The 2025-2026 season is ending soon as we prepare for our annual summer hiatus, beginning Monday, June 8.
Films in the Gardens concludes this Friday, May 15, with a screening of The NeverEnding Story (1984). Pack a picnic and bring the family out for one final watch party under the stars.
Our free guided bird walks on Thursdays continue through May. These hour-long walks start at 8:45 am and are welcome to guests of all ages and experience levels.
Just a few spots remain for the final wellness program of the season, Live Easy Well Being. The program is designed to help you reconnect with your inner calm and cultivate vitality in your everyday life. Details below.
Tour tickets for the five days we will be open in June (3-7) will be available for purchase beginning Friday, May 15, at 9 am Pacific Time. This quieter time of year is a great opportunity to enjoy a 90-minute guided tour of the historic Annenberg residence. Be sure to also browse the various May tours that are still available.
On behalf of all of us at Sunnylands, we are so thankful to everyone who visited from near and far, as well as our Board of Trustees, community and convening partners, and our staff who helped curate such an exceptional experience for our guests these past nine months. We will be hard at work this summer preparing for another memorable season ahead.
Keep an eye on our website and social media channels throughout the summer for updates on the return of tours, wellness programs, Family Days, and much, much more.
We look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen on Wednesday, September 9.
Have a safe and joyous summer!
Historic House Tour tickets are still available
The 90-minute Historic House Tour takes guests inside the Annenberg home, highlighting the architecture, interior design, and hospitality enjoyed by cultural icons for decades. Guests will also enjoy stunning views of the 200-acre grounds, including the private golf course, outdoor sculpture, and a one-of-a-kind view of the surrounding mountains.
Current 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.
Friday, May 15: Films in the Gardens
The last of our three “Growing Wild”-themed movies, The NeverEnding Story (1984), screens this Friday, May 15. Gates will open at 7 pm. Screening begins at 8 pm. Admission and parking are free. No reservations needed. Watch for the return of Films in the Gardens in September.
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.
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. Just a few spots remain.
Shop in person or online at the Sunnylands Shop
Stop by the Sunnylands gift shop to browse a wide selection of gift options, from exhibition catalogs and award-winning books to unique home and décor selections. Select items will be available to ship from our online shop throughout the summer. For online purchases, the free in-store pickup option will resume once we reopen in September.
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).
Please note: Salads and sandwiches will be served from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm only. Grab-and-go items, drinks, and coffee service will continue to be served during opening hours.
This month's botanical spotlight: Mesquite hybrid
The gardens are filled with a variety of thorn-less hybrid mesquites. Like many native desert trees, mesquites are legumes, which nourish the desert floor by dropping nitrogen-rich leaves, seedpods, and branches, offering opportunities for young, fragile plants to get an easier start, but it also means that they require more cleanup. Browse the gardens at your own pace or try one of five self-guided audio garden walks.