During the Jewish fall harvest festival of Sukkot we celebrate the abundance of the season with food, music, and the opening up of one's private home to the community at large. In that spirit, during Sukkot, the Skirball opens its doors to you! Join us for new exhibitions, holiday treats, and a chance to share art, history, and tradition with friends and neighbors.

We welcome you to experience a daylong celebration of our three new exhibitions: Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion, On the National Language: The Poetry of America’s Endangered Tongues, and Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology: Trees, Time, and Technology (part of the Getty’s PST ART initiative). 

Enjoy spotlight tours with artists and curators throughout the afternoon, visit the Skirball Sukkah, shake a lulav and etrog, share some sips and snacks, and round out the evening with remarks from Skirball representatives and special guests.

Scheduled Activities

• By reservation | Noah’s Ark at the Skirball. Reserve in advance or ask about available times at the front desk.
• 1:30 pm | Tour Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology with artists Tiffany Shlain and Ken Goldberg, and curators Selma Holo and Vicki Phung Smith (Hurd Gallery).
• 2:00 pm | Explore the Skirball Sukkah with artist Jonathan York (Founders Courtyard).
• 2:30 pm | Tour On the National Language with artist B. A. Van Sise, curators Vicki Phung Smith and Sarah Daymude, and special guests (Milken Gallery).
• 3:00 pm | Sukkot spotlight in Visions and Values with associate curator Alissa Schapiro (Core Exhibition).
• 3:30 pm | Tour Diane von Furstenberg with curators Cate Thurston and Nicolas Lor (Getty Gallery).

Daylong Activities

• Current exhibitions include Diane von Furstenberg, Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology, On the National Language, and Visions and Values (Museum).
• Enjoy the Skirball Sukkah in celebration of Sukkot (Founder’s Courtyard).
• Common Ground by Adam Silverman on display (Ruby Commons). 
• Design, construct, and decorate a Mini Sukkah (Family Art Studio).
• Touch and feel ancient artifacts at the Hands on History cart (Roaming).

Dining and Shopping

• Audrey's Museum Store—Exhibition-related gifts and memorabilia, plus jewelry, books, and more. 
• Judy's Counter—Grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, and snacks. 
• Zeidler's Cafe—Sukkot specials and a new selection of Zeidler's favorites. Reservations recommended.

Ongoing Activities

• Mingle with artists, curators, and special guests throughout the evening.
• Current exhibitions include Diane von Furstenberg, Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology, On the National Language, and Visions and Values (Museum).
• Enjoy the Skirball Sukkah in celebration of Sukkot (Founder’s Courtyard).
• Common Ground by Adam Silverman on display (Ruby Commons). 

Scheduled Activities

• 7:30 pm | Remarks by Skirball President and CEO Jessie Kornberg

Dining and Shopping

• Sips and Snacks—Grab a cocktail and a bite to eat.  
• Audrey's Museum Store—Exhibition-related gifts and memorabilia, plus jewelry, books, and more. 

Sukkot is a joyous Jewish holiday celebrated for seven (or eight) days in the fall, starting on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. It commemorates both the historical journey of the Israelites through the desert after their exodus from Egypt, where they lived in temporary shelters called sukkot, and the bountiful fall harvest. 

Today, many families build and decorate their own sukkah, a charming temporary hut with a roof made of branches, where they share meals, stories, and even sleep under the stars, symbolizing the transient dwellings of their ancestors. 

A central theme of Sukkot is the welcoming of guests, or ushpizin, into the sukkah, reflecting a spirit of hospitality and community. The holiday is also marked by the waving of the lulav (palm frond) and etrog (citron) along with myrtle and willow branches, in a ritual that celebrates nature’s abundance and the interconnectedness of life. 

The festive atmosphere includes singing, dancing, and expressing gratitude for both historical and present-day blessings.