Palm Springs: A Morning at the Fair in the Desert

Metal art like these sculptures were for sale at the market

Every weekend from October to May is the Street and Art Fair at College of the Desert. It's an actual college and the parking lot is turned into a temporary open market where locals and visitors can buy all kinds of things from fruits to jewellery, clothing and even shoe horns.

We drove there around 11am and it's a good set up. Across from where the temporary fair is the parking lot for cars and even better is mini transportation in the form of golf carts to ferry people to the open-air market and back. If you have too many things to carry, or your legs are tired, it's the best.

Wine glasses for diehard golfers...

Even better is the happy-go-lucky driver we had both ways, who was greeting many people by name and waving to those he didn't know. He was very happy to be driving the cart and chatting with people. Maybe it's also because he gets tips in a plastic cup taped to the cart.

Nevertheless, we were dropped off at the middle of the market where a guy dressed as Santa Claus was selling Kris Kringle coffee in paper bags. I didn't see him make a sale but he waved to people and said, "Ho ho ho!"

Feel sorry he had to stand around in 21 degree heat... he couldn't even get an umbrella sorted to give him some shade...

In any event people can buy all kinds of items at this market. The first one we saw sold all kinds of things one would find in a dollar store, like shammies, kitchen gadgets like graters, and foldable laundry baskets.

Heck you could even buy a car if you wanted -- they claimed they ship everywhere!

Colourful folk art pieces to decorates homes

There were also steering wheel covers for sale, reading glasses, watches, jewellery, hats, and a purse organiser (a pouch with many compartments in it to put in your purse).

For those who love a good salesman pitch could watch a guy talk nonstop as he demonstrated how to use a ginger grater, and there was a small group of people watching intently. He was even throwing in a recipe book if you bought a grater...

One stall sold women's golf wear which was quite popular -- with changing rooms too, while another sold golf clubs, US$20 for a sand wedge! Serious golfers were amused.

A food section where there were picnic tables had stalls selling coffee, popcorn, hotdogs, and iced drinks. There were also fruits for sale, like strawberries, papayas, pomegrantes and apples, as well as vegetables and dried dates that were stuffed with walnuts, coconuts, or plain. 

The market seemed like the community centre where people hung out on the weekends to say hi or something to do with friends. We didn't buy anything, but was fun to look!

Giant pomegranates up for grabs

Street & Art Fair at College of the Desert

October to May, 8am-2pm

Corner of Monterey Avenue and Magnesia Falls, Palm Desert