Joshua Desert Retreats
Recommended Calendar of Events
February 2010
- Reach Out Morongo Basin's 6th Annual Parade of Homes - Feb 14, 2010
Once again this year you will be able to participate in the Parade of Homes. This is the 6th parade for Reach Out Morongo Basin and it acts not only as a fun tour, but also as a fundraiser for ROMB. The parade will take place on Sunday, February 14, 2010 from 12:00 - 5:00 pm. Join Reach Out for an intimate look at some of the most beautiful homes in the Morongo Basin including the All His Ranch, Desert Willow Ranch and Big Horn Ranch. The parade is a great way to both see your community closely and to give back to it.
Tickets, which are $28, are on sale now at the Reach Out offices in the Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms Senior Centers, as well as the
Parade of Homes Page
March 2010
- Desert Wildflower Season is from March to about May and should be especially beautiful this year with all of the rain this winter.
- Wonder Valley Homestead Cabin Festival | February and March
Artists, writers, performers, musicians, and just plain folks will be part of the Homestead Show 'n Tell open gallery and open stage at The Palms Restaurant as part of the Wonder Valley Homestead Cabin Festival during February and March 2008. The Open Stage will take place on Saturday, February 23, at 5 p.m. following the artists reception. Readings and performances are limited to 12 minutes each. The festival will take place at the Fi-Lox-See Gallery, The Palms Restaurant, and elsewhere in Wonder Valley.
Contact: Chris Carraher (760)361-0505
Location: The Palms, 83131 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley CA 92277 (760) 361-2810
- Wildflower Wanderings Field Class | Sat, Mar 22, 2008 9am - 4pm
Ranger, Dar Spearing will lead this all day field class on a tour through the colorful flowers of a desert spring $60
Oasis Visitor Center, Joshua Tree National Park
74485 National Park Drive, 29 Palms 92277 (760) 367-5535
For more info please visit JoshuaTree/wildflower.org
April 2010
- Desert Wildflower Season is from March to about May and should be especially beautiful this year with all of the rain this winter. For more info please visit Joshua Tree.org
- Joshua Tree National Park Art Festival | Apr 2nd, 3rd, & 4th, 9am - 5pm
You’ll have the pleasure of seeing the work of more than 20 artists with a love and respect for the Joshua Tree National Park. Painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and jewelry. Free.
Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, 29 Palms
74485 National Park Drive, 29 Palms 92277 (760) 367-5537
For more info please visit JoshuaTree.org
- Hilltoppers M.C. “29 Palms Wild West Grand Prix”
First weekend in April. There are different classes in which riders participate including Kids and Pee-Wee racing, Vintage, Classic, and a Pro Team race with a minimum $3000 purse. Over 1300 riders participate. Races begin at 8:00 a.m. both days; grandstands are available for spectator viewing. Vendors and food booths will be open both days.
Gate fee is typically $10.00 per person, per day or $15.00 per person for the weekend. AMA, D-37 cardholders, seniors and military I.D. holders typically pay $5.00 per day or $10 for the weekend. Children aged twelve and under are free. Overnight camping is allowed. This event is held annually in the late spring/early summer.
For more detail, please contact the 29 Palms Chamber of Commerce (760) 367-3445.
- Poplight Art Exhibit | Every Sat and Sun, 7pm
Wonder Valley artist Helena Bongartz has been creating Poplight in the vast dark desert night amid the salt flats near Amboy ongoing for two years. A constantly changing dual-video projection dances on a solitary and semi-abandoned cabin with digitally manipulated images arising from shards of plastic pop bottles. Weekend nights, weather permitting, rain and high winds stop the show.
Amboy Road, about 45 minutes east of 29 Palms (before Amboy)
For more info please visit PopLight.net
- Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival | Fri April 16-18
One of, if not the largest music festival in Southern California is back this year with another incredible lineup of artists. Tickets on sale here. Buy yours now to avoid paying obscene prices on ebay later! The daily lineup can be found here
- Retro UFO Spaceship Convention
TBA
What really happened at Giant Rock in the 60's and 70's? And what is happening now? Hear first-hand stories from the people who were there. $125 per day, $225 for both days includes lunch. Space limited, first come, first served.
(760) 365-3266 or Email to retroufo@gmail.com
May 2010
- Desert Wildflower Season is from March to about May and should be especially beautiful this year with all of the rain this winter.
- Joshua Tree Music Festival | May 14-16
Each year the festival gets bigger and bigger and with two stages, camping by a lake in the desert, organic foods, BYO drinks (yea THAT kind), and with such a fun, friendly atmosphere we can see why.
Tickets may be purchased here | 3 Day Pass $80 | onsite camping $10 per person per night.
Call 877.327.6265 or email jtmf@onebox.com for more information.
- Bike Ride through the Park Supports Shoes That Fit | May 17
The ninth annual Bike Ride Tour through the Park, named after the founder of the original ride Art Ehrenberg, will once again support the Shoes-That-Fit program. This charitable program is sponsored by the four Rotary Clubs in the Morongo Basin in concert with Reach Out Morongo Basin, provides underprivileged school-aged children with gift certificates for the purchase of new shoes for school.
For more information and for registration online go to Bike 4 Shoes
- 14th Ever Wonder Valley Music Fest Sat | May 17
Sky's the Limit Observatory & Nature Center Benefit
$20 Tex-Mex Catered Dinner by Ricochet
The Palms Resturant
- 'Under the Stars' A Benefit for Sky's the Limit | May 17
Events begin at 6:30 at Trader Jeff's with a reception featuring the work of Chuck Caplinger. 5% of sales will be donated to Sky's the limit. Chuck Caplinger has donated a piece to be raffled off. At 8:00pm, the party will move to The Palms Restaurant in Wonder Valley for dinner and music al fresco. Dinner is a Tex-Mex feast with all the fixin's: corn-on- the-cob, tacos, spicy wings, beans and rice, and bottomless ice tea. The Palms has a full bar.
Tickets are only $20.00. The reception is free. Call (831)236-8359 for tickets or stop by Trader Jeff's weekends 12-7
- Afterschool Arts Program
Every Wednesday in May: 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th
This fun and educational program will take place every Wednesday in May from 3:45pm to 4:45pm at the Hi-Desert Cultural Center’s Palmer Performance Hall and is open to public and home school students. The fee is $35 per child. For more information, call 760.366.3441 or enroll online at Hi-Desert Cultural Center
- Summer Movies in the Park | Beginning May 15th
The City of Twentynine Palms Park and Recreation is proud to announce the Movies in the Park summer line-up. This season will begin on May 15th with the showing of Disney's "Cars". This movie is sponsored by the new City of Twentynine Palms Youth Advisory Commission, and the Commission will be handing out toy cars to the children in attendance. The next movie will be the blockbuster "Transformers" on June 19th sponsored by Microsoft. Also showing this summer will be "The Goonies", "The Bee Movie", "Shrek the Third", "Surf's Up", "Over the Hedge", "How to eat Fried Worms". All the movies are free and will begin at dark. The Movies are shown on the Theater screen painted on the North side of the racquetball courts in Luckie Park and a snack bar will be provided by the Twentynine Palms Youth Club. Come out and enjoy some great family fun in the park.
View Larger Map
- Bailey's Automotive Anniversary Car Show
TBA -(760) 367-7716
June 2010
- Desert Wildflower Season is from March to about May and should be especially beautiful this year with all of the rain this winter.
- Summer Movies in the Park | Beginning May 15th
The City of Twentynine Palms Park and Recreation is proud to announce the Movies in the Park summer line-up. This season will begin on May 15th with the showing of Disney's "Cars". This movie is sponsored by the new City of Twentynine Palms Youth Advisory Commission, and the Commission will be handing out toy cars to the children in attendance. The next movie will be the blockbuster "Transformers" on June 19th sponsored by Microsoft. Also showing this summer will be "The Goonies", "The Bee Movie", "Shrek the Third", "Surf's Up", "Over the Hedge", "How to eat Fried Worms". All the movies are free and will begin at dark. The Movies are shown on the Theater screen painted on the North side of the racquetball courts in Luckie Park and a snack bar will be provided by the Twentynine Palms Youth Club. Come out and enjoy some great family fun in the park.
View Larger Map
- 29 Palms Street Fair & Car Show | June 6 4:30 - 10:30pm
Don’t miss the annual Twentynine Palms Street Fair and Car Show! This extravaganza is held on Twentynine Palms Highway (State Route 62) in downtown Twentynine Palms the first weekend in June. Vendors line the street and downtown merchants extend business hours for your shopping and dining pleasure. Enter your own classic car or help us elect winners in a "People’s Choice" contest. Try your hand at a rock climbing wall or belt one out at the karaoke booth. Have a snowcone or visit an old fashioned soda fountain. Get an airbrush tattoo or face paint for the kids. You can even test wireless internet services or check out new wireless phones! Local radio station Z107.7 provides music with a live, remote broadcast. Join us for hometown summer fun.
For more detail, please contact the
29 Palms Chamber of Commerce - (760) 367-3445
- High|Desert|Test|Sites | June, 28 2008
83131 Amboy Rd, Wonder Valley, California 92277 On June 28th, 2008 High Desert Test Sites is pleased to collaborate with the Center for Land Use Interpretation to present a film by London based artist Bernd Behr titled “House Without a Door”. The weekend will include a Saturday afternoon panel discussion, followed by dinner at the Palms in Wonder Valley and then an evening screening of the film on the most remote Test Site on Iron Age Road. (Low impact camping will be allowed on the site)
For more info and to RSVP for dinner visit the High|Desert|Test|Sites
July 2010
- 4th of July celebration | July 4, 6pm
This will be the only fireworks show in the Morongo Basin offered off the Marine Base and all residents of the Morongo Basin are invited to bring a picnic, blankets and lawn chairs to the Yucca Valley High School Football field this July 4th to enjoy this special traditional celebration of freedom.
Yucca Valley Rotary Club for more information.
August 2010
- Perseids
Meteor Shower | August 12th
The shower's peak is from around 11 p.m. until dawn. Meteors can streak across any portion of the sky so you don't need to look toward Perseus to see them.
July 2010
- July 3rd Fireworks
Homestead Valley Park - (760) 364-4431
- THE 4th of July Celebration | 5-9:30 pm
Live music by MCAGCC 29 Palms Band (Marine Corp Band) and fireworks show.
29 Palms Marine Base - (760) 830-5086
September 2010
- Arts and Tourism Week
Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council - (760) 361-1805
- Desert Writers Weekend | Sept 27 & 28
Writers Celebration 27 Sept 6pm at the Sun Runner Magazine
61855 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree 92252 760 / 366-2700
October 2010
- Morongo Basin Orchid Festival | October 3 & 4
Just in time for the Orchid blooms in October, this festival is a fundraising event for charity programs throughout the Morongo Basin. There is food, entertainment, flower education and plenty of fun to be had at this event. For more information, please contact Gubler Orchids
at (760) 364-2283 or at Gublers.com
- 4th Annual Joshua Tree
Roots Music Festival | Oct 10 & 11
So far he line up includes:
Blue Rodeo, The
Sadies, Porterdavis, Rose's Pawn Shop, and Deer Tick.
Tickets may be purchased here $25-$60
Call 877.327.6265 or email jtmf@onebox.com for more information.
- Open Studio
Art Tours ..:West End:..
October 24 & 25
Includes Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley the west side of Joshua Tree and Landers.
This is an exciting year to be involved with the Open Studio Art Tours. With much planned publicity for this years event, and over 100 studios and
galleries participating, it is sure to be our biggest OSAT ever. If you have not participated before this is a great year to start. We hope you will join us!
- Open Studio
Art Tours ..:East End:..
October 31 & November 1
Includes the east side of Joshua Tree, 29 Palms and Wonder Valley.
This is an exciting year to be involved with the Open Studio Art Tours. With much planned publicity for this years event, and over 100 studios and
galleries participating, it is sure to be the biggest OSAT ever. If you have not participated before this is a great year to start. We hope you will join us!
- Gram Fest | TBA
Hi-Desert Playhouse - (760) 366-3777
- Pioneer Days Celebration | October 16 - 19
Arm Wrestling Contest, Carnival, Firefighters Pancake Breakfast (29 Palms Fire Department), Judge & Sheriff Contest, Outhouse Races, Pioneer Days Parade, Pioneer Days Rodeo, Soap Box Derby and much more.
Daily schedule can be found here.
Contact the 29 Palms Chamber of Commerce for more info - (760) 367-3445
- 5th Annual Wild West Coyote Fest | TBA
Think you can ride a Mechanical Bull? Test it out along with the Mechanical Calf-Roping ride at the Wild West Coyote Fest, Friday night & Saturday, in Joshua Tree. Gates open Friday at 4:00pm, and Saturday at 10am, with great vendors, LIVE music, a dunk tank, rock
climbing wall, a jumping house for the kids, and always -great food and drink. Bring your pet Saturday at 10:30am for the Pet Parade and stay to enjoy great musicians, including the Cactus Pricks, Kristina Quigley, the Hafler Duo and the Thrift Store All Stars. You’ll find the Coyote Fest 1 block south of the highway on Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree.
For more info, call (760) 366-3723
November 2010
- The Weed Show | TBA
For over 50 years the people of the Hi-Desert have been expressing their creativity by entering desert bouquets made of found desert objects.
29 Palms Historical Society, (760) 367-2366
- Headquarters Battalion Ball | TBA
M.C.A.G.C.C. - (760) 830-6213
December 2010
- Festival of Lights Parade | TBA
This is a fun parade for the whole family, whether your in it or just watching on the sidelines. The general rule is: If you can put lights on it, you can enter it. Everything from cars and floats, to pets and skateboards have been entered in the past.
The parade travels down Adobe Road to Highway 62. Many merchants along this downtown strip extend their business hours on this night to aid you in your holiday shopping. So come early and shop, or stay late and shop!
Old Town Merchants Association - (760) 365-0044
- Geminid
Meteor Shower December 13th
Around 70 meteors an hour can be seen in the southern sky
- Christmas Tree Lighting | TBA
M.C.A.G.C.C. - (760) 830-6213
