Fall in Greater Palm Springs is marked by fabulous weather and the highly anticipated return of Modernism Week - October. 

What is Modernism Week? Think of it as though you're stepping into a time machine set to the 1960s and you're transported to a world where you are surrounded by the architecture, style, and vibe of what Greater Palm Springs was like in the midcentury when it was the playground to the stars.

Modernism Week - October is a four-day whirlwind of more than 50 events from October 24-27. You can choose from bus tours, home tours, parties, lectures and educational programs, all created to showcase the midcentury modern style that has made the area so unique. This event is also considered the autumnal appetizer to the 11-day Modernism Week main course, which is celebrating its 20th year in February 2025. 

To make the most of Modernism Week - October, add some variety to your lineup. For sure try a bus or home tour, but also throw in a party and educational lecture for good measure. Here are some of the can’t miss moments, events, and programs that first-timers and frequent visitors alike won’t want to pass up. 

Bus Tours

Bus tours are the heart and soul of Modernism Week. You get to sit back and relax and learn all about the architecture and midcentury aesthetic — from a great vantage point. Some tours take you past celebrity homes and historic buildings, while others have eccentric guides that will keep everyone entertained. Here are a couple of fun and educational tours you won't want to miss:

Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour: This signature tour runs all four days and is great for a first-timer because it provides an overview of the most significant midcentury modern buildings in Palm Springs.You’ll also learn some fun terms like "cantilevered" and "clerestory". (Oct. 24-27, $130)

Sinatra's Rat Pack Homes & Hangouts Bus Tour: Want to see where Ol' Blue Eyes and his cronies lived and hung out? Then you won’t want to miss this new bus tour. In addition to seeing Sinatra’s digs, the tour includes the homes of Dinah Shore, Elvis Presley, Liberace, Desi Arnaz, and Jack Benny. (Oct. 24 & 27, $100) 

Home Tours

The home tours are a staple of Modernism Week. It’s an exclusive opportunity to walk inside some of the area’s most distinctive residences and walk away with an appreciation for architecture and decor and maybe a few DIY ideas.  Here are some inspiring home tour options: 

ONE-PS Modernism Week Home Tour: This self-guided tour provides a unique opportunity to tour five distinct homes, each located in different historic neighborhoods, highlighting the diverse interpretations of creating a desert oasis. (Oct. 26, $100)

Sunnylands Historic House Tour: A staple of Modernism Week October is visiting the iconic grounds at Sunnylands. Visitors on the Historic House Tour are taken on electric shuttles from Sunnylands Center and Gardens to the former winter home of ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg, a 25,000-square-foot midcentury masterpiece completed in 1966 by famed architect A. Quincy Jones. (Oct. 27, $75)

Modernism Week Featured Home Tour: The Shag House: As soon as you step inside the home you will feel like you have become part of a Shag painting. The decor is colorful and impeccably midcentury. (Oct. 24-27, $40) 

Parties

If schmoozing and dressing up is more your style, you won't want to miss out on the Modernism Week - October parties! Show off your favorite vintage outfit as you listen to music, sip cocktails, and socialize with other like-minded folks. Here are some you'll want to check out: 

Preview Party for the Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show: This is your chance to beat the crowds, enjoy a festive wine reception and, most importantly, get first dibs on all kinds of goods. Who doesn’t like to sip wine and shop? The Modernism Fall Show features thousands of furniture pieces, art, lighting, home décor, outdoor furniture, and more all under one roof at the Palm Springs Convention Center. And here’s the best part: You get to see it all before the show opens to the public on Saturday. (Oct. 25, $95 for the Friday preview party; Oct. 26-27 open to the public for $25).

The Mammoth Martini Party at The Shag House: You’ll definitely want to dress the part for this popular party featuring fun tunes and retro-inspired hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. You’ll spend the evening living life like characters in a Shag painting and snapping pics at every turn. (Oct. 25, $175)

Tiki Oasis: Desert Lanai 4 Cocktail Party & Home Tour: This is a new tiki-inspired cocktail party and home tour — a two-for-one! Partygoers can sip tiki cocktails by the poolside bar and then explore four A-frame homes designed by architect Charles Du Bois. (Oct. 26, $100) 

Unique Events

So you’ve got a bus tour, home tour, and party all picked out. What about a quirky event that provides something a bit unexpected? Here’s one that might fit that bill: 

Cul de Sac Swinging ’66: This is a block party straight from the '60s complete with classic cars, a DJ spinning vinyl, go-go dancers, and more. Plus you get to tour six William Krisel homes all the while feeling like you’ve been plucked out of 2024 and dropped in 1966. Definitely give this one a try. (Oct. 27, $85).

Free Events

The great thing about Modernism Week - October is you don’t have to spend a lot to do a lot. Each year, there are a variety of free events to choose from. Here are some fun and educational ones we recommend!

• Shag’s October Modernism Print Release Party (Oct. 26)
• Canyon Country Club: History and Design of the Palm Springs’ Garden of Eden (Oct. 25)
• The Rebirth of Albert Frey’s Historic 1946 Bel Vista Tract in Palm Springs (Oct. 25)
• Lost, Saved & Endangered: Modernist Architecture in Palm Springs (Oct. 25)
• Red Tile Romance (Oct. 25)

So there you have it. Those are some ideas on how to make the best of Modernism Week - October. For a full schedule and ticket prices, go to modernismweek.com.

And don’t forget: This is all an appetite-whetter for the full Modernism Week, which runs February 13-23, 2025. Tickets for Modernism Week will go on sale immediately following the conclusion of Modernism Week - October.