Family Fun

FAMILY-FRIENDLY 29!

With ample space to roam, Twentynine Palms is a kid’s paradise. Little ones will love knocking pins over at the Bowladium, seeing a flick at Smith’s Ranch Drive-In Movie Theater, sliding and swinging on the playground at Luckie Park, and allowing their creativity to take over at 29 Palms Creative Center. From its proximity to Joshua Tree National Park to a long list of local attractions, activities, and events, there is always something to do. See our Explore and Attractions sections, including the Parks page, for information about our community parks, playgrounds, public swimming pool, and skateboard park. And visit our Calendar of Events so you can plan ahead to attend one of our many community festivals, shows, and other happenings.

29 PALMS ART GALLERY

29 Palms Art Gallery Art ClassThe 29 Palms Art Gallery features monthly exhibitions and hosts art education classes for all ages throughout the year. Members of the 29 Palms Artists’ Guild receive a discount, and adult and student memberships are available.

29 Palms Art Gallery Art ClassVisit their website for a schedule of art activities for youth and adults, plus seasonal events and fundraisers. A historic landmark in the community since 1963, the gallery features monthly desert art shows featuring work by guild members and other artists, and monthly receptions on the first Saturday of each month. Admission is free.

29 PALMS ART GALLERY YOUTH ART PROGRAMS

29 Palms Art Gallery Youth Art ClubJoin the 29 Palms Art Gallery Youth Art Programs. Join today and receive all the benefits and discounts of a gallery member, plus a membership card and T-shirt. Each program has its own age-appropriate class line-up. Visit their website for the full art class schedule for the year. Youth Art Club includes sketching, line drawing, cartoon drawing, clay masks, printmaking, collage, assemblage, beading, and jewelry. Youth Art Academy topics range from cave art and pictographs to Renaissance painting, impressionism, commercial art, abstract expressionism, and more.

 

ART HAPPENINGS

29 Palms Creative CenterThe 29 Palms Creative Center welcomes budding artists of all ages to paint pottery or create a canvas painting in the inspiring open studio. Gretchen Grunt and other studio artists offer art activities directly out of their studios for the local or traveling art adventurer. Choose from a selection of ready-to-paint pottery: cups, plates, tiles, and tons of figurines; or instant canvas painting. The 29 Palms Creative Center also offers a variety of instructed art classes for children, adults, and groups, including paint nights, art parties, and a summer art camp.

JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM

“Explore, learn, protect!” is the Junior Ranger motto. Like many other national parks, Joshua Tree offers young visitors the opportunity to join the National Park Service “family” as Junior Rangers. Interested youth complete a series of activities during a park visit, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official Junior Ranger badge. Junior Rangers are typically between the ages of five and 13, although people of all ages can participate. Kids visiting Joshua Tree National Park may earn a Junior Ranger badge by completing a number of activities as they explore the park. The Junior Ranger booklet is available at park entrance stations and visitor centers. Booklet activities include drawing, writing, attending a ranger program, and picking up trash in the park. Stop by the new Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center located at Freedom Plaza in downtown Twentynine Palms.

JTNP Jr Ranger ProgramJoshua Tree also participates in national Junior Ranger programs like Junior Paleontologist, Junior Ranger Night Explorer, and Wilderness Explorer.

Can’t make it to a park? Learn how to become a WebRanger!

YOUNG HISTORIAN PROGRAM

The Twentynine Palms Historical Society hosts a program to encourage youth to become more familiar with the history of our area, which has been a crossroads and melting pot for many cultures throughout time. Exhibits at the Old Schoolhouse Museum touch on the history of our local Native Americans, gold miners, cattlemen, early desert homesteaders and pioneer families, and the military. It is a wonderful launch point for young minds.

Accompanied by an adult, the prospective Young Historian will:
1. Complete Hunting for History at the Old Schoolhouse Museum.
2. Complete a Mural Tour of Twentynine Palms and visit Veterans Park.
3. Visit the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center and walk the Oasis of Mara Nature Trail.
4. On the Old Schoolhouse grounds, walk the Frances Sabol Eco Trail, visit the Old Mining and Hastie Bus Exhibits, and describe the Twentynine Palms Historical Society logo to the docent on staff.

Once this mission is complete, each inductee will receive a commemorative T-shirt designating their new status as a Young Historian. The program currently focuses on students in third through sixth grade.

SKY’S THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER

Skys The Limit StargazingBring the whole family to one of the free star parties on Saturday nights (except during a full moon) at Sky’s the Limit Observatory, located at the top of Utah Trail right next to the North Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms. The campus is open every day for people to stop by, walk the nature trail, experience the sculptures and meditation garden, and view the native plant life and orrery (model of the solar system). Of course, the real excitement happens on several Saturday nights each month when local and visiting astronomers take you on a tour of the night sky, with various telescopes set up on site, including the 14-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope in the astronomical dome. Bring your own chairs, snacks and water.

MOJAVELANDMojaveland November PopUp

Mojaveland is a family-friendly miniature golf and art center that is open once a month. Each of our 13 holes is designed by a different High Desert artist. Please check their website or social media for dates. Mojaveland is a non-profit organization, fiscally sponsored by Arts Connection – the Arts Council of San Bernardino County.