As 2025 comes to a close, we are gearing up for a busy winter season at Sunnylands with a full slate of tours, wellness activities, art and wellness workshops, and much more.
Each week, Sunnylands offers free, expert-led activities, including bird walks on Thursdays, yoga on Fridays, and tai chi on Saturdays. Please refer to our events calendar for a comprehensive list of dates and times.
Be sure to explore the diverse range of available workshops below, many of which take place outdoors in the beautiful gardens. Costs vary and space is limited so be sure to secure your spot quickly. Plus, a workshop could make for a unique holiday gift for a special someone.
Speaking of gifts, the shop boasts a lovely selection of Sunnylands-inspired treasures worth browsing. There are also some tasty refreshments available just next door in the café.
January is a beautiful time of year to tour the estate. Tickets for the month will be available for purchase beginning Monday, December 15, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time.
All season long, the Center & Gardens offers free parking and admission, and is open* Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
*Please note, the Center & Gardens will close at noon today and will remain closed to the public through this weekend, December 13 and 14, for internal programming. We will also be closed on Thursday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday and on Thursday, January 1, for New Year’s Day.
Happy Holidays!
Sunnylands tour tickets: Available Dec. 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.
Fridays: Yoga in the Gardens
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.
Thursdays: Free guided Bird Walks
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.
Saturdays: Tai Chi in the Gardens
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.
Sundays at Sunnylands
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.
Art workshop—Still Life in Pastel: Intermediate
Broaden your pastel palette in this class led by artist Gianne de Genevraye. Participants will be introduced to expanded coloring techniques, compositions, and backgrounds. Fee: $45.18 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only (highly recommended to have taken the beginner level or equivalent). 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.
Therapeutic Horticulture Workshop
Join horticultural therapist Karen Haney for a therapeutic horticulture experience in the Sunnylands gardens. Participants will engage in guided, hands-on activities, such as making their own flower press, a pair of pressed flower jars, and decorating and filling aromatherapy sachets. Fee: $43.10 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available.
Workshop: Art in Nature
Explore the Sunnylands gardens in a new and unique way by creating an “impermanent art” masterpiece, led by artist Judy Sklar. Registered participants will use natural objects found in the gardens as tools to create notecards. Fee: $17.10 per person. All materials are provided. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available.
Disaster Preparedness Day: Wednesday, Feb. 11
Join the Coachella Valley Disaster Preparedness Network at Sunnylands on Wednesday, February 11, for free resources, information, and demonstrations designed to help the public respond to natural disasters and protect lives and property. Free parking and attendance. No reservations needed.
New wellness series: Movement & 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: Sunprinting at Sunnylands
Discover solar-powered blueprint creation with instructor Rose Cefalu. Participants will learn the process of creating light-sensitive emulsions to cold-press watercolor paper and then contact printing an enlarged negative onto the treated surface using sunlight. Each participant will leave with 4 to 8 finished cyanotype prints. Open to any skill level. Fee: $84.70 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. All art supplies are included.
Floral Workshop: My Valentine
Palm Springs Flower School and Studio Kate Floral are hosting a Valentine’s Day-themed workshop at Sunnylands. Create a stunning rose arrangement with a vibrant variety of fresh roses in a custom vase. Open to any skill level. Fee: $79.50 per person. For registered participants only. Limited spaces available. All art supplies are included.
Modernism Week lecture: Rooted in Time
Center & Gardens Director Michaeleen Gallagher will host a presentation February 21 on the balance between historic legacy and sustainability at the Annenberg estate, and the importance of making critical choices about preservation, adaptation, and the future of living collections. Fee: $21.19 per guest. Registration is required. For ages 13 and up. Please note: This event does not take place at Sunnylands.
Shop in person or online at the Sunnylands Shop
Browse a variety of great holiday gift options for the Sunnylands enthusiast in your life. Stop by during your next Sunnylands visit or shop online. Items include brand-new Sunnylands hats, mugs, postcards, exhibition catalogs, and more. For online purchases, select shipping or free in-person pickup at the 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: Sweet Acacia
There are four Sweet Acacia trees planted in the corners of the motor circle in front of the Center, a design reference to the historic estate, where four grapefruit trees are similarly planted in front of the Annenberg residence. Browse the gardens at your own pace or try one of five self-guided audio garden walks.