In just one month, Palm Springs, already beloved for its midcentury reverence and preservation, will celebrate Modernism Week, the annual February festival highlighting architecture, art, interior and landscape design, and vintage culture of the era. The popular 11-day affair, February 15-25, will feature more than 350 events, including the Palm Springs Modernism Show, tours of iconic homes in more than 35 neighborhoods and communities, walking tours and nightly parties. It’s the place to be this season. So, pull out your caftans and Mr. Turk blazers … We’re going to party like it’s 1959! Here’s a guide to some of the hippest happenings:  

Modernism Week Opening Night Party: Disco in the Desert 

2/15

The most anticipated bash of the year returns with an Opening Night Fever dance party! This solid gold disco extravaganza is in a larger venue this year, which will be transformed into a tony, velvet- rope-entry dance club. A live band, lavish libations, and all-night party bites will fuel the disco inferno. 1970s disco club-inspired dress is encouraged. Generous support and gorgeous lighting provided by the evening’s presenting sponsor, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. 

Keynote Presentation: Dr. Barry Bergdoll

2/17

With the just-completed reconstruction of Albert Frey’s 1931 Aluminaire House in Palm Springs as his inspiration, Dr. Barry Bergdoll will trace the evolution of Modernist architecture on exhibition and highlight important international exhibitions of architecture that have been the catalytic converters of the Modern Movement. This includes the Museum of Modern Art’s 1932 inaugural architecture exhibition of “International Style” buildings, which brought the exploding culture of exhibitions of modernist architectural designs to a crescendo. 

Modernism Week Featured Home Tour: Wexler ’54

2/16 – 2/19 and 2/23 – 2/25

This tour of the recently renovated and historically designated Wexler ’54 is a must-see. Located in the Deepwell Estates neighborhood, this Wexler-Harrison home is a quintessential example of post and beam residential design and a model of thoughtful architectural preservation. The current homeowners worked with architect and preservation consultant Susan Secoy Jensen, AIA, to develop an architectural plan and pursue a historic designation to protect and preserve the home, which was granted in 2022. H3K Home + Design took the profile of the 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home back to its roots to retain the best of midcentury style and elegance while creating a home that supported today’s lifestyle inside and out. Modernism Week sponsors Baldwin, Brizo, California Closets, Dunn-Edwards, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Flor, JennAir and Willis generously contributed to this stunning and soulful renovation. 

Modernism Week Featured Home: The Shag House

2/16-2/19 and 2/23-2/25

The artist Shag has reimagined a cherished midcentury modern pool home in the Little Beverly Hills neighborhood of Palm Springs to create a fully immersive tour experience that will make visitors feel as though they have climbed into a life-size Shag painting. Shag has drawn upon his architectural studies and the aesthetic of his artwork to reimagine this classic 1958 home, originally designed for the Alexander Construction Company. For the core of the house, Shag preserved much of the original Palmer & Krisel layout of this classic Alexander design, but created an entirely new front exterior, expanded the front entry, and converted the original breezeway into a swank party lounge. Modernism Week sponsors Brizo, California Closets, Dunn-Edwards Paints, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting, JennAir, and Willis generously contributed to this project. 

Trina Turk Fashion Show at the Historic Frank Sinatra Estate

2/18

Don’t miss the debut of fashion designer Trina Turk’s Spring and Limited-Edition Collection for 2024 at the legendary Frank Sinatra “Twin Palms” Residence. Be among a limited number of guests for this rare opportunity to enjoy a premiere fashion show experience at one of Palm Springs’ most notable midcentury modern homes. Guests will have the special opportunity to meet Trina Turk while touring the Sinatra Estate. 

There will also be two evening cocktail receptions at Frank Sinatra’s legendary Twin Palms estate in Palm Springs, Friday Night at the Sinatra Estate (2/23) and Saturday Night at the Sinatra Estate (2/24) offering guests the unique opportunity to wine and dine like Sinatra. 

Shag With a Twist­—A Murder Mystery Musical 

2/18

Shag With A Twist brings to life the art of Shag in a sexy show that will leave the audience shaken and stirred. Guests will be fully immersed in the retro-cool world of the most beloved Shag characters as they come alive in a colorful cocktail of song and dance to solve the “Infamous Case of the Tupperware Party Killer”. This performance promises to transport attendees to a world of retro style, adventure, and intrigue, as can only be found in the imagination of Shag. 

Swinging on a Star—An Evening of Jimmy Van Heusen’s Songs with Marissa Mulder 

2/20 

This evening of songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen’s songs features the award winning Marissa Mulder, a gifted lyric interpreter who puts her stamp on some of Van Heusen’s most prolific songs such as “Come Fly with Me” and “All The Way.”