California Welcome Center: Yucca Valley

09/12/2024

🎶 Join us under the desert sky at Bhakti Fest 2024, where every note of kirtan and yoga pose is part of a journey to transformation. From September 27th to 29th, 2024, join us in the heart of Joshua Tree, CA to experience the soul-stirring melodies of MC Yogi, Deya Dova, The Psychedelic Hoedown, Marieme, and more! Get your body moving with Seane Corn, Dianne Bondy, Andrew Sealy, and Shiva Rea. This sacred gathering is a sanctuary to connect, heal, and celebrate the divine within. Awaken your soul—reserve your place in this magical oasis today! 🌄✨

There’s nothing quite like gathering with our Bhakti family! Immerse yourself in soul-stirring performances by artists like Krishna Das, Ajeet, and MC Yogi, whose melodies resonate with the spirit of unity and love. Delve into enriching workshops led by inspiring presenters such as Dianne Bondy, Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Andrew Sealy, and Janet Stone, guiding us on paths of self-discovery and holistic wellness. Bhakti Fest believes in the transformative power of community, where each gathering becomes a catalyst for personal growth and collective healing. Join us and be part of something extraordinary. Secure your tickets now and join us this September 27th to 29th, 2024 for the 13th annual Bhakti Fest.

https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/68x27y5jg2?aff=cawelcomecenter

09/11/2024

Sunnie and Sara are having a great time filling the Welcome Bags with some fun things.

09/11/2024

Last chance to purchase art from one of our 2023 Art Contest Winners! In-store only...limited to these items shown here. The California Welcome Center's 2023 Art Contest Winner, Victoria Johnson, has placed her items on sale.

09/11/2024

Exciting things are happening in Yucca Valley! Today celebrates the groundbreaking of the Aquatic Center. Thank you to those that were instrumental in making this long-awaited vision come true.

09/11/2024

Have you reserved your Limited-Edition Hwy 62 Art Tours bag yet? We had so many businesses participate in our sponsorship opportunity that we needed more room to put everything together. Thank you to the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce for the extra space to fill the bags.

09/08/2024

The People's Choice Voting is now open at the California Welcome Center in Yucca Valley. This is a fantastic opportunity to support California talent and engage with the artist community. We invite you to join our distinguished panel of judges by casting your vote for your favorite California artist's entry by 4pm on September 20th. Your participation helps promote the arts and celebrates the creativity within our region.
https://californiawelcomecenter.com/peoples-choice-voting/

09/07/2024

"Nothing says 'adventure' like snapping a selfie under the iconic Joshua trees! Get your annual pass and make every visit selfie-worthy!" 🌵📸

Visit the California Welcome Center in Yucca Valley and skip the long lines at the park entrance.

09/05/2024

Last chance to get award winning piece! Instore only...limited to these 2 items only. The California Welcome Center's 2023 Art Contest Winner, Gena Pliss, has placed her items on sale for 50% off. Choose from her award-winning piece or other work of art for $125.00, originally $250.00.

09/05/2024

Nourish your soul with the uplifting energies of yoga, music, connection, and spiritual growth this September 27-29, 2024 in Joshua Tree. Treat yourself to a weekend of bliss, healing, and divine recharging at the 13th annual Bhakti Fest. This will surely be the most memorable celebration yet – we hope to see you there!

09/04/2024

The 29 Palms Art Gallery will host an art reception on Saturday, Sep 7, to celebrate the September exhibition. The gallery will be open all day, and reception hospitality will be served on the gallery patio from 4-6 p.m. The public is invited to attend and meet the artists. Admission is free.

Featured in the West Wing in September is “Being Seen” by MACC – Mohave Artists of Color Collective. They are a self-governing informal group who welcome artists in visual, literary, performance and other mediums living in the Morongo Basin. Yvonne Buchanan will curate a show of drawing, sculpture, ceramics, video and photography by Janelle Angelus, Loisa Bartlett, Douglas Blanc, Anita Carraher, Reeyna Daniel, Lisa French, Damien Gossett, T Hammidi, Miri Hunter, Maja Jensen, Sky Kelly, Terence Latimer, Margaret Lee, Kim Martin, Alexandra Martinez, Jaya Tengco, Josie Kim Parker and Katch Silva and herself. A very diverse, eclectic and interesting show is promised.

The East Gallery features black and white pencil drawings by Bart Baxter in a show titled “Stone Formations in Joshua Tree”. Baxter, who lives in Rancho Mirage, routinely hikes in JTNP to find intimate scenes, rocks eroding to form shapes more phenomenal than natural. He describes boulders clinging to one another in patterns complex and irregular and garners a sense of solace in their timeless vignettes.

Artists’ Guild members will display a variety of new works in the Members Room this month.

The exhibition will be on display at the gallery September 6 to 29, open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The historic 29 Palms Art Gallery is located at 74055 Cottonwood Drive at the corner of National Park Drive, in Twentynine Palms, CA. For more information, visit www.29palmsartgallery.com.

09/02/2024

We are excited to extend the deadline to enter the 6th annual art contest to Sept 3rd! This contest is hosted by the California Welcome Center, dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the incredible talent of California artists. This contest not only provides artists an opportunity to display their work but also fosters community engagement and growth within the local California art scene. We encourage all artists to participate and connect with fellow creatives. These are the 2023 Winners whose artwork is currently on display at the California Welcome Center, Yucca Valley.

09/02/2024

Some schools have already begun their school year. Even so, today marks the unofficial end of summer. Celebrate with your friends and family for one last hoorah for the summer. Happy Labor Day!

09/01/2024

The 29 Palms Book Festival is happening soon. This is an amazing event for book lovers and a great opportunity to meet local authors, discover new books, and dive deep into different genres. What a fun way to connect with other readers and writers.

09/01/2024

The Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours catalog has arrived at the California Welcome Center. Stop by the Welcome Center and get yours! We're located at 56711 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley. We're open 7 days a week from 9am-4pm.

08/30/2024

Come out to the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours in October. The Hwy 62 Art Tours runs through communities like Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, and Yucca Valley. This event is a self-guided tour of local art studios and galleries, showcasing a diverse array of art forms and giving visitors a chance to meet the artists and view their work in their own studios. Visiting an artist’s studio can give you a behind-the-scenes look at their creative process and sometimes even the chance to purchase artwork directly.

08/29/2024

DEADLINE EXTENDED! We didn't want anyone to miss out on this year's Art Contest, so we've extended the entry deadline to Sept 3rd.

08/29/2024

Experience the transformative power of music, yoga, and community at Bhakti Fest 2024! Join us in the magical Joshua Tree desert from Sept 27-29 for soulful performances and inspiring workshops by Krishna Das, Deya Dova, Marieme, Dianne Bondy, Seane Corn, Andrew Sealy, Shiva Rae, and more! Dive into yoga, meditation, and holistic wellness practices. Don’t miss out, secure your tickets now! 🎶🧘‍♂️✨Learn more bhaktifest.com

08/22/2024

Get the latest update from the Town of Yucca Valley. The August newsletter is here!

📢 Check your inbox for the August Community Update Newsletter out now!

The Community Update Newsletter provides information on current and future happenings in Town. This issue covers a wide array of topics, including:

☀️ HDNM 60th Anniversary
🌱 Organics Recycling
💪 Measures Y and Z

📍Check it out here: https://conta.cc/4dSOzng

08/22/2024

🌿 Celebrate the power of community and renewal at Bhakti Fest 2024, where souls gather in the heart of Joshua Tree, CA, from September 27th to 29th, 2024. This sacred space invites you to share in the joyous rhythms of life, from blissful yoga sessions with premier teachers like Dianne Bondy and Andrew Sealy to uplifting kirtan with Krishna Das, Ajeet, and Radhike Das, and more. Join us for soulful connections, healing vibrations, and transformative experiences. Let the journey begin—secure your ticket to this sacred oasis today! 🌈💖

08/18/2024

School is starting. Please be mindful of the school zones and slow down. We want our kids to be safe when walking to school.

Shared from Town of Yucca Valley

08/17/2024

Don't miss out! Art Contest submissions are due by August 30th!
www.californiawelcomecenter.com/callforart

08/15/2024

There’s nothing quite like gathering with our Bhakti family! Immerse yourself in soul-stirring performances by artists like Krishna Das, Ajeet, and MC Yogi, whose melodies resonate with the spirit of unity and love. Delve into enriching workshops led by inspiring presenters such as Dianne Bondy, Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Andrew Sealy, and Janet Stone, guiding us on paths of self-discovery and holistic wellness. Bhakti Fest believes in the transformative power of community, where each gathering becomes a catalyst for personal growth and collective healing. Join us and be part of something extraordinary. Secure your tickets now. Join us this September 27th to 29th, 2024 for the 13th annual Bhakti Fest.

08/13/2024

People Love Our Skies! JTNP continues to receive national attention as a very special place to gaze upwards and recognizes that astrophenomenon can cause impacts local communities. Big crowds showing up spontaneously can present challenges given the park’s limited parking, narrow roads, and lack of cell service. Park rangers are getting ahead of the Perseids to forecast just how many people might venture to the high desert in August. Check out information posted on the park website to help with trip planning and protecting park resources. Don’t forget to check your NPS App for all the latest!

08/12/2024

There's still time to see the Art Exhibition happening now through August 21st at the 29 Palms Art Gallery.

08/11/2024

08/10/2024

County Veterans Affairs Offers In-Person Service in Joshua Tree Second Wednesday of each month 9am-2pm (Closed for lunch from 11:30am-12:30pm)

The San Bernardino County Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to supporting veterans and their families by ensuring they receive the benefits they've earned through their service. Next Wednesday, August 14, Morongo Basin veterans can access VA resources directly at the San Bernardino Public Defender's Office at 6527 White Feather Road in Joshua Tree.

As part of the department's effort to help veterans access their entitled benefits, Veteran Service Officers (VSO) are deployed to Joshua Tree on the second Wednesday of each month. During these monthly visits, veterans can learn more about disability compensation, pension programs, VA healthcare enrollment, college tuition fee waivers, and more.

In addition, San Bernardino County VA also provides a call-in service, where veterans can have a same-day phone interview with a VSO without needing to drive to the office. Those who prefer to take advantage of that offering can call 909-382-3290 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday to learn more.

For a comprehensive look at the services available to county veterans and their families, visit VA.SBCounty.gov.

08/10/2024

Congratulations to Rick Denison on being selected to serve as the Vice President of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority.

08/09/2024

The night sky is a glittering dome peppered with stars, planets, and passing meteors—but most people no longer get to see it. In urban and suburban settings, artificial lighting and atmospheric pollutants wash out the light of the stars. This is a serious loss. For millennia, our ancestors experienced a dark night sky. Cultures around the world told stories about the constellations and used the stars as a calendar. Only for the past few generations have humans been denied the chance to stand in awe of the heavens. Boasting some of the darkest nights in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park, an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), offers many visitors the chance to admire the Milky Way for the first time in their lives.

Learn more about the local Night Sky Festival.

Tips for Stargazing
Use Red Lights Only - Do not use bright white flashlights, headlamps, or cell phones. It takes 20-30 minutes for the human eye to fully adjust to very low light conditions. Bright lights delay this process. You can turn a regular flashlight into a red light by covering it with red cellophane, tape, fabric, paper, or similar materials.

Bring Food and Water - Plan ahead. There is no running water in most areas of the park.

For more tips visit: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/stargazing.htm

08/09/2024

Suspects cited for firing paintballs at Joshua Tree National Park signs

Three visitors were cited for firing paintballs at signs, bathrooms and dumpsters throughout Joshua Tree National Park on Aug. 4.

Law enforcement rangers issued each individual, who were visiting from Germany, a federal violation notice for vandalizing, defacing, or destroying property. 36 CFR, Chapter 1, Part 1, 1.4.

The violation incurs a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and/or not more than six months in prison. Paintball markers and slingshots are legally considered weapons and are prohibited in National Park Service-administered lands.

“Defacing or altering the NPS landscape, no matter how small, is against the law,” said Joshua Tree National Park Acting Chief Ranger Jeff Filosa. “It diminishes the natural environment that millions of people travel the world to enjoy. The park is regularly tasked with removing graffiti of all types, using time and resources that could be better dedicated to other priorities.”

On Aug. 4, a park ranger patrolling the Jumbo Rocks Campground noticed fresh yellow paintball splatter on structures and signs.

Law enforcement rangers were called to the campground to investigate further and found a slingshot in plain view inside a vehicle.

After being questioned, the visitors admitted to firing paintballs with a compressed paintball gun, known as a paintball marker, and slingshots the night before. Rangers searched their vehicle and recovered three slingshots, a paintball marker, paintballs, and other related equipment as evidence.

Rangers also learned that at least 11 roadway signs along Park Boulevard from Jumbo Rocks campground to the Maze Trailhead, two miles from the west entrance of the park, had been shot with yellow paintballs.

The park's maintenance staff is undergoing cleanup at the park.

Article Source: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/news/suspects-cited-for-firing-paintballs-at-joshua-tree-national-park-signs.htm