The Street Fair at College of the Desert
The Street Fair at College of the Desert
The Street Fair at College of the Desert
4
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Located on the College of the Desert campus in Palm Desert CA Over 100 merchants offering a wide variety of unique gifts, gadgets, tools, clothing, food trucks, original art, housewares, décor and much more. Open Saturday and Sunday 8am-2pm October 7th through May 26th.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
450 reviews
Excellent
160
Very good
197
Average
65
Poor
20
Terrible
8
carlotaTravel4fun
california644 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Not a flea market, or street fair, or farmer’s market, so what is it? Not sure. It was a very large pop-up tent gathering of stuff. There were a couple of small produce tents, and some jewelry stands. Mostly clothing, shoes, sunglasses, a couple of leather stands, and then more of the same. In the middle was a food court area. There was not really anything unique or even that interesting. There is one free parking lot right next to the “Street Fair” and a couple of lots that charged $4 and had a shuttle to the shopping area. I would recommend, if you do go, to get there early, like when they open, and park in the free lot. By around 9 there were cars circling this free lot waiting for people to leave. The prices were high at the booths I stopped at and again, nothing unique. Could have skipped this outing.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cultdiva
Los Angeles, CA209 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
I was hoping to see more handcrafts and unique items. Instead I found mostly overpriced made in China soon to be landfill items.
I’m impressed by the stall holders ability to tend to their market spaces in Palm Desert heat but not a place I would be heading back to.
I’m impressed by the stall holders ability to tend to their market spaces in Palm Desert heat but not a place I would be heading back to.
Written October 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda G
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Solo
The College of the Desert street market has a variety of unusual items for sale in one location. I am particularly fond of Gabriella’s Italian Clothing. Ed and Gabriella are established merchants. I have bought beautiful, high quality linen dresses from them over many years. Recently, I had a manufacturing issue with one of the dresses I bought last season. They were very gracious, standing behind their product and resolving the issue in an outstanding way. I was pleasantly surprised to be the recipient of kind customer service which is a rarity in today’s world. I highly recommend shopping at the College of the Desert where the vendors are honest, friendly and deserve our support.
Written November 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory M
Westchester, IL336 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
The Street Fair is an area tradition. Located in the College of the Desert Monterey Avenue parking lot it is open from 7 am to 2 pm Saturday, Sunday and Monday holidays. There is a food court in the center with hot dogs, burritos, shrimp cocktail crepes, mini donuts; your typical fair “healthy” eating choices. This year there was a new bakery booth. Stroll up and down the aisles of vendor booths finding everything from art, sunglasses, games and golf equipment. The vendors are heavy into women’s clothing and jewelry. Get there early to beat the crowds and the heat. Since it is on an asphalt parking lot it can get pretty hot after the sun is beating down all morning. If you can’t find something here you don’t need it ( and you don’t need most of the stuff here). It is a pleasant way to spend half a day wandering around looking at the people and their dogs
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingBill
Glendale, AZ640 contributions
Dec 2022
We have visited this street fair for years, every time we traveled to Palm Springs. We visited on a Sunday morning and were surprised at what we found. It was only about 1/3 the size and number of vendors a prior. The prices they charged were equal to two times what you could get the same thing on Amazon or at Kohl's or 3-4 times what you would pay for the same item at Dollar Tree or 99 cent srore. Very few people shopping, the week before Christmas
Written December 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chicagonative_7
Chicago1,003 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Seems more folks are wandering around than buying..... just like us. Other than fresh produce, everything else is cheaper elsewhere. The dates, berries and fresh fruits are the Best Buy’s. People watching is definitely senior citizen dominated.....
The smart place to park, closer than most lots, is on Date Palm just across from the entrance!
The smart place to park, closer than most lots, is on Date Palm just across from the entrance!
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MinneapolisCMB
Minneapolis, MN383 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
A very fun and interesting place to spend a morning. Many vendors selling all kinds of interesting wares—jewelry, clothing, kitchen gadgets, watches, purses, art of all kinds, toys, reading glasses, socks, shoes, garden sculptures, belts, scarves, hats—you name it and you can likely find it here. Plus, a variety of food vendors when you’re ready for a snack or lunch.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NGDMJ
Moose Jaw, Canada267 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Such a nice street fair and so nicely laid out with a broad assortment of things to purchase. The vendors are friendly and not at all pushy to sell their wares. We always stop at this event at least 4 times a year when in Palm Desert and we always enjoy spending 1-2 hours here. Cooler in January & February so there are mire vendors than in the summer.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue H
9 contributions
Feb 2020
Fun vendors, produce and delicious lunch! Parking was plentiful. Many booths for everyone's different interest. If purchasing a kitchen gadgets with blades, I chose to mail to our home to avid TSA confiscating at the airport.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan S
Philadelphia, PA1,131 contributions
Feb 2020
Many many people but plenty of parking and space....It never felt too crowded. I bought a hat from a booth with so many hats. Fancy, casual, sun hats, mens and women's hats in many sizes. Also a great kitchen gadget place with all kinds of hard-to-find utensils. Also plenty of food booths and some fresh produce too.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Russ K
Santa Barbara, California
Do you recall the name of the vendor at the Street Fair who fixes watches while you wait, or he also offers to do the work at his home which is nearby?
Written September 30, 2023
Unfortunately not open due to covid.
Written April 7, 2020
Do the vendors sell second hand items like a garage sale?
Written February 16, 2020
I have never seen second hand items. There are a few booths with homemade items.
Written February 17, 2020
The College is open on weekends 7-2. Not sure when it shuts down for year as we leave in April and it is always open then. It shuts down when it gets too hot for the vendors.
Written April 3, 2018
can you visit celebrity homes in palm springs example frank SINATRA home
Written March 10, 2018
Yes, you can go into some of the celebrity homes. Just go to an information booth and find out which ones you can see,
Written March 13, 2018
can you go on a tour for celebrity homes
Written March 10, 2018
Yes, you can go on guided tours or you can purchase a map and go on your own. On the guided tours you get much more info. though. We thoroughly enjoyed our guided tour.
Written March 13, 2018
Is the Fair only on Saturdays? And if so, Is it every Saturday all year round?
Written January 15, 2018
Not sure if they are open all year as we are never there in the summer months. They have always been open in Nov. , Dec., Jan., Feb., and March
Written March 13, 2018
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