How did the October 9-11 weekend go in Beaumont and the San Gorgonio Pass? It was a desert-star weekend: the 11th Annual Night Sky Festival at Joshua Tree National Park paired stargazing programs with the Joshua Tree Music Festival's three days of desert music, Morongo Casino hosted a two-night fall concert run, and Calimesa opened the weekend with its Friday Food Round Up at Summerwind Park. Closer to home, Lavender Nights kept glowing at 123 Farm in Cherry Valley through October 25, and the Beaumont and Banning farmers markets ran as usual on Saturday. Here is a friendly, family-first look back at the weekend, plus what is still ahead this fall.
Today is R.E.D. Friday
It's Friday, October 9, which means it's R.E.D. Friday: wear red and Remember Everyone Deployed. A simple red shirt, hat, or ribbon is a visible way to honor the men and women serving overseas and the families waiting for them here at home.
Learn more about the RED Friday traditionFriday and Saturday's big one: the Night Sky Festival
The 11th Annual Joshua Tree Night Sky Festival returns Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10 at Sky's The Limit Observatory & Nature Center in Twentynine Palms, just inside Joshua Tree National Park's north entrance. It is a family-friendly celebration of one of Southern California's darkest, clearest skies: telescope clinics, constellation tours, astronomy lectures, and kids' science activities deepen into evening telescope viewing as the desert stars come out. The festival is hosted by Sky's The Limit Observatory & Nature Center and the Joshua Tree National Park Association, in partnership with the park and the City of Twentynine Palms. About an hour east of Beaumont on Highway 62, it is the perfect way to spend a desert evening.
11th Annual Night Sky Festival
Friday & Saturday · October 9-10, 2026
Telescope clinics, constellation tours, astronomy talks, and kids' science activities at Sky's The Limit Observatory & Nature Center, 9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms. An International Dark Sky Park celebration under some of the best night skies in Southern California.
Joshua Tree Music Festival
Thursday · October 8-11, 2026
Three days of live music, movement, and mindfulness at Joshua Tree Lake Campground: eclectic musical acts across multiple stages, art installations, yoga sessions, workshops, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Pair it with the Night Sky Festival for a full high desert weekend.
Sky's The Limit Observatory & Nature Center, 9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms (about 60 miles east on Highway 62) · Joshua Tree Lake Campground, Joshua Tree
Around the Pass this weekend
A couple of other favorites are happening around the San Gorgonio Pass area this weekend, each one a nice excuse to get out and soak up the season.
Morongo Fall Concerts · Cabazon
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa's fall concert series continues just 10 minutes west on I-10: Los Huracanes del Norte play Friday, October 9, and Blues Traveler brings its 90s hit parade Saturday, October 10. Shows are 21+; check morongocasinoresort.com for tickets before heading out.
Friday Food Round Up · Calimesa
Calimesa's community evening returns Friday, October 9 (6:00-9:00 PM) at Summerwind Park, 1000 Engleman Dr: live music, food trucks, cold drinks, and family activities on the second Friday of the month. Saturday morning, the Beaumont Farmers Market runs 8:00-11:00 AM at 6525 College Street, and the Banning Farmers Market opens at 5:00 PM at 53 N San Gorgonio Ave.
Also this weekend: Lavender Nights at 123 Farm glows in Cherry Valley (3-10 PM weekends through October 25), Beaumont Fire Station 106 (2000 Western Knolls Ave) hosts a free Fire Prevention Week open house Saturday, October 10 from 11 AM to 2 PM with station tours and fire safety demos, Calimesa hosts its community clean up Saturday morning, and the San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society meets Thursday, October 8 at the Cherry Valley Grange at 7:00 PM.
A friendly note on event details
Details such as times, ticket prices, parking, and vendor lineups are subject to change, so please confirm with the organizer or the official event listing before you head out. We share these as a community service to help you find your next good time, not as official listings. Have fun out there, and say hi if you see me!
From Sam Silver
My favorite kind of weekend
I've said it before and I'll say it again: living in the Pass Area means the best of two worlds. On a weekend like this one, you can watch the sun go down over the Badlands, catch live music at a desert campground, spend the night under some of the darkest skies in California at the Night Sky Festival, and be home in Beaumont in about an hour. Not many communities can say that.
Beaumont Life exists to help you find these moments, whether you've lived here for decades or you're just exploring the area as a future home. If you head out this weekend, enjoy every minute. And if you're ever thinking about buying or selling a home in the Pass Area, I'd be honored to help.
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