Things to Do in Joshua Tree This Week: Oct. 5–11, 2026

Updated Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, 7:30 AM PT

The biggest weekend of the fall in the Morongo Basin is Thursday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026: the 21st Fall Joshua Tree Music Festival runs four nights at Joshua Tree Lake Campground, the 11th Annual Night Sky Festival fills Twentynine Palms on Friday and Saturday, and the free Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours open artist studios across the basin from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, Oct. 10 is also the new moon, so the skies for Saturday's Star Party ($75 adults, $35 kids 6–12) should be as dark as they get.

Below is everything we confirmed this morning on the organizers' own pages, day by day, plus the weather and park notes you'll want before you drive in. For the full list, including shows further out, see our Around town events calendar.

What's the weather in Joshua Tree this week?

Hot for October. The National Weather Service forecast for the town of Joshua Tree calls for sunny highs of 91°F today, climbing to 96°F Wednesday and 97°F Thursday, then 95°F Friday, 90°F Saturday, and 84°F Sunday. Twentynine Palms runs a few degrees warmer, near 100°F on Thursday. Nights stay in the 70s through Friday and drop into the 60s by the weekend.

The wind picks up from the southwest on Saturday night, with 9 to 22 mph in the Joshua Tree forecast and 5 to 15 mph in Twentynine Palms. Bring a layer for any evening event, carry more water than you think you need for daytime hikes, and plan park time for early morning.

Is anything closed in Joshua Tree National Park?

The National Park Service currently lists one trail closure: the Oasis of Mara Trail is closed past the oasis after flood damage. NPS also warns that some third-party hiking apps give inaccurate trail and safety information, and recommends the official NPS app. Check the park's alerts and conditions page the day you go.

Monday, Oct. 5 to Wednesday, Oct. 7: weeknight shows

• Tuesday, Oct. 6: Toadies with Local H at Pappy & Harriet's, 53688 Pioneertown Rd., Pioneertown. Doors 7 PM, show 8 PM, all ages, $39.50–$45.
• Wednesday, Oct. 7: Lukas Nelson & Molly Tuttle at Pappy & Harriet's. Doors 5 PM, show 6:30 PM, all ages, $45–$200.
• Wednesday, Oct. 7: The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs with The Strains and Stone Levitation in The Annex at Giant Rock Meeting Room, 1131 Old Woman Springs Rd., Unit A, Yucca Valley. 7–10 PM, all ages, $10 online.

Thursday, Oct. 8 to Sunday, Oct. 11: Joshua Tree Music Festival

The Joshua Tree Music Festival (JTMF) returns Oct. 8–11, 2026 for its 21st fall edition, which the organizers describe as "four nights and three days of live music, movement, mindfulness, and magic." Beyond the stages, the festival lists more than 100 movement and mindfulness "Playshops" and a Kidsville area for families. Tier 4 tickets are on sale now through the festival site. The festival is held at Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Rd., Joshua Tree, north of Highway 62, so expect more traffic on Sunfair Road all weekend.

Also on Thursday: Damien Jurado with St. Yuma at Pappy & Harriet's. Doors 8 PM, show 9 PM, $30–$35.

Friday, Oct. 9: Night Sky Festival kickoff in Twentynine Palms

The Night Sky Festival is presented by Sky's The Limit Observatory & Nature Center and the Joshua Tree National Park Association (JTNPA), with proceeds supporting both nonprofits. Friday's events:

• Telescope Clinic, 5–9 PM, Sky's The Limit Observatory, 9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms. $30 per telescope, limited to 20 participants. Bring your own telescope and a mentor will help you set it up and use it.
• Cosmic Crafts, 6–8 PM, Sky's The Limit. Free for ages 6 and up, but registration is requested. Wear closed-toed shoes and bring a red flashlight.
• Glow Party, 8–10 PM, 29 Palms Beer Company. Free, family-friendly, with a live DJ. A portion of beer sales goes to the festival.

Elsewhere Friday: Last Dinosaurs with Golf Alpha Bravo at Pappy & Harriet's (doors 8:30 PM, show 9:30 PM, $30–$35).

Saturday, Oct. 10: Star Party, art studios, and free music

Night Sky Festival, Saturday:

• Space Camp, 9 AM–1 PM, Sky's The Limit. $25 per child (ages 4–18). Parents attend free, and kids under 4 are free with an adult.
• Community Mural Tile, 9 AM–1 PM, Sky's The Limit. $10 per extra tile (one is included with each Space Camp registration).
• Astronomy Lecture Series, 1–5 PM, Patriotic Hall at Luckie Park, Twentynine Palms. Free, first come, first served, and the organizers say it fills up. Speakers are Joshua Tree National Park Interpretive Ranger Donovan Smith ("Defending the Dark," 1 PM), NASA Goddard's Stefanie Milam on the James Webb Space Telescope (2:15 PM), and astronomer and author Dean Regas ("100 Things to See in the Night Sky," 3:30 PM).
• Star Party Happy Hour, 4–6 PM, 29 Palms Beer Company. Free.
• Night Sky Star Party, 7–11 PM, Sky's The Limit. $75 adults, $35 children 6–12, free for 5 and under. More than 20 staffed telescopes, constellation tours, storytelling, and live music. There's free shuttle service from off-site parking, or $50 VIP on-site parking (50 spaces, purchase in advance). Pets aren't allowed, and the terrain is uneven, so bring a red-light headlamp. Refunds closed on Oct. 2.

The U.S. Naval Observatory puts the new moon at 8:50 AM PT on Saturday, Oct. 10, and sunset in Twentynine Palms at 6:16 PM, so the Star Party starts just as it gets dark.

Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours, Weekend 2 (Saturday and Sunday): The 25th annual tours are free and self-guided, with studios open 10 AM–5 PM on Oct. 10–11 and again on Oct. 17–18. Start with the tours' map, app, and catalog, or preview the artists at the Art Tours Collective Show at Hi-Desert Artists, 55635 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley (Saturday and Sunday 10 AM–5 PM through Oct. 18).

Saturday night, free:

• Levitt AMP Twentynine Palms presents Terrell Edwards and Hotel Mercy at Freedom Plaza, 6547 Freedom Way, Twentynine Palms. The plaza opens at 6 PM and music runs 7–9 PM. Bring a chair or blanket, and food and drink vendors are on site.
• Art Tours After Dark has free shows after the studios close: Fresh Basil, Karma Dealers, and DJ King Abe at Art Queen in Joshua Tree (6–9 PM); The Kearns Family at Spaghetti Western (7 PM); line dancing with DJ Buck Mild (6–9:30 PM) and Dusty Disco (10 PM–1:30 AM) at Red Dog Saloon; and The Blank Tapes at GRND SQRL.

Saturday night, ticketed: Adam Port at Pappy & Harriet's (doors 5:30 PM, show 7 PM, $60–$150).

Sunday, Oct. 11: one more day of studios

Art Tours studios are open again from 10 AM to 5 PM. In the evening, Art Tours After Dark has Michael Healy on solo piano at Spaghetti Western (6:30–8:30 PM, free), and High on Fire with Windhand plays Pappy & Harriet's (doors 5:30 PM, show 6:30 PM, $36–$101). JTMF wraps up the same day.

What's coming next week?

The City of Twentynine Palms' 90th Annual Pioneer Days runs Oct. 15–18. It includes Oasis Lights and the Outhouse Races at Freedom Plaza (Friday, Oct. 16, 6 PM), the Pioneer Days Parade downtown (Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 AM), and the 5K Walk/Run at Luckie Park (Sunday, Oct. 18, 8 AM). The third and final Art Tours weekend is Oct. 17–18. Dates, prices, and ticket links are on our Around town calendar.

Stop by while you're in town

We're on Highway 62 at 61716 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree. Shop hours are Monday–Friday 12–5 PM and Saturday–Sunday 8 AM–5 PM, and the outdoor market is in the courtyard on weekends. Stop in for a souvenir, a sticker for the water bottle, or a layer for the Star Party. Everything in the shop is also at jttradingpost.com.

FAQ

When is the Joshua Tree Music Festival in October 2026? Thursday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, at Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Rd., Joshua Tree. Tickets are sold through joshuatreemusicfestival.com.

How much is the Night Sky Festival Star Party? The Saturday, Oct. 10 Star Party (7–11 PM, Sky's The Limit Observatory, 9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms) is $75 for adults and $35 for children 6–12. Kids 5 and under are free. The Saturday lectures, Friday Glow Party, and Saturday Happy Hour are free.

Are the Hwy 62 Art Tours free? Yes. The tours are free and self-guided, with studios open 10 AM–5 PM on Oct. 10–11 and Oct. 17–18, 2026.

Is it too hot to hike in Joshua Tree this week? It's warm. NWS forecasts highs from the low 90s to near 100°F through Friday, cooling to the 80s by Sunday. Hike early, carry plenty of water, and check park alerts before you go.

Are there free concerts this weekend? Yes. Levitt AMP at Freedom Plaza in Twentynine Palms (Saturday, 7–9 PM) and the Art Tours After Dark shows Friday through Sunday are free.

Sources

Checked the morning of Monday, Oct. 5, 2026 PT:

• Joshua Tree Music Festival, official site
• Night Sky Festival tickets and schedule, Joshua Tree National Park Association and Sky's The Limit Observatory & Nature Center
• Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours, plus the Collective Show and Art Tours After Dark pages
• Levitt AMP Twentynine Palms fall series, Visit 29 Palms
• Pappy & Harriet's live music calendar
• Giant Rock Meeting Room: The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs
• City of Twentynine Palms: Pioneer Days
• National Weather Service forecast for Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms
• Joshua Tree National Park alerts and conditions, National Park Service
• U.S. Naval Observatory moon phases and sun times for Twentynine Palms

High Desert Field Desk is JT Trading Post's events and guides desk in Joshua Tree. We check every date, price, and closure against official sources the morning we publish.