Modernism Week Kicks Off In Palm Springs

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Modernism Week, a celebration of all things midcentury architecture and design, got underway with tours Thursday in Palm Springs and an opening night party was set to close out the first night at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

The 11-day festival got underway Thursday morning with several tours including a premier double-decker architectural bus tour, a "house of tomorrow" home tour and Frey House II tour. Other events scheduled Thursday were an exhibit of Stephen Willard Vintage Postcards of Palm Springs, a Midcentury Mixology Cocktail class, and Sip and Shop for a Cause.

The first night will conclude with a Modernism Week opening night party, "Disco in the Desert," at 7 p.m., featuring a dance party, live band and food, festival officials said. The chic-retro-style event was only open for attendees who were at least 21 years old.

Attendees can arrive and depart from the Community and Meeting Place, where free underground parking and the Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours will take off.

"CAMP is the central meeting place for all things modernism," CAMP Manager David Dixon said in a statement. "Our attendees may discover activities to attend, shop at our Destination PSP outpost, explore design elements for their homes, and relax and commune with fellow modernists. If Palm Springs is the epicenter of modernism, CAMP is the epicenter of Modernism Week."

The central hub will feature talks, films, an information desk, food, drinks, specialty cocktails, book signings and Professional Color Consultations by Dunn-Edwards, according to organizers.

Events will continue through Feb. 25 at various locations throughout the Coachella Valley, mainly in Palm Springs. Additional information can be found at modernismweek.com.