Between the southern edge of the Mojave Desert and Northern Edge of Joshua Tree National Park, lies the community of Joshua Tree, California. Joshua Tree is one of the three major cities in the Morongo Basin (Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms). The history of Anglo-American settlers in the area dates back to the early 20th Century, when William Keys and his wife Frances M. Lawton established Desert Queen Ranch in 1918. That ranch is now called Keys Ranch and it remains a great historical site to visit. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a proclamation that created Joshua Tree Monument. He designated 794,000 acres of land to be protected by the government, and in 1994 this land was officially recognized as Joshua Tree National Park. The city continued to grow and attract new people throughout the 20th century. Now, Joshua Tree is a tight knit and welcoming community with a population of roughly 7,500 people.
While the park offers you some great opportunities for camping, exploring and more, Joshua Tree has many more activities and attractions to offer visitors. The region is home to a budding art and creative scene. You’ll find beautiful sculptures, paintings and more on display at local museums, galleries and art shows. Joshua Tree is also a perfect location to enjoy the great outdoors. You can find a multitude of guides and experts right in town, who can lead you on a variety of different excursions and adventures. Whether you're looking to climb a rock face or hit the trails for a scenic bike ride, the guides here will have you covered with directions and equipment. If you're feeling hungry after all the fun, stop by one of the great local dining options. You’ll find health food stores, bar food, fine dining and family restaurants, all without leaving this great community. One of the best times to visit Joshua Tree is during a big local event like the Joshua Tree Music Festival.
Heading into its 14th year, the Joshua Tree Music Festival has established itself as a highly anticipated regional event. Held at the scenic Joshua Tree Lake RV and Campground, this four-day festival is great for all ages. Live music is the focus of the festival, and great acts from all across the country will be here playing their songs and entertaining the masses. Kids will love the Kidsville area, which is packed full of games, activities, rides and so much more. Stop by the festival village when it’s time to eat, and you’ll encounter a spread of festival faire with something for every taste. We got the opportunity to interview Barnett English, Representative for the Joshua Tree Music Festival, to talk about the event.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
BE: This will be the 14th annual spring fest, and in October we'll have our 11th annual fall fest, so this is actually our 24th Joshua Tree Music Festival! For this year's spring fest we are expecting between 3500-4000 people in attendance. This is a family-friendly music festival and our crowds are comprised of everyone including: families, couples, singles and groups of friends. What really makes our festival unique is the intimate family vibe, while being open to everyone. If you enjoy listening to music and having a great time in a fun family environment, this is the perfect festival for you.
RAL: Take me through a day at the event.
BE: The festival melds the overwhelming spirit of desert freedom, with powerful music from around the world, to create a lighthearted oasis for music lovers. We have a wide spectrum of fun activities and perks for people to enjoy including: magnificent art installations, a robust Kidsville, the heavily shaded Music Bowl, a full spectrum of yoga classes from sunrise to sunset, 27 different music playshops, didgeridoo classes, late night Astronomy theatre, and a World Market.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
BE: People planning on making the trip can check out lodging options of our website. There are over 300 lodging options locally, ranging from single rooms to hotels and RV parks. No matter the size of your group you’ll find lodging to accommodate your group.
RAL: What does this event mean to the community?
BE: Our entire festival is centered around families and the community. This year we have 180 volunteers helping out during the fest and 120 volunteers helping us before the fest. Many of those helping are people from Joshua Tree and the surrounding communities. Many of the artists and vendors featured at the festival are local as well. The entire festival has a big family feel!
RAL: Does this drive business to your local economy?
BE: Yes, 3,500 people coming to a small town for a weekend does have a nice benefit for the businesses in the community. From the lodging providers to the gas stations, everyone welcomes visitors to the community.
RAL: Does the event support a special cause in the community?
BE: Yes, we give money to a local kids music program at two elementary schools.
RAL: Does lodging hit max occupancy during the event?
BE: We are a small town, so yes, it does fill up. You may need to look to surrounding towns for lodging, but the neighboring communities are in close proximity, typically just a short drive from the event.
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
BE: The festival experience can have a huge positive impact on people. I've been to over 700 music festivals on the west coast over the past 25 years and I’ve seen the positive impact first hand. I started our festival because there is nothing like live music in a magical outdoor setting. Our 3-4 day event gathers like minded folks in a fun and friendly environment where many new friendships are formed as well as memories that last forever.
For more information about the Joshua Tree Music Festival, please visit their website.