2026 Strum In The Desert Ukulele Festival (In-Person Event Ticket for Ukulele Players

🎶 Join Us for the Ultimate Ukulele Party: Strum In The Desert 2026! 🎶
Get ready for a weekend of music, community, and unforgettable fun at Strum In The Desert 2026! From Thursday, January 29, 2026 through Sunday, February 1, 2026

🌟 Why You Don’t Want to Miss It! 🌟

🗓️ Thursday January 29, 2026: Open Mic
Kick off the weekend by sharing your talents with fellow ukulele lovers. Snacks and refreshments provided

🗓️ Friday January 30, 2026: Morning Adventure
Join us on a visit to the awe-inspiring Salvation Mountain

🗓️ Friday January 30, 2026: Friday Evening Potluck, Performances, & Jam Session: 
Bring a shareable treat to eat/drink among friends!
Bernadette will provide binders full of sheet music for us to play along to! 

🗓️ Saturday January 31, 2026: Main Event! Strum In The Desert
Your ticket includes workshops, performances, and meals (catered lunch & dinner + snacks and beverages throughout the day)
Teacher/artists will lead workshops in the morning and in the afternoon we will have more interactive activities. 

🗓️ February 1, 2026: Sunday Farewell Jam Session
Wrap up the weekend with coffee, Mexican bread, and fond memories as we say goodbye to our new friends.
Starting in 2026 we will have an attendee-led jam session, so communicate with Bernadette to let her know which song you'd like to lead!

🎟️ Included with your ticket
Access to all events from Thursday through Sunday
Light refreshments (beverages and snacks) Thursday through Sunday
Catered lunch on Saturday
Catered dinner on Saturday
Workshops from artists
Workshop materials (books & binders)
Name badge 
Event t-shirt
Mexican bread and coffee on Sunday

👫🏻 Bring a non-playing Guest
If you'd like to bring someone who does not play ukulele, you can find their tickets by [clicking here]

💬 Ask Questions
We have a group chat on the Telegram app. This is an excellent place to communicate with other attendees, ask questions, and make arrangements. Join the group here: https://t.me/+SuMLVL4GTEA4ZjAx

✈️ How to get here:
Option 1: Fly to San Diego, rent a car, then drive to El Centro
Option 2: Fly to Los Angeles (LAX) and then fly to Imperial County Airport (IPL)

🚙 Getting around:
Option 1: Rent a car
Option 2: Communicate in the group chat to carpool!  
Option 3: Road trip here

🌵 Where to Stay
Book your accommodations in nearby El Centro for easy access to all our event locations. Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, TownePlace Suites are all in a good location for access to the freeway and shops/restaurants.

🎶 What to Bring
Ukulele (or buy/borrow one here)
Optional extras: Tabletop music stand (see pictures), other instruments, or cash for some fun shopping.

🤠 What to Wear 
We will be taking lots of pictures, so wear something you'll enjoy seeing in photos. 

☀️ Daytime:
Layer up! Mornings are chilly here, then it gets toasty during the day. Evenings are even cooler.
Wear a t-shirt or a long-sleeve shirt with a light jacket or sweater that you can easily take off as the day warms up.
Comfortable pants: Jeans or casual pants that allow you to move freely while strumming your ukulele.

🌔 Evening:
Warmer layers: As temperatures drop in the evening, a cozy sweater or a jacket will keep you warm and camera-ready.
Closed-toe shoes: For extra warmth and comfort during nighttime activities.

👟 Footwear:
Comfortable shoes are a must for the desert. Sneakers or casual shoes are ideal, but I may end up wearing my cowboy boots throughout the event!

🕶️ Accessories:
Sunglasses and a hat to protect against the desert sun during the day.
Light scarf or beanie for those who get chilly as the evening sets in.

ℹ️ What to do in the area:
As the date approaches, you'll receive emails with information about local restaurants, points of interest, and all of the must-see locations in the area.