Things to do with kids in the Coachella Valley: November 2026

November is when the valley finally cools off, and the calendar fills up fast. Here are the best things to do with kids across the Coachella Valley this month, from a hot air balloon festival to free star nights, plus easy ideas for Thanksgiving break. Dates can change, so check the link before you go.

The big weekends

• Palm Springs Veterans Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov 11. Starts at 3:30 pm at Ramon Road and Palm Canyon Drive and heads north on Palm Canyon to Alejo Road. Parade details
• Fall Family Festival, Sunday, Nov 15. Free, 10 am to 5 pm at SilverRock Park in La Quinta. Festival details
• Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival, Nov 20 to 22. The 12th year, with balloon tether rides, nighttime balloon glows, a drone light show, carnival rides and food trucks. Tickets and the daily lineup are at cchotairballoonfest.com.
• Disney's The Lion King JR., Nov 21 and 22. A youth theater show by local kids, 7 pm at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater in Rancho Mirage Community Park. Free, but you need to reserve tickets. Show details

Free star nights

The valley's dark skies are made for this. The Rancho Mirage Library's observatory holds free drop-in nights most weeks, with docents and telescopes pointed at planets and star clusters. No sign-up needed. Leave the light-up shoes at home, and keep phone screens off so everyone's eyes adjust. Observatory nights

Thanksgiving break

School's out for a few days around Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov 26). A few ideas:

• Fall ZooCamp at The Living Desert, Nov 23 to 25. Mornings from 8:30 to 12:30 for kindergarten through 6th grade, built around animal art. $250, or $225 for members, and $25 with EBT. ZooCamp details
• Ride the tram up the mountain. It can be up to 30 degrees cooler at the top, so bring a jacket.
• Walk a canyon trail. Indian Canyons has easy trails through palm oases.
• See real planes up close at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

• Palm Springs Aerial TramwayPara niñosFavorito de las familiasAtracciones en Palm Springs$$$El teleférico giratorio más grande del mundo sube al monte San Jacinto; senderos y nieve arriba, a menudo de 30 a 40 grados más fresco.Al aire libre
• Indian CanyonsSenderismo en Palm SpringsNature reserve in Palm Springs.Al aire libre
• Palm Springs Air MuseumPara niñosFavorito de las familiasMuseos en Palm Springs$$Aviones de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y la Guerra Fría en hangares con aire acondicionado; simuladores de vuelo y cabinas para que los niños se sienten.Bajo techo con aire, Educativo

Every week at the library

The valley's libraries run free kids' programs all month. Here are some of the regulars:

• Family Storytime at the Indio Library on Tuesdays at 5 pm, and Preschool Storytime on Wednesdays at 11 am.
• LEGO Open Build at the Palm Desert Library on Tuesdays and Fridays at 3:30 pm.
• Bilingual storytime (Hora de Cuentos) at the Mecca Library on Saturdays at 11:30 am.
• Culinary Kids at the La Quinta Library on Mondays at 11 am.

• Indio LibraryPara niñosBibliotecas en IndioFreeBiblioteca del condado de Riverside.Bajo techo con aire, Gratis
• Palm Desert LibraryPara niñosBibliotecas en Palm DesertFreeBiblioteca compartida con College of the Desert; programas para niños.Bajo techo con aire, Gratis

More this month

The full list, with new events added every day, is on our events page. For weekend ideas, see this weekend. Planning a party? Here's where to have a kid's birthday party in the valley.