Tickets Are on Sale Now for February’s Must-See Attractions at Modernism Week 2024!
Aside from being known for year-round sunshine, iconic music festivals and its gorgeous desert landscape, Palm Springs is famous for its dedication to midcentury modern art, architecture, design, fashion and more. For decades, lovers of this design style have flocked to this desert locale to get a closer look at heritage buildings where Golden Age celebrities wintered during the mid-mod heyday—along with today’s takes on the beloved style. If you truly want to feel transported back to a bygone era, however, clear your calendar for the famous Modernism Week, Feb. 15-25, 2024.
There will be more than 350 events during this 11-day event, with each one just as wonderful as the last. That being said, we do have our favorites: Here are eight events we’re looking forward to during Modernism Week 2024.
1 | Modernism Week Opening Night Party: Disco in the Desert
When: Feb. 15, 7-10 p.m.
Tickets: $350
Get ready to kick off this year’s Modernism Week with one of its most anticipated events! The Opening Night Fever dance party is back in the form of a disco extravaganza that will have you busting moves in your platform shoes. This time, the event has been upgraded to a larger venue, transforming it into an exclusive velvet-rope-entry dance club. Enjoy a night filled with music from a live band to go with handcrafted drinks and delectable party bites to keep the disco inferno burning all night long. Embrace the vibe with your best 1970s disco club-inspired attire—it’s encouraged!
2 | Preview Party at the Palm Springs Modernism Show
When: Feb. 16, 6-9 p.m.
Tickets: $125 ($150 at the door)
Held at the 23rd Annual Modernism Show in the Palm Springs Convention Center, the exclusive Preview Party gives attendees the first chance to shop directly from dealers before the show opens to the public on Saturday. Your ticket includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and the flexibility to re-enter the show daily. With more than 125 premier exhibitors from across the US and Europe, the Palm Springs Modernism Show offers an incredible opportunity to look through vintage furniture and decor and fine arts representing every design movement of the 20th century. Don’t worry—the emphasis is on midcentury modern and other 21st-century original designs for modern living.
3 | Architectural Bus Tours
When: Varies
Tickets: Price varies
There is no shortage of amazing architectural bus tours this upcoming Modernism Week! Some of our favorites include:
Illuminated Twilight Tour (Feb. 16-21 and 23-24; $90): A 90-minute evening tour of Palm Springs’ midcentury architectural gems.
The Homes That Define Palm Springs Bus Tour (Feb. 15, 22 and 25; $90): A 90-minute tour of Palm Springs’ most incredible homes.
Charles Phoenix Super Duper Double-Decker Bus Tour (Feb. 16-25; $150): A double-decker, open-air bus tour with the beloved Charles Phoenix as your guide.
Bella da Ball’s Celebrity Homes Bus Tour (Feb. 16-18 and 23-24; $90): A sunset tour of where Palm Springs celebrities live and live it up, led by drag emcee Bella da Ball.
4 | Featured Home Tours
When: Feb. 16-19 and 23-25
Tickets: $40 per home
Ready for some truly exciting news? This year, there are two Featured Home tours to enjoy and explore: the Wexler ‘54 and The Shag House.
Wexler ‘54: Crafted by master architects Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison in 1954 for the Hutchens Family, the Wexler ‘54 is one of Palm Springs’ prized midcentury modern treasures. The home is located inside the Deepwell Estates neighborhood and is known for historic features like the flat roof, beautiful pool area and glass walls.
The Shag House: If you’ve ever wanted to step into an immersive, life-size Shag painting, this is the tour for you. Located in the Little Beverly Hills neighborhood, The Shag House has preserved the historic beauty of this 1958 Palmer & Krisel pool home and revived it with plenty of color, wit and whimsy.
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5 | Pink Door House Tours
When: Feb. 20-21
Tickets: $40
Want to know what’s behind that famous pink door? Step into the Villa Sierra compound to discover all of this midcentury desert ranch’s vibrant surprises. Designed by architect James H. McNaughton, this 5,300-square-foot home boasts stylish Hollywood Regency interior design, manicured grounds and floor-to-ceiling windows so you can see those stunning mountain views. We think you’ll love seeing how McNaughton, a former TV set designer, masterfully blends the line between indoors and outdoors with his architectural choices. Prepare for a 30-minute tour full of grand proportions, expansive spaces and richly colored art and furniture—you won’t want to miss this!
6 | A Day of Fashion
When: February 18
Tickets: Varies
This year, Modernism Week will be hosting two exciting fashion events that showcase new and vintage fashions.
Trina Turk Fashion Show (Feb. 18; $200 General Admission, $250 Reserved Seating): Join esteemed designer Trina Turk for the debut of her Spring 2024 takes to the runway around the estate’s iconic piano-shaped pool. After the fashion show, explore the Sinatra Estate while sipping on beverages and indulging in gourmet canapes—you may even get to meet Trina!
Bombshell Bond Fashions from James Bond Movies (Feb 18, $80)
Experience the stunning fashions of the blockbuster James Bond films including “From Russia with Love,” “Dr. No” and “Goldfinger.” Relive iconic fashions from these films as models walk down the runway showcasing designers such as Emilio Pucci, Malcolm Starr, Givenchy, Halston and even some contemporary fashions, accompanied by a D.J. spinning groovy James Bond tunes. It’s shaken, not stirred!
7 | Live Performances
Aside from incredible tours and events, Modernism Week is also offering plenty of exciting live performances. Here are some we have marked on our calendar:
PS Jazzfest during Modernism Week (Various dates and prices)
This year Modernism Week will feature outstanding jazz performances during the festival as it partners with PS JazzFest. Don’t miss sets by Herb Alpert and Lani Hall,
The Cookers, Veronica Swift, and Taj Mahal Quartet and Sona Jobarteh!
A Conversation With Edith Head (Feb. 23-24; $25): Sit back and relax during this full theater production that’s hosted by Stuart Moulton—you’re going to love hearing all the juicy, behind-the-scenes stories from the legendary costume designer, played by Susan Claassen.
Shag With A Twist: A Murder Mystery Musical Matinee (Feb. 19, 1 p.m.; $85 General Admission, $100 VIP Seating): Enjoy a cocktail of music, song and dance while watching hilarious characters try to solve an infamous crime—all in the classic Shag style, of course. Don’t forget to dress up in your tiki or midcentury best!
Kye Marshall Returns to Modernism Week (Feb. 25, 2 p.m.; $125): After five years of sold-out Modernism Week performances, this acclaimed Canadian jazz cellist is making her anticipated return. This year’s performance will benefit The L Fund.
8 | Keynote Speaker: Dr. Barry Bergdoll
When: Feb. 17
Tickets: $20-$35
Drawing inspiration from the recently reconstructed 1931 Aluminaire House by Albert Frey in Palm Springs, Dr. Barry Bergdoll will guide attendees through the evolution of modernist architecture in an exhibition and spotlight public displays of architecture that served as catalysts for the Modern Movement. These include New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s 1932 inaugural architecture exhibition featuring “International Style” buildings—a pivotal moment that propelled the culture of showcasing modernist designs to new heights. Dr. Bergdoll is an esteemed Columbia University professor and a former curator of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art.
Modernism Week
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Born and raised near the Pacific Coast, Jordan Nishkian is a California girl through and through. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a BA in Creative Writing and a BA in Anthropology, and her favorite place to be is curled up in a comfy chair with a book in her hand and a pen in her hair.
