A one-day immersive celebration of community, history, and hands-on 1920s life at the historic Smiley-Tyler Adobe House and surrounding museum campus.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Step into the world of the 1920s at Smiley’s Family Day — a lively outdoor fair transforming the entire museum campus into a historic, interactive experience.
Enjoy carnival games, living history docents, artisan demonstrations, vintage-inspired food, and hands-on activities designed for all ages.
This event celebrates the 100-year legacy of the Smiley-Tyler Adobe House while bringing the past to life through play, storytelling, and community participation.
A full-day community celebration transforms the museum campus into a lively 1920s fairground filled with interactive games, historic exhibits, live music, and family-friendly activities. Smiley’s Family Day invites visitors to experience local history in a hands-on, engaging way while supporting the ongoing preservation of the Adobe House.
Living History Buildings!
Interactive Experiences
🎭 1920s docents and storytelling throughout campus
💈 Vintage-style “Barbershop & Beauty Parlor” with face painting
🧵 Dress-up & tailor station with costume accessories📸 Photo backdrops & themed portrait stations
🧱 Adobe brickmaking demonstrations
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Classic fairground games spread across the Memorial Date Garden and promenades:
• Ring Toss • Milk Bottle Knockdown • Balloon Darts • Bean Bag Toss • Penny Pitch • Duck Pond Game • Cane Fishing
Plus rotating competitions:
• Sack Races
• Tug-of-WarThree-Legged Races
• Relay Races
• Jump Rope Contests
And relaxed lawn games:
Croquet • Horseshoes • Bocce Ball • Lawn Bowling
Prizes awarded throughout the day!
• Live jazz & swing music
• MC-hosted announcements and games
• Period performers & roaming characters
• Optional dance demonstrations
• Community-led contests and prize moments throughout the day
Expect a lively, family-friendly atmosphere filled with movement, music, and discovery.
Enjoy a curated selection of 1920s-inspired fair foods:
Hot Foods:
Hot dogs • Hamburgers • Sausage sandwiches • Fried chicken • Corn fritters
Classic Comfort Foods:
Meatloaf sandwiches • Roast beef sandwiches • Baked beans
Snacks & Vendors:
Popcorn • Roasted peanuts • Cotton candy • Pretzels • Caramel corn
Drinks:
Lemonade • Iced tea • Root beer • Classic sodas
Plus vintage desserts like hand pies, fudge, and icebox cake
This celebration brings together the people and organizations that help preserve and shape our local heritage.
Special Guests Include:
• Descendants of the Nicco Ysiano family (oral history contributors)
• City of Indio representatives
• Museum partners and supporters (VSD, DRD, and others)
• Annual members, sustaining members, and local businesses
• Community volunteers and cultural organizations
We are also extending invitations to civic leaders, educators, historians, and cultural partners across the region.
Centennial Family Day also supports the ongoing maintenance and preservation of the Adobe House and historic structures.
Help Us Preserve Local History
Your participation helps fund:
• Adobe House maintenance & restoration
• Educational programming and docent training
• Preservation of artifacts and oral histories
📲 Donate at the event using QR codes placed throughout the campus.
Every contribution helps protect this landmark for future generations.
You can also donate online using the button bellow.
We are currently seeking:
Volunteers (adults, students, community groups) • Event sponsors and vendors • Historical reenactors and docents • Logistics and safety support teams • Cultural and educational partners
