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Charleston Heritage Federation (CHF) brings an abundance of events to the Charleston area this fall. From craft workshops to art exhibits and wine tastings with dreamy backdrops, guests can savor the season with a collection of culturally-enriching events geared towards locals and visitors of all ages. See below for a list of the upcoming CHF events occurring in the Holy City this fall:
Wildlife Painting Workshop with Amanda McLenon: Charleston Museum
September 6; 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Join artist Amanda McLenon as she discusses what sets wildlife painting apart from other subject matters. This workshop, which is $65 for non-members and $60 for members, will include a tour of the Bunting Natural History Gallery to help participants gain inspiration and bring their own wildlife paintings “to life.” For more information, please visit www.charlestonmuseum.orgor call 843.722.2996.
Heritage Indigo Workshop with Madame Magar: Drayton Hall
September 20; 1 – 5 p.m.
Drayton Hall Preservation Trust is pleased to welcome Madam Magar to conduct a workshop on the growing, processing, and dying of indigo and indigo-dyed products as part of their deep look into indigo traditions. Members are invited to learn about Charleston’s rich history with indigo; they will work with it and learn to dy their own fabrics. Each attendee will complete their own set of indigo dyed dinner napkins. For more information, please visit draytonhall.org or call 843.769.2600.
Grand Opening of New South Carolina Historical Society Museum
September 21
In September, the South Carolina Historical Society (SCHS) will unveil a new, state-of-the-art museum in the fully-renovated Fireproof Building located downtown. Drawing from the society’s vast archives, the new South Carolina Historical Society Museum will showcase 300+ years of South Carolina history through the personal accounts, rarely-seen artifacts and hand-written documents of those who experienced it. The museum is housed in the Fireproof Building, a National Historic Monument that was constructed in 1826 by Robert Mills – America’s first architect and creator of The Washington Monument. Hailed by Architectural Digest as one of the “Most Noteworthy Museums Opening This Year,” the new SCHS Museum will open on September 21 after a multi-million-dollar renovation of the building. For more information, visit www.schistory.org.
Sweetgrass Basket Weaving Workshop: Charleston Museum
September 22; 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Learn to make traditional sweetgrass baskets with Sarah Edwards-Hammond this fall. During this workshop, which is $65 for non-members and $50 for members, guests will learn a brief history of the basket making art form and then make their very own basket with Hammond’s guidance. All materials will be provided, and reservations are required. For more information, please visit www.charlestonmuseum.org or call 843.722.2996.
Harvest Moon Dinner: Middleton Place
September 24; 5 – 7 p.m.
Indulge in an evening of local harvests and grains from The Middleton Place Restaurant on their very own organic farm. During this dinner, guests will be able to interact with the farmers and see the organic practices first hand. Organic wines will also be selected to complement the plantation dinner. For more information, please visit www.middletonplace.org or call 843.556.6020.
A Dark Place of Dreams: Gibbes Museum of Art
September 28 – January 6
The Gibbes Museum of Art will host its first large-scale show dedicated solely to women artists this fall, showcasing the works of Louise Nevelson, one of the pioneering sculptors of the 20thcentury, along with three contemporary artists she inspired: Chakaia Booker, Lauren Fensterstock and Kate Gilmore, whose works weave together various objects – from rubber tires to shells to paint in motion. For more information, please visit www.gibbesmuseum.org or call 843.722.2706.
Wine in the Garden: Drayton Hall
Every Sunday in October; 5-7 p.m.
Unwind in the garden and sip on a variety of red and white blends at Drayton Hall every Sunday this October. Tickets are $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Wine in the Garden is the perfect complement to a relaxing and beautiful weekend in the Lowcountry. For more information, please visit draytonhall.org or call 843.769.2600.
Fall Tours of Homes, History & Architecture: Preservation Society of Charleston
October 4 – 28
Experience Charleston’s architecturally significant private houses, intimate gardens, churches and public buildings as you stroll through the historic streets during the 42nd Annual Fall Tours. This year will include a series of tours that take guests into private gardens rarely open to the public, photography walkabouts and workshops, guided walking tours and traditional house and garden tours. Also this year, a special four for $40 option will be offered, allowing guests the chance to take abbreviated tours of four private properties. For more information, please visit preservationsociety.org/falltours or call 843.722.4630
The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd, Book Signing and Reception: Drayton Hall
October 7; 2 p.m.
The Indigo Girl author Natasha Boyd speaks at Drayton Hall’s new Education Center on Charleston’s native Eliza Lucas Pickney’s influence on her new book, The Indigo Girl, which is based on historical documents, including Eliza’s letters. This is a historical fiction account of how a teenage girl produced indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports out of South Carolina and served as an export that laid the foundation for the incredible wealth of several Southern families who still live on today. For more information, please visit draytonhall.org or call 843.769.2600.
Fall Garden Strolls + Wine Tasting: Middleton Place
Wednesdays, October 24 – November 14; 5 – 7 p.m.
Sip and stroll in a different, beautiful location at America’s oldest landscaped gardens each week in October while sampling old and new world wines. Middleton Place Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and Middleton Place Foundation members receive $5 off. After the event, extend the evening with dinner at the Middleton Place Restaurant for a full culinary experience. For more information, please visit www.middletonplace.org or call 843.556.6020
Charleston Collects: South Asian Art: Gibbes Museum of Art
October 26 – February 17
Debuting the Charleston Collects series, this exhibition features selections from a major private collection of South Asian art in Charleston. From early medieval Buddhist bronze to paintings by artists from the courts of the Muslim Mughal emperors, this collection represents the region’s diverse sources and tradition. For more information, please visit www.gibbesmuseum.org or call 843.722.2706.
November Yoga on the Great Lawn: Drayton Hall
Every Sunday in November; 9 a.m.
Enjoy a morning of strength and stretching on the stunning Drayton Hall Great Lawn every Sunday in November. Come for just the class for $10, or opt to include a mimosa to your morning for $20 or a house tour for $30. For more information, please visit draytonhall.org or call 843.769.2600.
Plantation Days: Middleton Place
November 10 – 11; 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Watch craftworkers demonstrate the skills practiced by enslaved people as they prepared for winter during this educational event where guests can learn different aspects of 18th and 19th century plantation life including domestic skills, African American culture and Gullah storytelling. Free with general admission ticket. For more information, please visit www.middletonplace.org or call 843.556.6020
Whiskey in America Lecture and Tasting: Charleston Library Society
November 29; 6 p.m.
Luke J. Pecoraro, Ph.D., Director of Archaeology at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, will introduce guests to distilled products made in colonial America, and combine with information drawn from the archeological record of known production sites, with specific reference to George Washington’s distillery at Mount Vernon. Following the lecture guests will be invited to a Whiskey Tasting. For more information, please visit draytonhall.org or call 843.769.2600.
Holiday Market: Middleton Place
November 23 – 24; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kick off the holiday season at Middleton Place’s Garden Market & Nursery and Museum Shop with an open-air market featuring local artisans and vendors, live musicians performing festive carols, complimentary hot cider and treats, and featured items in both shops. For more information, please visit www.middletonplace.org or call 843.556.6020
Christmas 1860: Edmondston-Alston House
November 30 & December 7; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of entertainment as theatrical performers shed light on a turbulent time in Charleston just before the beginning of the Civil War. Adorned in period costumes, performers will reflect on the events of the time and how their lives would soon be forever changed. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at gate. For more information, please visit www.middletonplace.orgor call 843.556.6020
Family Yuletide in the Stableyards: Middleton Place
December 8; 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Peruse artisan shops by candlelight and watch craftspeople perfect their skills during this seasonal event. Fresh greenery, berries and other natural items gathered from the plantation will be provided to make wreaths and other holiday décor, along with seasonal refreshments. For more information, please visit www.middletonplace.org or call 843.556.6020
Grand Illumination and Dinner: Middleton Place
December 13 – 15; 6 – 8 p.m.
Travel back in time to the Christmas of 1782 as trained actors in period costume present the return of Arthur Middleton from Philadelphia, the end of the Revolutionary War in the South and the departure of the British troops. Tickets are $64 for adults, $25 for children ages 6-13, no charge for ages five and under. For more information, please visit www.middletonplace.org or call 843.556.6020