Our fall calendar is filling up fast with a variety of new and returning activities, including CV Days of Los Muertos, weekly wellness programs, a full slate of outdoor tours, workshops, and more.
Coachella Valley Days of Los Muertos, held annually in the Sunnylands gardens in partnership with local organizations, is a celebration of Día de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday honoring the dead.
Taking place from Wednesday, October 29, through Sunday, November 2, the gardens will be filled with traditional holiday decorations, including hand-crafted ofrendas (altars) and nichos (shadow boxes) for the public to enjoy.
This season, Raices Cultura, the arts and culture non-profit based in Coachella, is inviting the public to honor family members with contributions to a community altar. People may drop off photos of their deceased loved ones for display on the altar from Wednesday, October 29, through Saturday, November 1, from 8:30 am to 4 pm at Sunnylands. Click or tap here for details.
See below for all other special activities taking place during this event, including Sunday evening hours, poetry, arts and crafts, performances, and more.
November marks the long-awaited return of our free outdoor wellness programs, including yoga and tai chi classes, guided bird walks, and Sundays at Sunnylands, as well as a brand-new program, Movement and Mindfulness, available on select dates (details below). Attendance for these programs is free. Simply show up and enjoy. Please see our events calendar for program days and times.
Be on the lookout for November tickets for tours of the estate, which now include the Historic Walk and birding tours, set to be released on Wednesday, October 15, at 9 a.m. Pacific time.
Our art and wellness workshops are a terrific way to connect with the community in a serene setting. Be sure to browse the available classes and workshops that are coming up. Spaces are limited.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens is open 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday.
See you around!
Sunnylands tour tickets: Available Oct. 15 at 9 a.m.
The 90-minute Historic House Tour takes guests inside the Annenberg home, highlighting the architecture, décor, and hospitality enjoyed by cultural icons for decades. Guided outdoor tours, such as the Open-Air Experience and the Historic Walk, also share the Sunnylands story while featuring the home’s midcentury modern architecture and stunning views of the golf course and grounds.
New 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 new exhibition invites guests to view trees not just as landscape features but as art, each tree with its own sculptural form and seasonal expression.
Now seeking high school students who love art
Local high school students are invited to apply for this season’s Art Ambassadors program, a firsthand 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.
Art Workshop: Miniature Nichos
Join Raices Cultura staff artists for a fun, hands-on studio session where you will create your own miniature nicho—a Latino folk art shadow box honoring a loved one, figure, or idea. Using paint, collage, and mixed media, this workshop is open to all skill levels and offers a creative, relaxed environment. Fee: $32.70 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. All art supplies are included.
CV Days of Los Muertos: October 29 – November 2
Explore hand-crafted altars and shadow boxes in the Sunnylands gardens. We will hold special evening hours on Sunday, November 2, with drop-in arts and crafts for the family, aerialist performances, and a free screening of Coco (2017) at 6:30 p.m. in the gardens. No reservations needed. Free parking and admission.
DOHC mobile health clinic at Sunnylands: October 31 and November 2
Desert Oasis Healthcare’s mobile health clinic will be at the Center & Gardens on Friday, October 31, and Sunday, November 2, for select hours offering free walk-in health screenings, consultations, flu vaccines, COVID vaccines for DOHC members, and more during our Coachella Valley Days of Los Muertos event.
Free film screening in the gardens: Coco (2017)
As part of CV Days of Los Muertos, a special screening of the film Coco will be shown in the Sunnylands gardens on Sunday, November 2. The animated film follows aspiring musician Miguel as he enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather. Starring Benjamin Bratt, Gael García Bernal, and Anthony Gonzalez. Run time: 1 hr. 45 min. Rated: PG.
Day of the Dead aerialist show: Sunday, Nov. 2
Join Art Flying Aerial on Sunday, November 2, in celebrating the vibrant culture and rich traditions of Hispanic heritage with a Day of the Dead-themed aerial performance every hour from 10 am to 3 pm. Featuring creative backgrounds, costumes, and performances by local students. Each 15-minute performance will take place at the top of the hour, 10 am to 3 pm.
Free guided bird walks return November 6
Offered most Thursdays at 8:45 am, November through May, guided Bird Walks are an opportunity to discover various local and migratory bird species in the Sunnylands gardens. These free, 60-minute walks are open to all ages and experience levels. No reservations needed. Sun protection, water, and binoculars are suggested. Meet outside the Center entrance.
Yoga in the Gardens returns November 7
Offered most Fridays at 10 am, November through April, Yoga in the Gardens is an opportunity to practice poses ranging from beginner to intermediate. These free, 60-minute sessions are open to all ages and experience levels. Free parking and attendance. No reservations needed. Sun protection and water are suggested.
Tai Chi in the Gardens returns November 8
Offered most Saturdays at 10 am, November through April, Tai Chi in the Gardens is an opportunity to practice the beginning positions of the Yang Family 108 Long Form. These free, 60-minute sessions are open to all ages and experience levels. No reservations needed. Sun protection and water are suggested.
Wellness Workshop: An Afternoon of Therapeutic Horticulture
Horticultural therapist Karen Haney will be leading a workshop celebrating trees and a connection with nature and inner peace. The session includes a tree-inspired chakra balancing meditation and two hands-on activities: creating a gratitude yarn sculpture from tree branches and making a finger labyrinth using natural materials. Fee: $43.10 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. All art supplies are included.
Community Performance: Dance in the Gardens
Watch the talented Nickerson-Rossi Dance company perform a contemporary routine, artfully weaving their way throughout the Sunnylands gardens. Please be prepared to move with the performance as it progresses through the gardens. Admission is free. No reservations needed.
A new wellness series at Sunnylands: Movement and Mindfulness
Designed for adults, but open to all, this new series focuses on graceful, low-impact movement that nurtures mobility, balance, and a deeper connection to the body. It is a gentle, yet inspiring movement class set in the serene Sunnylands gardens. These 60-minute guided sessions are free and open to the public to join. No registration or reservations needed.
Art Workshop: Finding Calm in the Labyrinth
Join artist Judy Nemer Sklar in the Sunnylands gardens for a labyrinth-inspired workshop. Using paint and collage, participants will create their own artwork taking the labyrinth as a key source of calm and inspiration. Fee: $17.10 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. All art supplies are included.
Sundays at Sunnylands returns November 16
Offered most Sundays from 9 am to 2:30 pm, November through April, toys and activities, including large building blocks, hula hoops, ribbons, butterfly wings, and more, are available on the lawn for children to enjoy. Tote bags, with blankets, small toys, and activity books, can be borrowed from the reception desk. No reservations needed. Sun protection and water are suggested.
Wellness series: Live Easy Meditation
Guided by instructor Lisa Botts, participants will practice wellness exercises in the Sunnylands gardens. Anchored in meditation, breathwork, gentle movement, and sound therapy, this program focuses on stress relief, emotional balance, and mental clarity. Fee: $11.90 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. This series is offered on various dates throughout the season.
Shop in person or online at the Sunnylands shop
Browse a variety of gift options during your next Sunnylands visit or from the comfort of your own home via the online shop. Items include brand-new Sunnylands hats, mugs, postcards, exhibition catalogs, and more. For online purchases, select shipping or free in-person pickup at Sunnylands Center.
Beverages, light lunches, and tasty treats at the café
The Sunnylands café offers an appetizing selection of drinks (coffee, herbal teas, and soft drinks) and lunch options (sandwiches, wraps, and salads) as well as sweet treats (ice cream, cookies, muffins, and more). Enjoy stunning garden views from the outdoor patio. Click or tap below for the full menu.
This month's botanical spotlight: Century Plant
The Century Plant is the largest agave in the gardens, sometimes reaching up to ten feet tall. The name Century Plant refers to the monocarpic (one bloom) nature of the genus, where blooms occur only after several years, sometimes up to 30 years, though it may seem like a century for some to bloom. Browse the gardens at your own pace or try one of five self-guided audio garden walks.