Take a long weekend getaway to Twentynine Palms! The fall season is the perfect time to explore and discover the wonders of the Mojave Desert. With the weather cooling off and the city coming to life with events, there has never been a better time to visit and enjoy all Twentynine Palms has to offer.
Take a walk in nature and explore Joshua Tree National Park. With over 2.4 million visitors in 2020, Joshua Tree National Park was named the 10th Most Visited National Park in the U.S. by the National Park Service. Encompassing nearly 800,000 acres of protected land, visitors can explore both the Mojave and Colorado Deserts while taking part in several activities. From hiking to rock climbing to just enjoying the beautiful desert scenery, this is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With the long weekend, it will be busy in the National Park, so here are a few tips and tricks to make sure you are ready for your trip:
Use the Twentynine Palms entrance. Wait times at the West Entrance in Joshua Tree can reach upwards of 1 hour. If you are traveling eastbound on the highway, keep driving 15 more minutes and enter the park through the North entrance in Twentynine Palms. Not only is the wait time much shorter at the North entrance, but you can also visit the Oasis Visitor Center on National Park Drive before heading up to the park.
Purchase your pass online. It is now easier than ever to buy your park pass. Not only can you purchase your entrance pass online, but you can also reserve your camping site. Go online to recreation.gov and get your pass in advance.
Download the NPS app. With no cell service in the park, it can be difficult to navigate where you’re going with your phone. Luckily, the NPS app allows you to download park info to make sure you can find your way around the park while offline. With interactive maps, tours of park places, and more, download the NPS app and make the most of your visit.
Plan Like a Park Ranger. The staff at JTNP have put together an incredible article to help you travel like an expert when you visit the park. To help you plan your trip even more, here are the Top 10 Tips for Visiting Joshua Tree National Park.
This long weekend is the perfect time to dive into the rich arts, culture, and history that make Twentynine Palms the cultural oasis it is today. The Joshua Tree Music Festival kicks off the weekend beginning Thursday, October 7th with their first festival since October 2019. With the pandemic having shut down their festivals for two years, JTMF is ready to get the community back to the “Heart of the Matter” with artists from all over the world performing for one weekend only.
October 9th and 10th mark the first weekend for the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours. Now in its 20th year, the Art Tours take place all over the Morongo Basin. This self-guided tour will take visitors on a journey to each of the artists’ studios to see where the magic happens. With 18 artists in Twentynine Palms opening their doors, tour-goers will get a glimpse into the worlds of renowned artists such as Perry Hoffman, Anna Stump, Elisabeth Pollnow, Anne Lear, and many more.
For all the history buffs out there, the Old Schoolhouse Museum is the place to be. With a mission to collect, preserve, and display information, artifacts, and memorabilia, the Twentynine Palms Historical Society has been educating visitors for almost 30 years. This weekend, join artist Barbara Gothard as she discusses her Art+Humanities project, “Contradictions – Bringing the Past Forward,” as the 2nd Friday Lecture Series continues on Friday, October 8th.
If you are curious about the nature of the area, the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park will be hosting a special class this weekend as part of their Fall Field Class schedule. Learn all about the Insects and Arthropods of the Morongo Basin with Kurt Leuschner as he explores the lives of the largest group of animals in the world. Participants will learn to identify and distinguish insects from other arthropods and then practice their skills in the field. Field observations will include desert, dune, and riparian habitats, as well as a special night session with black lights at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.
Fuel up for the weekend ahead with some great eats at one of our local, family-owned restaurants! For breakfast, Campbell Hill Bakery is every pastry lover’s dream for the best croissants, coffee cake, and scones in town. Take your taste buds on an adventure at Cactus Trails Café and try their Cactus Omelette with their Prickly Pear Lemonade. For a big, hearty breakfast, head on over to John’s Place and order John’s Farm Breakfast Special loaded with eggs, ham, sausage, bacon, hash browns, and biscuits and gravy.
When you’re ready for lunch, head on over to FANS Sports Bar and Grill for some great all-American burgers, wings, hot dogs, and more. Mexican Street Tacos is home to the famous David Tran Plate and their always delicious street tacos. If you like spicy food, check out Thai Café and all of their delicious curries including their Roasted Duck and Siam Gulf curries.
Spend your evening dining at one of our great eating establishments. Have some good old-fashioned barbecue with Rib Co.‘s grilled jalapenos and Triple Threat ribs. Stop by Edchadas and get your hands on their Amigo Burrito and pair it with one of their famous margaritas. Twentynine Palms’ newest gastropub GRND SQRL has great new food for visitors and locals to enjoy like their Shanghai Wings, SQRL Burger, and, our personal favorite, the Jalla Sandwich. End your evening with the last cold beer on Highway 62 at the newest neighborhood bar on the corner of National Park Drive and the Highway, Out There Bar.
Spend the weekend shopping around town and shop small at our local retail stores! If you’re downtown, stop by White Label Vinyl, Hi-Desert Daydream, Donahlue Clothing Co., The Lobby by Desert Beacon, and more along the highway. When you’re out and about on Adobe Road, stop in and check out Copy Center Plus, and further down in the Historic Plaza you’ll find Perfectly Unique. These are only a handful of the many locally-owned stores you can find in Twentynine Palms, so be sure to stop in and say hi to us at the 29 Palms Visitor Center to find out what other gems we have hiding in our city.
This long weekend will make for the perfect opportunity to get out into nature in the late evening to enjoy a spectacular display of astronomical events. The Draconid meteor shower will peak on October 8th. Unlike most meteor showers, the Draconids are short-lived. You will want to look towards the constellation Draco the Dragon to watch the shower. Luckily, the thin waxing crescent moon will make for good visibility this year.
Get out the telescope because stargazers will have a great view of the Andromeda Galaxy and the Great Square of Pegasus throughout the fall season. Being the closest large spiral galaxy to our Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy is the most distant thing we can see with the unaided eye. This weekend, you will be able to view the galaxy in the eastern sky at nightfall before it makes its trek to the western sky by dawn. Part of the constellation Pegasus, the Great Square of Pegasus can also be seen ascending into the eastern sky in the early evenings this season. Made of four stars of nearly equal brightness, the Great Square is a landmark of the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn sky.
Plan your night under the stars with our guide to stargazing in Twentynine Palms.
We hope to see you in Twentynine Palms enjoying all our city has to offer! From exploring Joshua Tree National Park to gazing up at the desert night sky, there is something for everyone to enjoy this holiday weekend. Be sure to stop by the 29 Palms Visitor Center for any information you may need during your visit.
From must-see art exhibits and hands-on experiences, to signature events like the Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition and Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours, 29 Palms is your destination for art this fall!
The Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo is back for another year! Now in its 9th year, the Art Expo is presented at the historic Oasis of Mara in Twentynine Palms. The annual event presents an impressive juried exhibition of art inspired by the park from November 4th through November 28th. This year, more than 50 artists were selected from all over California and across the globe. They will all have their pieces on display for all to see during the month-long exhibition. Along with the Art Expo, visitors will have the chance to explore more of what the local arts and culture scene has to offer during the first weekend on Saturday, November 6th. From hands-on classes at the 29 Palms Art Gallery to Oasis of Mara walks with Ranger Ian Chadwick, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Celebrating its 20th year, the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours has become one of the “can’t miss” events of the fall season. The annual multi-disciplinary desert-wide self-guided art tour spans across the 8 desert communities in the Morongo Basin area. With over 165 artists inviting visitors into their studios, this is the perfect opportunity to see how the magic happens. The concept of open studio art tours is to take eventgoers on a journey through the desert environment these artists call home. They have chosen a place like no other to create their own masterpieces. Taking place over three weekends in October, you will have the chance to explore the many studios open during the annual event. Don’t miss out on this incredible event only happening October 9th/10th, 16th/17th, and 23rd/24th.
Each month, the 29 Palms Art Gallery features regional artists as well as a group show from its guild members. From September 30th through October 24th, be sure to check out what this month’s featured artists are presenting in a variety of mediums. Artist Larry Hemmerich’s soft pastels in his show titled “This Way My Friend” capture the desert in exquisite detail showing why he was juried into the Pastel Society of the Southwest as well as the prestigious Pastel Society of America. Abstract expressionist Francesca “Cesca” Spoonhower of Yucca Valley will be showcasing “A Splash of Color” with her paintings. Sculptor Cher Townsend will present her show “What’s The Story?” with her whimsical clay sculptures. As always, the talented 29 Palms Artists’ Guild members will be showing a groups exhibition in the Pickering Room all month long.
One of Twentynine Palms’ newest galleries is having some fun this fall. Art-O-Motive Gallery is celebrating the season with FIVE weekends of Fall Art Days! Located at the corner of National Park Drive and Twentynine Palms Highway, this tire shop turned art gallery is a playground of metalwork and more from renowned local artists. They are inviting everyone to join them for their Fall Art Days this season as they welcome back the cooler weather and spotlight even more artists. From murals to sculptures and everything in between, Art-O-Motive is one of the many art destinations you will want to check out when you visit Twentynine Palms this season. They will be open October 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and November 13th for everyone to visit and explore their one-of-a-kind gallery.
The change in the season means it’s time for a change of scenery at the 29 Palms Visitor Center and Gallery. Presented by the Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC), Art in Public Places has a quarterly group exhibition featuring many of the area’s most talented artists. Beginning October 2nd, visitors will be able to view the new show titled “Clouds Rolling In” through January 7th, 2022. This show centers around the fall season in Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert region. Expressed through painting, photography, mixed media, and 3-dimensional artwork, this is one exhibition you will want to see when you visit Twentynine Palms.
Not only does Twentynine Palms have a great array of art events and new gallery openings happening this fall, but there are some wonderful classes and workshops with local artists happening as well! Gretchen Grunt, owner of the 29 Palms Creative Center and Gallery, is available for all your art class needs. Open by appointment only, the Creative Center is ready to welcome back kids and adults to let their creative geniuses flow. Gretchen has a long list of classes you can book for yourself, family, friends, everyone! From a Sip-N-Spin Pottery Party to a Kid’s Neon Painting Birthday Party, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the 29 Palms Creative Center and Gallery.
Having just celebrated their first anniversary, Perfectly Unique is gearing up for even more paint parties this season! With adult paint nights, kid paint nights, and crochet classes, Emily and her team will be keeping busy with all the fun they have in store. Not only do they have wonderful classes, but when you walk into their store you can see just how artistic they are with their gorgeous woodworking skills. They have everything you can imagine to brighten up your home or office space with their hand-crafted products.
Make Twentynine Palms your art destination this fall! There is so much to see and do when you visit our wonderful city. We cannot wait for you to discover why we love our artistic desert oasis we call home.
It’s the best time of the year to hike!
From scenic natural trails and loops, to longer more challenging hikes, Joshua Tree National Park offers some of southern California’s most beautiful hiking trails.The fall is the best time of year to take on these more challenging hikes such as 49 Palms Oasis, a moderate 3-mile round trip trail that takes you down into one of the five fan palm oases found in the park.
Bordering Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve, the newly designated Mojave Trails National Monument offers endless adventure for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Start your adventure at Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark where a moderate 3-mile round trip hike up and into the volcanic cinder cone will reward you with stunning views of the surrounding Mojave desert, and as a bonus, you’ll get to drive a stretch of the iconic Route 66 getting there!
From Amboy Crater, continue north on Amboy Road to Kelbaker Road in the Mojave National Preserve where you can hike the stunning Kelso Sand Dunes. Rising almost 700-feet high, the 2.7-mile round trip hike to the top of the sand dunes will certainly be a good workout and might just be one of the most beautiful places in the California desert to watch the sunset!
There’s a great lineup of festivals & events!
Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours October 5-6, 12-12, 19-20
Now in its 18th year, and having just extended to three weekends, the annual Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours is California’s second largest open studio art tours event! With more than 120 studio locations and more than 200 participating artists this year,
Joshua Tree Music Festival October 10-13
In addition to an always incredible lineup of musicians, the Joshua Tree Music Festival offers variety of multidisciplinary workshops, such as yoga and movement, visual arts, music, and myth, and with a robust schedule of Kidsville activities, this is one of the top family-friendly festivals in the country!
Climb Smart October 18-20
Hosted by Friends of Joshua Tree, this annual festival brings together the largest gathering of rock climbers in Joshua Tree to kick off the climbing season! This three-day event offers fantastic clinics and workshops with some of the best certified and accredited guide organizations, giving experienced climbers a great chance to refine their skills, and first-time climbers the chance to get into the sport.
We have lots of fun and quirky attractions to discover!
Beyond spending your time outdoors exploring the national park, or weekend attending festivals and events, fall is great time of year to explore the unique and quirky attractions in the City of 29 Palms!
How about a movie at Smith’s Ranch Drive-In, one California’s last remaining drive-in movie theaters?
Love live theater? How about a play at Theatre 29? This award-winning, premiere venue for year-round live community theatre offers a fantastic lineup of plays and comedies.
Ever thrown an axe? Trust us, once do it once you’ll be hooked! Discover your competitive side at The Boardroom, the high deserts first and only axe throwing venue.
