Historic Columbia announces October 2023 Events
October 3, 2023
Historic Columbia announces programming and events for October 2023. See the full list of October events below and be sure to leave room in your calendar to experience all Historic Columbia has to offer.
CALENDAR OF PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
Kugels & Collards Launch Party & Book Signing
Friday, October 6 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Seibels House & Gardens | 1601 Richland Street
Join the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina and Historic Columbia on Friday, October 6, 2023, for a book signing celebrating the launch of Kugels & Collards, a lively collection of South Carolina Jewish stories and special family recipes. Guests will be treated to a delicious tasting using recipes from the book and will enjoy a meet-and-greet with the authors, Rachel Gordin Barnett and Lyssa Kligman Harvey, and book contributors. Kugels & Collards was released on August 29, 2023, and is published by University of South Carolina Press.
Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery Tour
Sunday, October 8 | 11:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | 714 Blanding Street
Join Historic Columbia for our Second Sunday Stroll through the Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery. Participants will experience almost two centuries worth of history exploring the grounds of the Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery. During the tour, visitors will learn about Jewish life in Columbia in the antebellum, pre-World War II, and post-World War II eras and hear the interesting stories those interred at this historic place of rest. Tours last one hour and begin at the cemetery’s entrance. Tickets are $10 for HC member, and $20 for non-members; no walk-up tickets are available. There will be two tour times on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The 11:15 a.m. tour is sold out and very few tickets remain for the 12:30 p.m. tour.
Concert in the Gardens
Thursday, October 12 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | The Gardens at Hampton-Preston Mansion | 1615 Blanding Street
Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic Columbia to present a beautiful concert of light classics in the gardens at the Hampton-Preston Mansion on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Please plan to arrive any time after 5:00 p.m. Bring your own blanket or chairs and pack a picnic if you’d like. The concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. and last an hour. General admission tickets are $20 and this event is for those 21 & over. In the event of inclement weather, this concert will be moved indoors to the Boyd Horticultural Center greenhouse on the grounds of the Hampton-Preston Mansion. Advance tickets are sold out; in the event of good weather, additional tickets will be on sale at the door.
Greenview Neighborhood History
Thursday, October 12 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Richland Library North Main | 5306 North Main Street
Join Richland Library on Thursday, October 12, 2023, as they host Eric Friendly, Curator of History at Historic Columbia, who will discuss the history of Columbia’s Greenview neighborhood. Also, Margaret Dunlap of the Walker Local and Family History Centerwill briefly highlight ways that researchers can use Richland Library resources to discover more about their neighborhood’s history. Bring your historic photographs of Greenview for scanning and for possible inclusion into the Local History Digital Collections. This event is free and open to the public.
Kugels & Collards Book Talk
Thursday, October 12 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | All Good Books | 734 Harden Street
Join Historic Columbia and All Good Books for a discussion about Kugels & Collards: Stories of Food, Family, and Tradition in Jewish South Carolina, with authors Rachel Gordin Barnett and Lyssa Kligman Harvey, as they provide an overview of this fascinating cultural and culinary journey from blog to book. This discussion, held on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., will be moderated by Kugels & Collards editor and Historic Columbia’s Director of Preservation, John Sherrer. This event is free, though space is limited; arrive early to reserve your seat. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase copies of the book to be signed by the authors.
Behind-the-Scenes Tour of The Flutter Wing on Main Street
Tuesday, October 24 | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | 1544 Main Street
Join Historic Columbia as we explore downtown’s latest Historic Tax Credit rehabilitation – 1544 Main Street! Completed in the fall of 1872, this commercial property has been home to everything from bookstores to beauty salons over the last 151 years, along with the legendary Drake’s Duck-In restaurant. Participants will have a chance to enjoy complimentary food and beverages on the ground floor before climbing the stairs to view the in-progress Flutter Wing, slated to open at the end of this year. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn about how a building’s past can inform its future. Tickets are $35 for HC members, and $45 for non-members; no walk-up tickets are available. There will be three tour times on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
Trunk or Treat
Wednesday, October 25 | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | Robert Mills House | 1616 Blanding Street
Join Historic Columbia on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., for a fang-tastic family event! Trunk or Treat is FREE and offers a twist on traditional Halloween fun for all ages. Community members, local organizations, and families will come together in a safe environment for trick-or-treating. Awards and prizes for the best costumes and best decorated trunk will be given at 6:45 p.m. Don’t forget to check out the fun games and activities at the Robert Mills Carriage House! Historic Columbia is looking for local businesses and community partners to join us in handing out candy or to help sponsor this event.
Bulb Bonanza! |Cultivating Spring Bulb Gardens
Saturday, November 4 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Robert Mills Carriage House | 1616 Blanding Street
Join Historic Columbia on Saturday, November 4, 2023, for a lively morning of all things bulbs! Columbia-grown horticulturists Jim Martin and Jenks Farmer have envisioned, planted, and enlivened more public spaces in the state than any other duo. Since their passions for spring bulbs vary wildly, you’ll get a morning full of fun and diverse bulb lessons. Books written by the presenters will be available for purchase, as will a variety of bulbs ranging from $5 to $15 per bag. Tickets are $25 for HC members and $35 for non-members.
SAVE THE DATE |Columbia Canopy Project Launch Celebration
Friday, December 1 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Drew Wellness Center Park | 2101 Walker Solomon Way
Join Historic Columbia and Columbia Green on Arbor Day—Friday, December 1, 2023—as we celebrate the launch of the Columbia Canopy Project. The Columbia Canopy Project commemorates the leaders of historically marginalized communities and addresses the impacts of structural racism through neighborhood histories and memorial trees. This event will include a short program, wayside signage unveiling, and refreshments. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but not required.
HISTORIC HOUSE TOURS:
Historic Columbia’s historic house museum tours offer a peek into the past! Tours are free for members, $12 for adults, and $8 for youth ages 6-12. (Add $3 each for Journey to Freedom combined tour.). Discounts are available to active military, seniors, AAA members, students, and must be requested at the time of purchase. Please purchase tickets online OR at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills, located at 1616 Blanding Street.
Robert Mills House & Gardens – 1616 Blanding Street
Wednesday – Sunday | 3:00 p.m.
The Museum of Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home – 1705 Hampton Street
Wednesday – Saturday | 10:30 a.m.
Sunday | 1:30 p.m.
Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens – 1615 Blanding Street
Wednesday – Saturday | 12:00 p.m.
Sunday | 1:30 p.m.
Journey to Freedom: Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House – 1403 Richland Street
Wednesday – Saturday | 1:30 p.m.
Sunday | 3:00 p.m.
PUBLIC GARDENS:
Our 14 acres of landscapes in the heart of Robert Mills Historic District feature heirloom plantings popular with gardeners over the past two centuries. Entrance to the gardens is free, so come by to take a stroll or enjoy your lunch in any of our gardens. Don’t hesitate to sprawl on the grass to get some sun and throw a frisbee—and your four-legged friends are welcome!
Seibels House – 1601 Richland Street
Tuesday – Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Robert Mills – 1616 Blanding Street
Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Hampton-Preston – 1615 Blanding Street
Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sundays | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
About Historic Columbia:
In November 1961, a small group of individuals intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House from demolition officially incorporated as Historic Columbia. Over the next five decades, the organization, which was founded on the premise of preservation and education, would take on the stewardship of seven historic properties in Richland County. Today, the organization serves as a model for local preservation efforts and interpretation of local history.
Visit historiccolumbia.org or find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagra
