Sunnylands reopens September 9 and there’s much in store in the new season. We are restarting house tours of the Annenberg home, resuming our Films in the Gardens movie series, and returning our photo exhibition on Sunnylands trees for an encore.
September is the perfect time for locals to tour the estate before the season’s annual influx of snowbirds, and tickets for September tours will go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, August 15, at 9 am Pacific time. Options include the 90-minute Historic House Tour and the 45-minute Open-Air Experience.
For a second season, guests are invited to see the exhibition, Curating Canopy: Trees at Sunnylands. Detailing the 60-year history of trees on the Sunnylands estate, this photographic exhibition contains stunning imagery from renowned photographer David Loftus. As always, the exhibition is free to the public during opening hours, 8:30 am to 4 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, beginning September 9.
September also marks the return of our biannual Films in the Gardens series, featuring a different film on three consecutive Friday evenings, beginning September 11. Inspired by the exhibition, the outdoor movie series, “Roots and Reveries,” spotlights films in which trees serve as symbols of connection, relationships, nature, and imagination. Please see below for further details.
Throughout September and October, we are offering a diverse range of art, wellness, and horticultural workshops. Whether you’re interested in a meditation session, a bonsai bar, a Day of the Dead–themed class, or something entirely new, there is a workshop to suit every interest. Browse below or on our events page to register and learn more.
Just so you’re aware, we have some program and scheduling changes planned for the upcoming season. Additional details will be announced in next month’s newsletter, on our website, and social media channels. Stay tuned!
Enjoy the rest of your summer and we hope to see you soon.
Sunnylands tour tickets: Available Aug. 15 at 9 am
The 90-minute Historic House Tour takes guests inside the Annenberg home, highlighting the architecture, décor, and hospitality enjoyed by cultural icons for decades. On the 45-minute Open-Air Experience, guests enjoy stunning views of the 200-acre grounds, including the golf course, outdoor sculpture, and midcentury modern architecture.
Free exhibition—Curating Canopy: Trees at Sunnylands
The serenity of Sunnylands originates in large part from the careful selection of trees that founders Walter and Leonore Annenberg chose in the mid-1960s, transforming 200 acres of bare desert into a verdant oasis. Through beautiful imagery by photographer David Loftus, this exhibition invites guests to view trees not just as landscape features but as art, each tree with its own sculptural form and seasonal expression.
Wellness series: Live Easy Meditation
Guided by instructor Lisa Botts, participants will practice wellness exercises anchored in meditation, breathwork, gentle movement, and sound therapy to help gently awaken the mind-body connection.
Fee: $11.91 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. This series is offered on various dates throughout the season.
Films in the Gardens: Sept. 11, 18, and 25
This fall’s Films in the Gardens series features a trio of movies, rated PG or PG-13, where trees help tell the story. Gates will open at 6 pm, with the film starting at 7:30 pm. Admission and parking are free. No reservations needed. Snacks and drinks will be available at the café from 6 to 8:30 pm.
Sept. 11: The Hidden Life of Trees (2020)
Sept. 18: Big Fish (2004)
Sept. 25: At Eternity’s Gate (2018)
Horticulture workshop: Bonsai Bar
Join a friendly instructor in the Sunnylands Studio for a tiny tree workshop. Participants will learn the fundamental skills and techniques behind the art of bonsai while they pot and prune their very own bonsai tree.
Fee: $108.06 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available.
Now seeking high school students who love art
Local high school students are invited to apply for this season’s Art Ambassadors program, a hands-on experience exploring art, history, architecture, and creativity. The program is free and meets once per month from October through April. Engage with professionals and peers while exploring art-related careers. Limited spaces available.
Poetry & Play: A nature-inspired poetry workshop
Framed by the Sunnylands gardens, participants will explore the colors, textures, sounds, and movements of trees, connecting with the natural world around us. Following a brief discussion on poetry and nature-inspired language, attendees will craft and share their own original writing.
Fee: $24.91 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available.
Wellness series: Live Easy Meditation
Guided by instructor Lisa Botts, participants will practice wellness exercises anchored in meditation, breathwork, gentle movement, and sound therapy to help gently awaken the mind-body connection.
Fee: $11.91 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. This series is offered on various dates throughout the season.
Art workshop: Candle Making
Chicano Candle Co. will host a hands-on workshop in the Sunnylands studio, where participants will create and take home their own 8-ounce, custom-scented candle while learning the basics of candle making, including wax, wick, and fragrance oil types.
Fee: $82.89 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available.
Art workshop: Blooming Cactus Tote Bags
Enjoy an acrylic paint class as you design your own blooming cactus tote bag. With step-by-step guidance from Brushour artist Danielle Guerrero, participants will create their own personalized piece inspired by the beauty and vibrant colors of the desert.
Fee: $42.49 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available.
Day of the Dead art experience: Mosaic Skulls
Join artist Mary Clark-Camargo for a Day of the Dead-themed art workshop and create your own 6×8-inch mosaic skull, known as a calavera, using hand-crafted glass and colored ceramic tiles.
Fee: $71.97 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available.
Horticulture workshop: Happy Worm
In this hands-on workshop, participants will pot their own herb garden using locally grown worm castings from Happy Worm. Everyone will leave with a living terra cotta planter of basil, chives, and thyme and everything they need to grow fresh herbs at home.
Fee: $55.59 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. Please note, this workshop offers two separate sessions to choose from.
Shop online as we re-stock for next month's reopening
Browse the online shop for the perfect gift options, including Sunnylands-branded hats, mugs, visors, and notecards, as well as books and exhibition catalogs. In-store shopping and pickup for online orders will resume on September 9. Opening hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 4 pm.
We're adding some new items to the café menu
We’re refreshing the Sunnylands café menu for the upcoming season, with an expanded selection of breakfast offerings and new grab-and-go options. Stay tuned for menu updates in next month’s newsletter and on the Sunnylands website.