The 2025-2026 season at Sunnylands is officially underway with much to do, including house and grounds tours of the historic estate, the unveiling of a new exhibition, Films in the Gardens, and more.
Pack a picnic and join us in the gardens tonight at 7:30 pm for a screening of Poltergeist (1982), the first of three straight weeks of free spooky movies. Titled “Tales Beneath the Trees,” this fall’s Films in the Gardens series features movies that are rated R or PG due to their scary or supernatural themes. See below for further details.
Inspired by the thousands of trees on the Sunnylands estate and their history, the exhibition, Curating Canopy: Trees at Sunnylands, is now on view at the Center. Explore the beautiful imagery, including floor-to-ceiling photographs focusing on the intricacies of trees, their bark patterns, leaf shapes, seed pods, and colorful blooms.
The catalog, also titled Curating Canopy: Trees at Sunnylands, discusses notable trees on the estate—the “Nixon Magnolia” and the “Eisenhower Palms,” for example, trees that were gifted or inspired by U.S. presidents—the management of trees on the property today, and the selection of pillar trees for the newer Center & Gardens, which opened in 2012. Copies are now available in the Sunnylands shop.
Be on the lookout for October tour tickets, set to be released on Monday, September 15, at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Options include the 90-minute Historic House Tour as well as the Open-Air Experience grounds tour.
Various art workshops and wellness activities are also coming up soon. Browse your options below.
And just so you know, we will be launching our newly designed website in the next week or so. Our hope is to offer a fresh user experience that highlights the beauty of Sunnylands and all that it has to offer. If you run into any issues while browsing the new site, please reach out to our contact email in the website footer for further assistance.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens is open 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday.
See you around!
Sunnylands tour tickets: Available Sept. 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. 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.
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.
Films in the Gardens: Sept. 12, 19, and 26
Taking inspiration from our exhibition on trees, this fall’s Films in the Gardens series features a trio of scary or supernatural movies, rated R or PG, where trees play a role in the story. Gates will open at 6 p.m., with the film starting at 7:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. No reservations needed. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase at the café from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Brief survey on activities and programs
We are reviewing our various programs and would love to hear from you. Please fill out this brief, anonymous survey and tell us what activities you would be interested in seeing and doing at Sunnylands this season. Tap the “Learn More” button below for a link to the survey.
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.
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.
Art workshop: Make Your Own Candle
Mijo Candle Co. will lead a workshop in the Sunnylands studio where participants will create and take home their own custom-scented candle while learning about the art of candle making. Participants will be able to choose from more than 30 fragrance oils. Fee: $53.50 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. All art supplies are included.
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: $69.10 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. All art supplies are included.
Art Workshop: Tabletop Nichos
Join Raices Cultura staff artists for a fun, hands-on studio session where you’ll 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This month's botanical spotlight: Barometer Bush
Distributed throughout the Sunnylands gardens, Leucophyllum is known more commonly as Texas Ranger or Texas Sage. It blooms in ranges of deep purple to violet and periwinkle, and its fuzzy leaves range from green to silver-gray. Even its size can vary from large shrubs, reaching six feet, to smaller compact shrubs. Browse the gardens at your own pace or try one of five self-guided audio garden walks.