How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

Karen Pearlman • June 4, 2026

Julian Town Square Music Festival coming June 6 to Washington Street

By Karen Pearlman

June 3, 2026 (Julian) — Roots rock and Americana tunes are coming to fill the mountains of East and North County with original music this weekend during the Fifth Annual Julian Town Square Music Festival.

The free community celebration will run from noon until 6 p.m., Saturday, June 6 at 2712 Washington St. in Julian.

Organized by the nonprofit Julian Community Heritage Foundation, with more support from the Julian Chamber of Commerce, the festival is the main fundraiser for the support of the continued development of the Julian Town Square — a historic corner lot becoming a permanent outdoor park and performance space.

The emerging Julian Town Square represents a 10-year, grassroots preservation effort to safeguard the town’s mountain heritage. The site dates back to 1912 when it housed the Silvers Supply Store, before eventually operating as a Chevron gas station in the 1970s.

In 2017, a small group of local neighbors formed the JCHF to buy the abandoned corner lot and revitalize it. The foundation has been molding the plot into a permanent cultural epicenter for theater, art and community gatherings.

While admission to the festival is free — with parking available for $10 at Frank Lane Park, 2645 Farmer Road in Julian — organizers are looking to the community to help fund the next phases of development. Attendees making on-site or online donations of $300 or more will have their names permanently etched onto the Town Square’s upcoming donor wall.

Local artisans, handmade goods, and backcountry vendors will line the venue, alongside food from QUECHO Elevated Mexican Eatery and craft beverages provided by The Toasty Tap.

Original music, local artists

This year’s festival is anchored by a heavyweight lineup of roots music icons, led by former San Diego Padres fan favorite-turned-Americana-troubadour Tim Flannery and his band, the Lunatic Fringe.

For local audiences, Flannery represents a unique intersection of San Diego sports history and grit.

Long before he was touring the country with his blend of blue-eyed Irish soul and California country, Flannery (photo, right) spent over three decades in Major League Baseball. He played 11 seasons as a versatile infielder for the Padres (1979-89). He later transitioned to coaching, serving as the third-base coach for the San Francisco Giants during three World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Beyond his athletic feats, Flannery’s presence on stage carries a deeper emotional weight for fans following his severe medical crisis. In late 2020, Flannery was hospitalized in San Diego, fighting a life-threatening staph infection that required seven major surgeries and an extensive recovery period.

After publicly sharing his battle — during which he credited music and his guitar as vital pieces of his healing process — Flannery’s return to the stage with the Lunatic Fringe marks a triumphant milestone in resilience.

Sharing the marquee is Sara Petite, (photo below, left) an award-winning singer-songwriter who has become a fixture of the Southern California Americana scene. Originally from Sumner, Wash., Petite is widely recognized for her raw, roadhouse-rock style of outlaw country.

A five-time finalist in the International Songwriting Competition and a frequent winner at the San Diego Music Awards, Petite brings an authentic twang heavily influenced by Loretta Lynn and Lucinda Williams.

The afternoon’s diverse musical program will also feature performances by Elizabeth Bowersox, whose album California Queen just won Best Country or Americana Album at this year’s San Diego Music Awards; Salinas Road, Rootful and Donn Bree and friends.

For more information on the organization and on the event, visit juliantownsquare.org.

For more information on Julian, visit https://visitjulian.com.