Folk And Traditional Arts

Feed our playful koi, stroll the winding pathways, view the Tea House, or reflect at the Zen Garden. Each season unfolds with colorful blossoms, exciting cultural celebrations, and intriguing exhibits.

No entry is allowed without a reservation; tickets are available on the website.

Tuesdays – Fridays, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Explore this tranquil Japanese-style garden that blends design elements from four classic garden styles. Cross an arched bridge and walk on shaded paths along a koi-filled stream to the teahouse.

General – $15, Seniors 65 and over and Students with ID – $11, Children (5 to 12 years) – $5, Descanso members and children under 5 – Free

This Japanese garden features a light hill-scape, pond, cascading 25-foot waterfall, and a formal teahouse designed by Kinzuchi Fujii. The garden is considered by many to be a masterwork, and it demonstrates the adaptability of Japanese culture in modern America.

Register in advance at the website.

Fridays and Saturdays 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Khalil Nelson is your host for a guided tour of Bob Baker Marionette (BBMT) Theater on the occasion of the Theater’s 60th Anniversary and as it prepares to preview scenes from its first original production in 40 Years!

Tours include backstage, our fabrication workshop, and music and visual archives! Khalil will share the world of BBMT through the lens of the creation of our new scenes, as part of the current show and in preparation for a full production in 2025, Choo Choo Revue! Don’t miss it!

Go Behind the Scenes at Bob Baker Marionette Theater with Guided Tours Every Saturday and Sunday in June at 12 Noon! Reservations are required.

For more information email: hello@bobbakermarionettetheater.com

Parking:

The Theater does not have its own parking. Street and public lot parking is available nearby. Please leave yourself plenty of time.

Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m., Friday and Saturdays, 12:00 noon – 7:00 p.m.

Scattered like stars across the night sky are over 20,000 Pacific Islands in Oceania, with a human history rich in ritual, narrative tradition, innovation, and art. Our mission is to incorporate the diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands, with a focus on Micronesia, into a permanent collection, educational programs, rotating exhibits, and living arts.

Preview (opens in a new tab)

Adults – $5, Seniors and Students – $3, Members and Children under 12 – Free

This exhibit is our land acknowledgment practiced in a ceremony between Indigenous artists (Tongva & Pasifika) of the salt water. Humans have the responsibility and obligation to take care of and be part of the whole of nature. “It’s important for people to know that these are not gestural acts but a tradition of Indigenous communities sharing and extending respect, honor, and spirit.” – Cindi Alvitre, Tongva guest curator and artist.

Adults – $5, Seniors and Students – $3, Members and Children under 12 – Free

Coming together to partake in a meal is a practice shared by all cultures. Food defines us—we are what we eat. Dining with the Sultan is the first exhibition to present Islamic art in the context of its associated culinary traditions. It will include some 250 works of art related to sourcing, preparing, serving, and consuming food.

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fridays 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Adults – $20, Seniors – $16, Members, Students, and Children – Free
Reserve a timed entry ticket online.
General admission is Free after 3:00 p.m. on weekdays

A narration of Chinese immigration to the U.S. with an emphasis on community settlement in Los Angeles. The exhibition is outlined into four distinct time periods, each period defined by a vital immigration law and event, accompanied by a brief description and a short personal story.

This is a recreation of a store housed in the Garnier Building in the 1890s. The Sun Wing Wo store opened in 1891 and remained in this building until 1948. The store was a multi-purpose space that showed how self-sufficient the Chinese were and had to be due to racism and discrimination while also being responsive to the needs of their community. Even though the store predominantly served the Chinese, people from every facet of society also came to purchase Chinese merchandise.