Cherry Valley
123 Farm Community Olive Harvest
As the lights of Lavender Nights fade, 123 Farm opens its historic olive groves for the Community Olive Harvest: gathering tree-ripe olives on this century-old organic farm, with the season's press turning into farm olive oil. A hands-on, old-world fall tradition that only comes around a few weeks a year. Check the farm's festival calendar for dates.
November 5 - January 3
123 Farm, Cherry Valley
Christmas Nights at 123 Farm
A winter wonderland installment of 123 Farm's famous evening light experiences, bringing holiday cheer to the Pass Area. The winter 2026 edition runs November 5 through January 3 - advance tickets required, with Santa's Workshop on select dates.
December 5, 5:45 PM
Palm Springs, 30 minutes east
Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade
The 34th annual Festival of Lights Parade fills Palm Canyon Drive with floats, live entertainment, and holiday cheer, followed by the tree lighting at Frances Stevens Park. A free, family-friendly desert holiday tradition.
November 20-22
Cathedral City, 40 minutes east
Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival
Colorful hot air balloons lift off at dawn over the Coachella Valley with balloon glows, tethered rides, live music, and family activities. The 2026 edition runs November 20-22 at Cathedral City's Festival Lawn and Community Amphitheater. A picture-perfect desert fall weekend on I-10.
November 12-15
La Quinta, 45 minutes east
La Quinta Art Celebration
A juried fine-art festival in the heart of the Coachella Valley with hundreds of artists, live demonstrations, music, and desert dining. One of the most respected art festivals in Southern California.
December 5-6
Miles Avenue Park, Indio, 55 minutes east
Indio International Tamale Festival
The Guinness World Record-holding celebration of the tamale: dozens of vendors serving every variety, live entertainment, a kids zone, and a hotly contested best-tamale crown. A deliciously festive Coachella Valley December tradition.
December 2026 (date TBD)
Downtown Banning
Banning Cowboy Christmas
The City of Banning's Western-flavored holiday tradition: a holiday parade through downtown, the city tree lighting, Santa's arrival by helicopter, photos with Santa, a kids' toy giveaway, a Christmas light exchange, food and craft vendors, and snow for sledding. Typically held the first Saturday of December; watch the City of Banning website for the confirmed date.
December 12, 2-8 PM
Beaumont
Blizzard Bash & Holiday Light Parade
The Pass Area's holiday season highlight: holiday lights, music, food, and community cheer in downtown Beaumont.
Newly open and worth a visit
The Pass Area dining and hospitality scene keeps growing. Here is what is new since last season, from downtown Beaumont coffee to Italian dining at the Cabazon outlets.
Ziggi's Coffee
Downtown Beaumont
A new drive-thru coffee shop at 311 E. 1st St. opened its grand-opening week back in late March, bringing quick espresso, cold brew, and house favorites to the morning commute.
Birba Ristorante
Desert Hills Premium Outlets, Cabazon
Authentic Italian dining just west of Banning on the outlet corridor: handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and an extensive wine list.
Happy Mediums
Calimesa
A neighborhood eatery that grew from a popular Redlands pop-up, now a must-try for breakfast and lunch.
Hampton Inn & Home2 Suites
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon
A new four-story, 200-room dual-branded hotel opened earlier this year on the resort grounds, making concert nights and outlet-shopping weekends easy overnights.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Gorgonio Pass
Beaumont club at 702 Euclid Ave
A refreshed youth-recreation home in Beaumont offering afterschool programs, sports, and mentoring for local kids.
Kasama Restaurant
Downtown Beaumont, 383 E 6th St
Filipino-Cantonese fusion in the heart of the downtown corridor, with salt-and-pepper shrimp, beef tapa fries, and vegetarian-friendly plates from owners sharing their family traditions.
Frijoles Restaurant & Cantina
Downtown Beaumont, 652 E 6th St
A lively cantina serving Mexican classics like ceviche de camarón, pozole, chilaquiles, and mojarra, plus American breakfasts to start the day.
Pon Pho Noodle
Downtown Beaumont
The downtown pho stop under new management this year - reviewers are calling it the go-to bowl in Beaumont, with fresh pho and Vermicelli bowls earning strong Yelp ratings.
Oak Glen Steak House & Saloon
Oak Glen (coming soon)
A new steak house and saloon is coming to the mountain apple country just north of the Pass Area, listed as coming soon on OpenTable. Oak Glen is about a 25-minute drive from Beaumont, making this an easy mountain-dining addition for fall and winter visits.
Developments to watch this fall
I-10 Bypass Moves Forward
Caltrans and the Riverside County Transportation Commission issued a final environmental clearance for the proposed I-10 Bypass section between Banning and Cabazon, favoring Build Alternative 12. The long-studied project aims to ease the notorious Pass Area bottleneck and smooth the drive to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
Beaumont Downtown Revival Continues
The city has committed more than $250,000 to Revitalize downtown businesses through forgivable loans, while the Pass Area Biz Hub offers consulting, coworking space, and job-readiness programs.
Morongo Supports Banning Pass Little League
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has contributed more than $185,000 for bleachers and shaded coverings at Lions Park, pushing lifetime support for the league past $435,000.
Stewart Park Revitalization Back on Track
California State Parks lifted the construction pause in June, preserving the city's $2.5 million Phase II grant. Phase I improvements including splash pad facilities are underway.
Banning Seeks Opportunity Zone Designation
The City of Banning submitted five eligible census tracts for the state Opportunity Zone redesignation process, part of an ongoing push to attract investment along the Sunset Crossroads corridor. Designation would open federal tax incentives to developers and businesses investing in those neighborhoods.
Morongo Announces Its Biggest Fall Concert Lineup
The fall 2026 season at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa runs October 3 through December 5 with Dirty Heads (Oct 8), Blues Traveler (Oct 10), OneRepublic (Oct 13), Fountains of Wayne (Oct 23), UB40 (Oct 24), and The Isley Brothers (Nov 7) headlining, plus Stone Temple Pilots (Nov 21), El Fantasma (Dec 4), and Tyrese (Dec 5). Just 10 minutes west on I-10 for Pass Area residents.
Measure B School Bond on the November Ballot
Beaumont Unified School District placed an $86 million Measure B school bond on the November 3, 2026 ballot to fix aging schools, replace portable classrooms, and improve campuses - without raising property tax rates. Pass Area voters decide alongside the Sunset Crossroads referendum.
More Retail Coming to Beaumont's I-10 Corridor
Beyond the Target-anchored Oak Valley Village, Lewis Retail Centers is developing a new retail destination along the I-10 corridor near the existing Walmart, Home Depot, Kohl's, HomeGoods, Ross, Best Buy, ALDI, Ulta Beauty, and Five Below stores, in active development as of mid-2026. Approved planning projects also include a Starbucks on 4th Street and an 84 Lumber building supply store.
Seasonal things to do this fall
Apple Picking in Oak Glen
U-pick apple season runs from Labor Day through November at multiple orchards just 25 minutes north, with fresh-pressed cider and mountain air.
Pumpkin Patches & Family Fun
Peltzer Pumpkin Farm and Greenspot Farms near Mentone bring hayrides, corn mazes, and fall family activities throughout October.
Joshua Tree Festival Season
The Joshua Tree Music Festival (Oct 8-11), the 11th annual Night Sky Festival (Oct 9-10),and Leave No Trace Weekend (Nov 5-7) make the desert a fall destination.
Palm Springs Farmers Markets Return
Fresh Medjool dates, citrus,and desert-grown specialties return to Palm Springs markets each October, less than 30 minutes east on I-10. The Old Town La Quinta Farmers Market also reopens Sundays from October through May.
Modernism Week October & Plaza Theatre
The full October edition of Modernism Week (October 15-18) brings 50+ midcentury tours and events to Palm Springs, debuting a Fall Dining Series and After Dark programming. The landmark Plaza Theatre, restored after a $34 million renovation, launches its fall reopening season downtown. Less than 30 minutes east on I-10.
Palm Springs Holiday Season
The desert holiday season kicks off December 5 with the 34th annual Festival of Lights Parade on Palm Canyon Drive at 5:45 PM and the tree lighting at Frances Stevens Park. Magic of Lights at the Empire Polo Club in Indio and WildLights at The Living Desert keep the Coachella Valley glowing through December.
From Sam Silver, your local guide
\"Fall in the Pass Area is worth slowing down for.\"
As a U.S. Army veteran and longtime community advocate, I have spent years watching this valley come alive in autumn. Cooler evenings mean bonfires upthe canyons, lavender fields glow after dark, and neighbors pack the parks for Oktoberfest and Stagecoach Days. Whether you are settling in Beaumont or just passing through on the way to Palm Springs or Joshua Tree, fall is when the Pass Area shows off its best self.
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This is not intended as a solicitation if you are currently working with another real estate broker. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. For real estate services, contact Sam Silver at Sam@SamSilverHomes.com or visit PatriotGuyRealEstate.com.