History of the Morongo Basin Orchid Festival The Morongo Basin Orchid Festival was first held in October of 1996. Sponsored by the Landers Area Chamber of Commerce, Gubler Orchids, Hi Desert Star, and Z-107.7 Radio, the purpose of the festival was celebrate the orchid harvest and to attract out-of-town visitors. Proceeds from orchid sales were first used to finance productions at the Homestead Valley Park. Productions included a Concert from the Safaris, Polynesian Dances, and a fireworks show. The Homestead Park kept all the funds generated from the shows. In 1999 the Sunset Rotary Club of Yucca Valley took over the management of the festival and decided to use the proceeds to benefit non-profit groups in the hi and low deserts.  In 2009, over $12,500 was distributed to non-profit desert organizations. In the past six years the Morongo Basin Orchid Festival raised and distributed over $63,500 to charities. Today, the Festival has grown in scope and diversity.  Tours of the Gubler Orchid Greenhouses is still the cornerstone of the event.  Orchid “How to” classes provided by the Arizona Orchid Society, Wine and Cheese tasting, music, entertainment, food, and beverages also play an important part in the making the festival a daytime destination for locals and tourists.  The festival has become a showcase of participating non-profits organizations and festival goers can learn about all the wonderful agencies and the programs that they provide in the community.  Gubler Orchids donates all the sales from the weekend, less sales tax and wages to Sunset Rotary for distribution.  This amount is added to the total proceeds that Yucca Valley Sunset Rotary generates during the two-day event.  This year Sunset Rotary is expecting to top $13,250 in profits to benefit desert charities.      Last Year’s Media Sponsors Radio:  Z-107.7 FM community radio Newspapers: Hi-Desert Publishing (Hi-Desert Star and The Desert Trail) Television: None   Who Covered the Orchid Festival last year -- that we know of? Newspaper: The Hi-Desert Star, The Desert Trail, The Press Enterprise, and The Desert Sun.