63rd Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens Spring is the time when Charleston truly shows her regal self. Winter maintenance complete, spring-cleaning finished, donning her new wardrobe of meticulously manicured and lush gardens bursting with a riot of colors. This fine old girl preserves her southern beauty in historic architecture and furnishings of antebellum, Georgian, Victorian and harbor side homes and proudly displays them during the Festival of Houses and Gardens like a string of colorful precious gems for all to see.
The 63rd Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens begins on March 18th and offers such a comprehensive schedule of events that the lectures, luncheons, teas, tours and soirees associated with the affair span the length of almost the entire spring season, ending on April 17th. Within that time the Festival of Houses and Gardens offers a dozen or more tours, each featuring seven to ten historic properties in select areas of Charleston. For ease of travel on foot, streets and sections of town determine each tour area. The tours areas are as follows: Meeting Street, Legare Street, South of Broad, Church Street, East Battery Broad Street Rutledge Avenue, Tradd Street King Street and Anson Street. The house tours, approximately three hours long, provide history and information on the architecture and furnishings of these unique properties and each tour is held twice. So if you have an interest in the houses on Broad Street, for example, and you miss the March 28th tour you will have a second opportunity to purchase tickets for the March 31st tour. Early ticket purchase is recommended as these tours sell out quickly, particularly on the weekend dates.
In addition to the house tours mentioned above, there are four dates for Glorious Garden Tours highlighting courtyards and gardens throughout Charleston and two Glorious Garden Tours of the French Quarter in particular. Again, each tour offers viewings of seven to ten Charleston Gardens giving insight to the plantings and the theme or design plans behind the creation of the garden. Using trees and greens, flowering shrubs and bulbs, exotics and imports, wrought iron, stone and statuary, view some of the most elite gardens that are the pride of the city.
Not exclusively tours, during the weeks of the festival there are many additional events scheduled. One such event is the 7th Annual Charleston International Antique Show, which begins on Thursday, March 18th with an evening gala of cocktails and hors d oeuvres in Charleston's High Battery. This popular event continues with a keynote luncheon on Friday, March 19th, a collector's soiree on Friday evening and on the 18th through the 20th, a look into some of Charleston's most prestigious collections of art and antiques. Saturday the 20th features an Heirloom Road Show at which one can have a personal item appraised for origin and value.
As an addition to the Antiques Show there will be a series of nine luncheons held in the Captain James Missroon House, 40 East Bay Street, c 1808. Scheduled on various weekdays each luncheon features a keynote speaker of distinction in his or her field highlighting a multitude of subjects from the proper way to serve a formal tea to ways to identify authentic antiques from fakes and forgeries.
A popular feature of the Festival is the evening series of period musicals performed by talented musicians and artists in an historic building. Each performance allows patrons to "experience period music in intimate historic settings with entertaining and educational interpretations." The series includes music of Beethoven and a performance of 19th century romantic masterworks, both performed by Edward Hart, leading musicians from the College of Charleston School of Arts. Musician and author, Jack McCray will perform an introduction to the evolution of Charleston's jazz and the influence of the Gullah culture on said music. Finally, The Athens Recorder Ensemble with Kevin Kelly of the Hodgson School of Music will offer a sampling of musical genres through the ages: Renaissance, Baroque and Modern periods with a brief historical commentary for each piece.
Throughout the weeks of the Festival there are many additional events in which to partake for instance, there is an oyster roast held at Drayton Hall Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, c 1738, a tour of the plantation is included with the price of the admission to the picnic. Historically being one of the busiest ports in the southeast, Charleston is just as interesting by sea as it is by land. There are three, Harbor of History Boat Cruises available for a different perspective of Charleston. One may also partake of several wine, vodka and rum tasting events that will be held at various venues, each offering a unique setting and history for the experience.
Spring always comes with much promise but Charleston, now boasting all of these events to show off the history, culture and beauty is the place to be. Don't miss a visit to this friendly city on a vacation or take a local staycation and learn more about Charleston and see all this magnificent girl has to offer during the Festival of Homes and Gardens. For schedules, tickets and more information go to: Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens Visit our Events Calendar for all area events. |
