Snowtopia Palm Springs 2026: Tickets, Snow Play & Family Guide

Dates, hours and where to go

The museum's 2026–2027 signature-event calendar lists December 18–21, 2026 for Snowtopia. The official Snowtopia page publishes 6–9pm evening hours.

Go to Palm Springs Air Museum, 745 N Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92262. The event uses museum hangar and outdoor areas; it is not the same outing as the downtown Festival of Lights Parade or WildLights in Palm Desert.

Our Snowtopia event listing provides a quick date reference. Choose the actual evening on the official ticket page before arranging the rest of the trip.

Tickets and the free-child cutoff

At our October 15, 2026 source check, the official Snowtopia ticket selector displayed $16 for General Admission Tickets. The organizer says children age five and under enter free.

Use the museum-linked ticket page to review your chosen date, ticket categories and final checkout total. Check how the booking handles children in the free age group. Review the date, admission subtotal and any fees, then add the optional activities your family wants.

Use Snowtopia's age-five cutoff when counting paid tickets. Daytime museum tickets follow a separate admission policy.

What the organizer advertises

The current program describes an outdoor real-snow playground, a Santa meet-and-greet, seasonal characters and craft-making. It also lists a separate indoor toddler play area and bouncy houses for ages five and under.

Plan from the activities your group will enjoy rather than trying to fit everything into one evening. Younger children may prefer a shorter snow-and-crafts visit; other groups may want to add a paid train ride or food stop.

Check the current program before going if one particular activity is the reason for the trip. Use the three-hour event window to prioritize your family's favorite activities.

Budget separately for the extras

The museum marks several features as separate purchases:

• Holiday train rides.
• S'mores over the outdoor fire pits.
• Food and drinks from the event's vendors.
• Holiday shopping.

Budget for the activities your family actually wants in addition to admission. Add the extras you want to your admission budget.

The official page describes character-photo opportunities, but check any separate photo-product or vendor offer on its own terms.

Can you visit the whole museum during Snowtopia?

The organizer explicitly says the museum is closed except for Snowtopia event areas during the evening celebration. Do not use the event ticket as a substitute for a full aircraft-and-exhibits visit.

For a daytime museum outing, use the Palm Springs Air Museum guide and its separate admission calendar. If you want both visits on the same day, confirm the two admissions and the transition between them before buying.

Make the evening comfortable

The snow playground is outside on the tarmac, while some activities use indoor areas. Choose layers and footwear for the conditions, and consider a spare layer for younger children spending time in the snow. Check the forecast and the museum's current arrival notes.

Allow time for arrival, entry and the activities that matter most to your group. The event ends at 9pm. Leave time to enter and enjoy the activities you have chosen.

If your party needs a specific access arrangement, ask the venue before booking so the answer applies to the event areas and the date you choose.

Where to stay and what to pair with it

For hotel choices, compare airport-area hotels with downtown Palm Springs hotels. Map the museum and your hotel, then arrange the transport that fits your evening.

Use Palm Springs with kids for a daytime family plan and Christmas in Palm Springs for other holiday options. WildLights is a separate event in Palm Desert with its own dates and tickets.

For an earlier December visit, plan around the Festival of Lights Parade on December 5. The December guide brings the season's different dates together.

Dates, advertised activities, admission categories and the displayed base price were checked October 15, 2026 against the museum and its linked ticket store.