WEEKEND GETAWAY: Wildflower Festival Promises Free Outdoor Family Fun

The following was submitted for publication on behalf of the Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival:

WHAT: COACHELLA VALLEY WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 7

WHERE: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert

DETAILS: Celebrating its eighth year, the Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival is a day of FREE family and outdoor fun, and education about the native plants and animals of the area. The festival includes education and activity booths from local organizations, children’s activities, interpretive hikes, wildflower walks, entertainment, food booths and a beer and wine garden.

This year’s Wildflower Festival also welcomes the Sand Guys, who will turn 24 tons of sand into a piece of fantasy art as the day progresses. The Sand Guys - Kirk Rademaker and Rusty Croft - are the stars of the Travel Channel’s “Sand Masters” show and travel all over the world creating incredible sculptures for competitions and events. They are the creators of the world’s tallest sandcastle - a 42-foot tall creation that was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records - built last year in Rio de Janiero, Brazil!

Guests are asked to park at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and will be shuttled to the Visitor Center. There will be limited press parking on the day of the event at the Visitor Center.

For additional information on Friends of the Desert Mountains and Wildflower Festival, call (760) 862-9984 or www.desertmountains.org.

Schedule of events (subject to revision):

Interpretive hikes on the Randall Henderson Trail (near South parking lot)

9:30 a.m-12:30 p.m.: hikes every 15 minutes

12:30-2 p.m.: hikes every 30 minutes

Half-mile hikes last approximately 1 hour.

Nature walks on the Ed Hastey Trail (behind the Visitor Center)

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: walks every 10 minutes

12:30-3:00 p.m.: walks every 15 minutes

Easy, quarter-mile walks last approximately 20 minutes.

Beer & Wine Garden

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., last call at 3:45 p.m.

Noon-4 p.m.: The Bone Thumpers, live music

Raffle

9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Ticket sales end at 3. Winners do not need to be present to win.

Bighorn Playhouse (location TBA)

All shows are 15 minutes

9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.: Nocturnal Wonderland

10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.: Leaving No Trace

11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m.: Wildflower Adventures

Book Signings (at Visitor Center entrance):

9 a.m.-noon: Philip Ferranti: 140 Great Hikes in and near Palm Springs

9 a.m.-noon: Linda McMillin Pyle: Peaks, Palms & Picnics

Bus Schedule

Last shuttle to parking area leaves at 4:15 PM.

(Image via Shutterstock)